In a rural town where resources are scarce and opportunities for artistic expression, even scarcer, a small nonprofit is making big moves. Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts has become the heart of creativity and connection in Ignacio. You're watching the Local News Network, brought to you by Crystal Mart and Durango Gelato Coffee and Tea. I am Sadie Smith. Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts offers a place for artistic expression and community growth through art and education. The center includes a gallery space, a pottery studio, and offers community art classes at Pine River Library. The center also picks an artist to feature in a month long exhibit that changes every first Friday.

When you walk into the front of the space, it's the co-op Art gallery, and then we have First Friday art openings. What that does is it gives artists economic opportunity to have some social interaction with other artists, also to sell their work at a good price point, or develop products that can get out further to other markets.

Dancing Spirit has evolved through many stages during its 15 years in business. This past October, the Center moved. They were able to upgrade into a new 4,000 square foot, $2 million building. Dancing Spirit also was named an Enterprise Zone project in 2023, an important designation that has helped it raise funds for its projects.

It got us organized and I'm grateful, and it really does help economically deprived communities get going

As one of its claims to fame, Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts offers the only handicap accessible pottery wheel available to the public in the four corners.

You can adjust this thing up and down, and it's got supports for your arms too. So, say you don't have a lot of upper arm strength, but you can have that ability to move and adjust this up and down in many different positions. It's awesome. And so we've had quite a few people use it with different disabilities.

Dancing Spirit provides Ignacio with a center that encourages creativity, education, and appreciation for the arts.

My motto is touching lives through creativity. That's what we do.

Additional details may be found on Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts webpage. Find more information about this and other stories at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I'm Sadie Smith.