Breckenridge was recently named the most art-vibrant small town in the U.S. by the third annual National Center for Arts Research Arts Vibrancy Index Report, which identifies arts-vibrant communities across the U.S. by measuring characteristics like the number of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations per capita in a community.
In the report, the National Center for Arts Research highlights and celebrate communities of every size and in every region that have cultivated higher levels of arts activity per person living in the community.
From this year's report:
"Steeped in culture and heritage, the town of Breckenridge provides a unique mix of creative opportunities for people of all ages and interests. Generations of artists, musicians, and writers have chosen to live in or visit this beautiful Rocky Mountain destination, its inspiration reflected in their work. The Breckenridge creative community consists of several long-standing cultural organizations, including Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, Breckenridge Film Festival, Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, Breckenridge Music Festival, and National Repertory Orchestra. Breckenridge Creative Arts (BCA) – or BreckCreate for short – was developed in 2014 by the Town of Breckenridge to support and promote arts, culture, and creative experiences, and lead the town’s creative economic development. In continuing efforts to engage a broad range of artists working in a variety of media, the artist residency program provides both emerging and established creatives the opportunity to pursue new projects and ideas, free from everyday distractions. Residencies are ideal for individuals who want to create new works, research innovative ideas, and experiment with different techniques and modes of production. In addition to hosting visiting guest artists, the residency program also provides low-cost studio space for local artists. All artists invited into the Breckenridge residency program explore new ways of thinking and engaging the public in the creative process through work on site, conversations, and participation. In 2016, the Breckenridge Arts District was selected as a new Certified Creative District by Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development."
Here's the top 10 communities listed which are considered micropolitan statistical areas by the Census Bureau, meaning they are counties with a principal city that has a population between 10,000 and 50,000. The Census Bureau names the MSA for the principal city rather than the county.
1 Breckenridge, CO
2 Summit Park, UT
3 Bennington, VT
4 Bozeman, MT
5 Hudson, NY
6 Greenfield Town, MA
7 Oneonta, NY
8 Juneau, AK
9 Jackson, WY-ID
10 Vineyard Haven, MA
