Inspiring, spectacular, and fantastical ART CARS FIRE ART PEFORMERS NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT WORKSHOPS IN TELLURIDE: Dec. 2-4, 2022

Our Mission:
Rocky Mountain Arts supports sculptural and performing arts year round to
provide a platform for artists to entertain
and promote their work and offer educational workshops for all.

How it all began – an idea to support artists in Telluride

The annual nonprofit Telluride Fire Festival made its debut in January 2015. The event was inspired by Burning Man, the annual celebration of community, art and fire, that draws 70,000 people to the Nevada desert every Labor Day weekend. The goal was to bring the Burning Man ethos to Telluride along with the larger-than-life fire art to the region to support these artists and allow more people the ability to see, interact with, and create this visual magic. Since 2015, the annual event continues to offer dynamic art performances each evening in a variety of locations. Additional ticketed entertainment, plus an over-the-top Fire Ball with theatrical performances, music, cash bar, and an outdoor fire sculpture garden. Free and fee-based fire related workshops are also a staple component of the Telluride Fire Festival. This past December 3-5, 2021 we changed it up again with new fiery art, unique performance art and a new venue at the end of the box canyon.

October 2019, the Festival changed their nonprofit name to Rocky Mountain Arts, which embodies more than the fire arts and helps educate our supporters about the multi-faceted programs and performances offered by the nonprofit.

The 2022 event offered outdoor fire art, fire performances, an indoor circus and dance show and free workshops through generous donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Two founders, a committed board of inspired members & supporters

Rocky Mountain Arts is a nonprofit 501 (C) (3) organization. The nonprofit relies on their incredible board members, grants, the kindness of friends, sponsors, and donors to support this emerging art field and create free programs for under-served youth.

There are many ways to make a tax-deductible contribution, from direct financial support to providing goods and services.

Important Participant Info. for Advance Planning

In 2020, the public was able to partake in a variety Flow Arts workshops in the open air on the Mountain Village Plaza, safely. The Beginner Welding Workshop with Dan Gundrum was rescheduled for September 2021 and sold out, so we are offering the workshop again for the spring of 2023. If you are interested in taking this workshop or to keep up to date about our news, please signup here.

Covid-Safe Events!

The Festival showcased larger-than-life wood sculptures, which were transformed by fire along with interactive propane fired art installations, fire dancing, music and a cash bar December 4, 2021. Wood sculptures were created by Niel Ringstad, Festival Producers, and students who participated in the TNYP teen wood art installation creation workshop. An over-the-top dance and circus style show was help indoors (safely) on December 3 with performers from all over the western slope and Telluride.

In past years the Festival culminated in a fundraising Fire Ball—a unique setting atop the gondola at Station St Sophia in the 30-foot high vaulted ceiling venue. It did not take place in 2020, 2021 or 2022 due to the pandemic.

Our Guiding Values

The Telluride Fire Festival is guided by principles that are meant to evoke the cultural ethos for the event—pre, post and during. Crafted as a reflection of the culture we wish all people to embrace…not just for this festival,
but also all times in our lives.

The Festival owes gratitude to Burning Man for their very meaningful
Ten Principles, which guided us in the creation our eight.

Inclusion
Anyone may be a part of The Telluride Fire Festival. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation.

Gifting Of Fire Art
The Telluride Fire Festival is devoted to giving back to our community. The value of our gift of fire art is unconditional. We do not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

Self-Expression
Self-expression is unique to the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

Community Effort
We value creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction and creativity.

Civic Responsibility
We assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. We insist that our participants assume responsibility for conducting themselves and festival events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

Leave No Trace
We respect the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather, perform and showcase art. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor to leave our community spaces in a better state than when we found them.

Participation
We are committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. Everyone is invited to work, volunteer and “play” at our Festival.

Net Zero Carbon Footprint
We respect and revere the earth that is home to all life as we know it. Our inherent existence in an energy-dependent culture has an impact on our well being and the well being of all life. We strive to be a net zero carbon event, being efficient with our use of resources and offset our consumption to improve the earth. Ask us about our electric car purchased in 2017 to further reduce our carbon footprint.

Inspiring, spectacular, and fantastical ART CARS FIRE ART PEFORMERS NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT WORKSHOPS IN TELLURIDE: Dec. 2-4, 2022

Our Mission:
Rocky Mountain Arts supports sculptural and performing arts year round to
provide a platform for artists to entertain
and promote their work and offer educational workshops for all.

How it all began – an idea to support artists in Telluride

Two founders, a committed board of inspired members & supporters

Rocky Mountain Arts is a nonprofit 501 (C) (3) organization. The nonprofit relies on their incredible board members, grants, the kindness of friends, sponsors, and donors to support this emerging art field and create free programs for under-served youth.

There are many ways to make a tax-deductible contribution, from direct financial support to providing goods and services.

Important Participant Info. for Advance Planning

Covid-Safe Events!

Our Guiding Values

Want to Volunteer?

Getting Around

Where's Telluride?

Inspiring, spectacular, and fantastical ART CARS FIRE ART PEFORMERS NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT WORKSHOPS IN TELLURIDE: Dec. 2-4, 2022

Our Mission: Rocky Mountain Arts supports sculptural and performing arts year round to provide a platform for artists to entertain and promote their work and offer educational workshops for all.

How it all began – an idea to support artists in Telluride

Two founders, a committed board of inspired members & supporters

Rocky Mountain Arts is a nonprofit 501 (C) (3) organization. The nonprofit relies on their incredible board members, grants, the kindness of friends, sponsors, and donors to support this emerging art field and create free programs for under-served youth.

There are many ways to make a tax-deductible contribution, from direct financial support to providing goods and services.

Important Participant Info. for Advance Planning

Covid-Safe Events!

Our Guiding Values

Want to Volunteer?

Getting Around

Where's Telluride?

Our Mission:
Rocky Mountain Arts supports sculptural and performing arts year round to
provide a platform for artists to entertain
and promote their work and offer educational workshops for all.