The Telluride Plein Air Festival is an essential fundraiser for the Sheridan Arts Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization created to restore and preserve the Sheridan Opera House while bringing quality arts and entertainment to the town of Telluride. Forty percent of the revenue from each plein air art sale goes to the Sheridan Arts Foundation (SAF), supporting community programming at the Sheridan Opera House.
Plein air artists interested in joining the festival should read about the application process.
The Sheridan Opera House was built by the Telluride miners in 1913 as a Vaudeville Theater and cultural center; since then, performers from Lillian Gish and Sarah Bernhardt to Jimmy Buffet and James Taylor have graced our stage. Today this intimate 238-seat theater has become Telluride’s premiere venue featuring live theater, concerts, movies, lectures; as well as private rentals for special events.