At the Museum of Friends, children have long been central to the story—painting murals, exploring exhibitions, and discovering their community through art. Their creativity has shaped downtown Walsenburg and filled the museum’s galleries with new ways of seeing.

The Museum of Friends has launched the Rural Arts Advocacy Initiative with support from a Colorado Change Leader Network Activation Grant. This statewide effort brings together cultural leaders, policy experts, and community voices to strengthen public investment in the arts, foster economic diversification, and position creative industries as a vital force in rural Colorado’s future.