In 1907, a local newspaper published a major article touting the golden age of hydroelectric energy that was being sourced from the Animas River Powerhouse and spreading out to a network of mines throughout the San Juan Mountains. While today the building located just a mile east of Silverton is no longer used for its original intended purpose, a new source of power and resilience is being tapped from this remote mountain landscape through harnessing the creativity and collaboration of the people who inhabit it.

When the surrounding mines closed in the 1990s, the powerhouse was abandoned and turned over to the Silverton Historical Society. It went up for rent at the end of 2021, and by February of 2022, four local artists — Hannah Green, Anne Chase, Julian Hood and Hillary Cable — signed the lease. They shared a vision to create a lively and thriving space that enhances the community’s well-being through engagement and collaborative creativity.

Silverton, with a population of about 600, is a mining town turned tourist attraction. But epic heli-skiing or lining up for the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run doesn’t negate the housing, security and career obstacles locals face.

So, one of the main goals of the Silverton Powerhouse is to increase and diversify the economic opportunity of this town year-round.“ Rather than always giving and sharing with visitors, we need to have something for ourselves too — something to build our community stronger,” says Chase.

Events and workshops hosted by the Powerhouse bring a whole diverse group of the population in. The three-story brick building itself is hugely inspiring. It has massive windows that open to mountain views from every vantagepoint. “People who have lived here their whole lives are saying, ‘Wow I’ve never been in here! This is so cool!’” shares Chase.

The town itself can be quiet, isolating and polarized. There are only three restaurants intown, and people often go either to the liberal or conservative brewery and pizza place. Although Ridgway and Durango are geographically quite close, the mountains separate them. The Silverton School (K through 12) often pays for transportation down to Durango to expand students’ learning opportunities, so there’s huge potential for the Powerhouse to collaborate with the school.

“To get to the ultimate mission, we need to make building enhancements so that it is usable year-round,” says Chase. Its uninsulated and open space doesn’t get above 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, so the founding artists don’t feel right renting out studio space until they can decide on and fund proper heating. They recently hit their kick starter goal of $20,000, which will go towards summer projects like buying a liquor license ,building a dark room, getting a film projector and screen and writing grants.

Silverton Historical Society recently informed the founding artists that they want to sell the building for $1.2 million. Chase says, “It seems really daunting, and it’s going to take a lot of work, but we feel really backed by the community. There’s so much forward momentum.”

“We started out just wanting to create studio spaces, and we realize there’s a bigger community need for creative space and collaboration. So, it feels like we’ve become inspired to address that need, and the community has really backed us with the vision,” Chase adds. Mentorship from Charles Shaw, who started pursuing a similar successful project in Durango about 25 years ago (the Smiley Building) has largely helped. is hoping the Powerhouse will help Silverton become a Colorado Creative District.

A week prior to this interview, snowstorms had closed the highways into Silverton, and Chase needed medical evacuation (she is okay now). The helicopter flew along the Animas River and, for the first time, Chase looked down to see the hydroelectric plant that connected to the Powerhouse. She reflected on this moment and a century-old history: “It feels important to continue on the legacy of this building with people still working inside the Powerhouse who are part of our economy. It’s rooted in our place.”

Learn more at silvertonpowerhouse.com or @silvertonpowerhousecollective.

Silverton Powerhouse: Community Resilience Through Art