Many Boulder residents may remember the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery, located in the heart of the Pearl Street Mall. One of the first co-ops in the country, this beloved institution served Boulder for 50 years.
Sadly, it closed in 2021, a casualty of COVID and high rent, leaving many local artists without a place to display and sell their work downtown.
Pearl Street was once saturated with independent galleries and art studios. Now, The New Local, located in the historic Montgomery House at 741 Pearl St., is the only gallery left downtown that champions multiple local artists.
Artists need a consistent downtown presence so they can gain exposure to new audiences and potential collectors. Just as a river brings new life downstream, so a consistent influx of visitors to Pearl Street provides creators with vital opportunities to grow.
In the two years since we staked a claim on West Pearl, The New Local has showcased more than 180 local, women and nonbinary creators in mediums ranging from museum-quality fine art to artisanal botanic soaps. We hold an open call for artwork twice a year, engaging a diverse, expert jury that ensures broad representation. Our gallery has generated $393,000 in art sales, 80% of which went directly to local artists.
The remaining 20% flows into our nonprofit programs. We host field trips for low-income schools and free community art days, during which scholarship and paying students enjoy creative play side-by-side. Last November, The New Local hosted the city’s first ever Dia De Los Muertos procession downtown, alongside our friends and community partners, El Centro Amistad. We also launched Sundays on West Pearl this year, providing free art on our lawn every Sunday all summer.
This winter, our nonprofit is collaborating with commercial landlords to occupy a large, historic upstairs space on the bricks of the Pearl Street Mall, accommodating multiple arts organizations in one location. This space will serve as an indoor community hub over the holidays, hosting visual and performing arts groups.
By reclaiming our city’s downtown with inclusive, creative culture, we foster an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging in the heart of our city.
At the same time we are bringing new life to West Pearl, we’re also helping to preserve its history. The New Local is headquartered in two iconic buildings: The Montgomery House, our main facility, and the Annex at 713 Pearl St. — once one of Boulder’s oldest butcher shops and grocers.
Both venues date back to the 1880s and were occupied by private businesses until we opened to the public in November 2022. These beloved landmarks that are now accessible for everyone to enjoy, honoring the special character and history of our city.
We’d love others to join us, but the financial realities make it impossible. Unless local government and/or private philanthropists step up, artists can’t come back downtown.
The New Local is working to purchase a forever home on West Pearl. As commercial rents continue to rise, we must ensure that The New Local can continue to represent local artists while providing an inclusive hub for creative culture. We hope that, in time, other galleries and organizations will follow suit, bringing a true arts community back to downtown.
If this vision resonates with the Boulder that you love, please consider contributing to our capital campaign: givebutter.com/thenewlocalboulder.
Marie-Juliette Bird is the founder and executive/creative director of The New Local
This opinion does not necessarily reflect the views of Boulder Weekly.