Overview
Located in Trinidad, Colorado between the arts hubs of Denver and Santa Fe, the East Street School was first developed to accommodate affordable live/work spaces for artists in 2019.
Originally constructed in 1919 by the nationally-acclaimed architectural firm of Isaac H. Rapp and William M. Rapp, the 23,000-square-foot building served as a school for over 80 years. The building’s reimagining as a cultural hub serving rural southern Colorado was inspired by artist Clark Richert, the co-founder of Drop City, an artist commune located in Las Animas County in the 1960s and 70s. East Street School was added to the National Register in 2007 and, in 2024, received History Colorado’s People’s Choice Award for its thoughtful restoration.
The property includes 13 live/work apartments, four artist studios, a hybrid unit for public short-term rental/reduced-rate housing for tenants’ family/one-month Artist-in-Residence (AIR) space, a community gallery/event space (Clark Richert Hall), and a commercial culinary space for workforce training and community food access, recovery support, cultural gatherings, and the arts. Its high ceilings, expansive windows, and light-filled U-shaped layout preserve the building’s historic character while creating welcoming spaces for creativity and connection.
Our Approach
Originally redeveloped in 2019 by Urban Neighborhoods and Four Points Funding in partnership with RedLine Contemporary Art Center through its Satellite Initiative, the project was shaped by community feedback and a vision for long-term cultural investment in Trinidad. In January 2026, CAST Colorado secured $1.9 million in support from The Colorado Health Foundation. Of the $1.9 million investment, $1.825 million went towards the acquisition of the property while the remaining $75,000 will go towards the permanent stewardship of the property, preserving affordability while expanding partnerships and programming for the broader community.
CAST assumes the traditional roles of owner and property/asset manager, while also bringing value as an intermediary for local and regional partnerships and facilitator of programming and cultural events.
Impact
Within walking distance of historic downtown Trinidad, the East Street School reflects CAST’s growing work to develop sustainable, community-rooted models for affordable artist housing and cultural space, demonstrating how historic buildings can foster creativity, belonging, and long-term community stability.
Through CAST’s stewardship, East Street School’s community event and culinary spaces can continue to support and expand programming focused on food access, art therapy, recovery support, and cultural gathering shaped by community feedback.
Visit available spaces to learn more about the East Street School’s current studio and live-work space offerings.
