Our Mission

Originally a First National Bank, established by Ed Curtis who also ran the Curtis Hardware Store next door to the north, was the first of two banks in Paonia and was dedicated one year after the town of Paonia was formed. Built by well-known local contractors/stone masons Al Hurst and Sege Stratton in 1903. It is constructed of quarry-faced pink and white sandstone blocks, hauled via horse and wagon by Stratton from a local quarry. When originally constructed, carved stones with the lettering “First National Bank” were centrally placed on the building façade above the arched window.

The Blue Sage Center is housed in 2 historic properties in the small town of Paonia, the First National Bank Building and the Curtis Hardware Store.

When the First National Bank moved their offices, the building was sold to the town of Paonia on June 30, 1960 with the covenant that the building would never again be used as a bank. The sale price of the building on this date was $6,000.

First National Bank lettering was removed sometime prior to 1981. Additional carved stone lettering, which remains today, reflects the date of construction: “A.D.” under the now blank area to the south and “1903” under the blank area on the north. It is the only commercial building in the downtown built of locally quarried and cut sandstone.

The sale price of the building on this date was $6,000. The Town of Paonia sold the building after using it for the town hall, police headquarters and post office to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local 6417 Building Corporation on December 1, 1983 for $50,000.

In 1994, a group of teachers rented a building in downtown Paonia and founded the Blue Sage Dance and Movement Center.  They offered organized dance, yoga, tai chi, and movement classes to the community. This space became the venue for the annual Paonia Holiday Arts Festival.  Music also became a part of the Center with the introduction of the “Sage Stage.”

In 1996, the Blue Sage moved across the street into the historic Curtis Hardware Building and established 501(c)3 status.  Staff consisted of a part-time manager.

In 1998, the name of the organization was changed to the Blue Sage Center for the Arts and the opportunity to purchase the Curtis Hardware Building arose. The board members of the Blue Sage organized a capital campaign that included donations from local individuals, businesses, Blue Sage members, and private foundations to raise the necessary $225,000.  The purchase was completed in the fall of 1999.

In January 2000, the Blue Sage opened its office on the second floor of the historic Curtis Building, bought a computer, and installed a telephone. “The Blue Sage Studio” is now available as lofts and studios for artists.

.

The building was sold yet again on October 25, 2001, to new owners Mose and Maren Oppenheimer for $102,500, with the covenants of no future use as a bank and no changes to the façade or windows.

In May of 2003, the Blue Sage began another Capital Campaign to purchase the adjacent “First National Bank Building,” built in 1903. The Blue Sage obtained full use of the new building while still in the midst of the fundraiser to purchase it.  The building was purchased outright a year later. This building presently houses the art gallery, events lobby, office, and classroom.

The title was transferred to Eugene and Margo Lorig on May 19, 2004, to hold for the Blue Sage Center for the Arts to purchase when sufficient funds are available to pay the mortgage.

In April of 2005, a doorway was created between the two buildings, allowing the Blue Sage to become one large facility. In May, the “First National Bank Building” was officially added to the Colorado Register of Historic Properties.

Paonia’s creative sector continued (and continues) to grow, in the number of resident artists and opportunities for local residents to engage in the arts and in creative industries.  In order to keep pace with the changes, a new board was elected to reorganize the Blue Sage in 2010.

With sustainability of both finance and programs as the keystone, Blue Sage Board of Directors completed a comprehensive strategic plan that was implemented in 2011 with the hiring of an Executive Director.  Since emerging from this process the organization has achieved its year-one targets, and is on track to achieve year-two goals. The strategic plan has been redone in both 2014 and 2017.

For nearly 20 years, the Blue Sage was the only events venue in Paonia offering a variety of classes, live music, talks, and gallery exhibits. Though other venues have appeared over the years, the Blue Sage remains a mainstay in classical music concerts while remaining open to the community for event and class rental space.

2021 ANNUAL REPORT  Annual Report 2021

Today the Blue Sage serves about 10,000 residents of the North Fork Valley annually through classes, events, gallery exhibits, venue rentals and arts outreach into local schools.

In 2025 The Blue Sage completed Sage Alley, a community-driven transformation of an underutilized alley lot into a vibrant, inclusive, and ADA-accessible cultural venue behind The Blue Sage. Originally created as a temporary outdoor space, Sage Alley quickly became a beloved gathering place for the North Fork community. Recognizing its impact, the Blue Sage Center for the Arts launched a capital campaign to make Sage Alley a permanent, multi-use venue that fosters creative sector innovation, economic development, and social connection.

With a 30-year history of fostering arts and culture, The Blue Sage has always functioned with an active board and board member-led committees (Literary, Gallery, and Music) overseeing important initiatives. These volunteer-led teams serve as key stakeholders, ensuring the continuity of programming and capital projects regardless of leadership changes. This structure has sustained long-running programs like the Blue Sage Concert Series (15 years), Harvest of Voices (20 years), Black Eyed Pea New Year’s Celebration (26 years), StoryShare (5 years) and Teen Art Studio (11 years).