Ah Haa School for the Arts

With a small staff and eight visiting artists, visionary book artist, Daniel Tucker, opened the Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride in June 1991. For its formative years, the school rooted itself in the town’s historic Silver Bell Building, offering diverse creative arts classes, gallery exhibits and community events to children and adults alike. In 2007, the school moved to a larger facility in Telluride’s historic train depot, enabling it to expand and nourish the ever-growing arts community.

Today, Ah Haa is a community and destination school, serving over 10,000 people annually. With nine staff members and more than 50 part-time artists and teachers, the school is a significant contributor to the economic and cultural diversity of the region. 

The mission of the Ah Haa School is to inspire all people to discover, nurture and celebrate creativity. Remaining true its mission, Ah Haa creates opportunities for people of all ages to experience the joy of personal expression and making things by hand. Ah Haa’s mission is defined by its name, “Ah Haa,” attracting participants who are intrigued by the prospect of unveiling something new about themselves.

The Ah Haa School is also home to the American Academy of Bookbinding, a nationally recognized and accredited school for learning the craft of bookmaking and related subjects. In addition, the Telluride Painting School is another prestigious Ah Haa program, offering intensive multi-week classes for serious painters to work with highly accomplished artists and instructors.