26 Jul Telluride Arts: 2026 Artist Grant Recipients!
Telluride Arts is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Artist Grants, supporting artists whose work will enrich the region through creative excellence, community engagement, and professional growth. (Made possible through the Town of Telluride’s Community Assistance, Arts & Special Events (CCAASE) funding.)
Telluride Arts congratulates each of the 2026 grant recipients and looks forward to sharing these projects with the community as they develop over the coming year.
More details for 2026 Grant Recipients: telluridearts.org/2026-grant-recipients
For more information about the Telluride Arts Artist Grants Program and other opportunities for artists, visit TellurideArts.org or follow @telluridearts on social media.
Go here to learn more about Telluride Arts.
The Telluride Arts Direct Grants Program invests in local artists and creative projects that strengthen the cultural fabric of the Telluride region. This year’s awards recognize projects spanning photography, literature, filmmaking, fashion, public art, music, poetry, and traditional craft.
“These grants are about investing in artists whose work not only advances their own creative practice but also creates opportunities for our community to connect, learn, and experience the arts together,” said Jessica Galbo, Executive Director of Telluride Arts. “We’re proud to support creative projects that make the arts more accessible and engaging for residents and visitors.”
Art for Art’s Sake Awards
First Place: Priscilla A. Morales — The Journey of the Colorado River
Pricilla Morales
Inspired by the Colorado River’s path from Colorado to Tijuana, Priscilla Morales will create a photography project exploring the relationship between people, place, and water through a deeply personal perspective. The completed work will be shared through a public exhibition, encouraging conversations about the river’s cultural and environmental significance.
Second Place: Andy Konigsmark — Fat Pitch
Andy Konigsmark
Andy Konigsmark will adapt his original screenplay and novel, “Fat Pitch,” into a performance and film project, creating opportunities for local performers and filmmakers while culminating in a free public premiere celebrating original storytelling.
Third Place: Ashley Shupp — Fox + Stag
Ashley Shupp
Ashley Shupp will expand her handcrafted clothing business while offering free sewing workshops, student mentorship, and public fashion events that encourage creativity, sustainable design, and skill-sharing throughout the Telluride community.
Community Engagement Awards
Sarah Tyler (Tie) — Open HeART Apothecary
Sarah Tyler
Family nurse practitioner Sarah Tyler will collaborate with local artists Aubrey Mable, Emily Scott Robinson, and Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer to create an immersive public art installation featuring music and poetry as artistic “prescriptions” for healing, hope, joy, and connection.
Brandon Berkel (Tie) — Ski Pass Photo Pop-Up
Brandon Berkel
Brandon Berkel’s interactive community photo experience celebrates mountain-town culture through nostalgic ski pass portraits, creating a fun annual tradition for residents and visitors of all ages.
Professional Development Awards
Winner: Ellen Metrick — Children of the North Winds
Ellen Metrick will complete revisions on her middle-grade, novel-in-verse inspired by Settlement Age Iceland, preparing the manuscript for publication and a planned 2027 book launch.
Honorable Mention: Elizabeth (Shevi) Miller — Stone Setting & Silversmithing
Shevi Miller
Shevi Miller will expand her jewelry-making skills through advanced stone-setting training, while sharing her growing craft with the community through demonstrations and hands-on workshops inspired by the San Juan Mountains and Telluride’s mining heritage.
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