East Side Art Institute (ESAI) is a non-profit organization responsible for building a fully-equipped facility for art education, research, and exhibition in Boulder Country, Colorado.  ESAI has the vision to become a focal point for the practice of creative arts, where artists, educators, administrators, business leaders, and philanthropists work together in a supportive community to provide unique opportunities and inspiration for people of all ages and abilities to discover and pursue their passion for creative expression.

The making of art takes artists into the moment where they are held in perfect awareness, providing joy and purpose to sustain them in their daily lives. ESAI aims to provide the resources and educational opportunities that allow that magic to happen, whether that is supporting aspiring artists or allowing established artists to branch out into other art forms or combined media.

Inspirational Space

East Side Art Institute purchased 14.27 acres in Boulder County, Colorado to build its new campus. ESAI will renovate one of the existing agricultural buildings and build new structures to provide 15,000 square feet of space to house classrooms, studios, cleanup areas, an exhibition area, a supply shop, a community room, and a kitchen for hosting events and much more. A large open shed will house ceramic kilns for wood and salt firings, a metal shop, and a sculpture space. This unique rural setting will provide privacy and inspiration from nature.

ESAI recognizes and honors the Indigenous peoples of this region, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Ute, and Sioux Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, on whose ancestral lands the campus of East Side Art Institute will now reside.

Supporting Budding Artists

ESAI will provide educational opportunities for artists who are serious about taking the next step in their development, including unique studio programs in ceramics, woodworking, sculpture, metal, and glass, all taught under the direction of local masters. These programs will be designed to respond to the changing needs of students and to give non-traditional students the same quality of information and critique found in a university program.

The aim is for graduates to possess the technical skills, artistic context, and personal insight to build a strong and cohesive body of work. They will also learn how to present and promote their work, whether they are seeking gallery representation, applying to graduate school, or selling work to the public. Each program will culminate in a final exhibition at the Institute.

Alongside the more focused programs will also be opportunities for the local community, adults and children alike. Bringing people of all ages into the same space to share their experiences, insights, and accomplishments achieves a uniquely fulfilling experience.