The Telluride Plein Air Festival is an essential fundraiser for the Sheridan Arts Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization created to restore and preserve the Sheridan Opera House while bringing quality arts and entertainment to the town of Telluride. Forty percent of the revenue from each plein air art sale goes to the Sheridan Arts Foundation (SAF), supporting community programming at the Sheridan Opera House.

In addition to observing some of the nation’s top plein air artists at work, Telluride Plein Air Festival allows locals and tourists alike enjoy watching our two-hour quick draw competition, followed by the VIP Artist Choice Preview Party featuring each artists’ favorite piece of the week. The festival culminates in a three-day sale, where the artists display the work they created all week long.