Art in Community & Civic Spaces

Satellite exhibitions extend the Museum of Friends’ mission beyond its own galleries by placing curated artwork in civic, educational, and community spaces throughout Huerfano County. These off-site installations bring art directly into the places where people live, learn, work, and gather—broadening access, deepening public engagement, and strengthening the region’s creative identity. Through these partnerships, MoF fosters meaningful connections between artists, local history, and the community, ensuring that cultural experiences remain accessible to all.

Since its founding, the Museum of Friends (MoF) has curated exhibitions in civic and community spaces to make art accessible to broader audiences and to strengthen cultural participation across the region. These satellite exhibitions celebrate local heritage, showcase regional and national artists, and help integrate art into everyday public life.

MoF’s first major satellite exhibition opened at the Huerfano County Courthouse in March 2008, presented in collaboration with the County Commissioners. Featuring artists deeply connected to the region—including Jeannette Faris Thach, William Thach, Dave Roberts, Ken Schneider, Kenny Martinez, Jason Crum, Peggy Zehring, Dean Fleming, and others—the exhibit highlighted the county’s artistic lineage and honored the creative contributions of long-time residents, newcomers, and Libre artists.

As community needs evolved, MoF continued to develop and support additional exhibitions across public venues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MoF pivoted to virtual satellite programming, presenting livestreamed openings for COVID-19: Crisis or Opportunity? and the Smithsonian-affiliated Votes for Women poster exhibition—ensuring inclusive access to cultural engagement while in-person gatherings were limited.

Collectively, these exhibitions reflect MoF’s commitment to placing art at the center of community life. Whether in a courthouse, school, library, or online platform, MoF’s satellite exhibitions play a key role in strengthening connection, visibility, and shared cultural identity throughout Huerfano County.