Community Arts Durango (formerly Art for Veterans/Paint Like Steve Ross!) is a t­herapeutic art landscape oil painting program of 6-weekly Bob Ross-style educational painting sessions with all materials supplied culminating in two holiday art exhibitions at the VFW. The program caters to Veterans with PTSD and other disabilities and persons handicapped with physical and mental challenges, often together with financial hardships. Unlike traditional art programs often reserved for the wealthy, we have no roofs or buildings to maintain or repair. Therefore, every penny goes directly for materials, supplies, and tuition of community members who desire to learn to oil paint.

Community Arts Durango’s primary mission is to disrupt these stereotypes and bring the arts, social change, and community engagement to Veterans with PTSD and other disabilities, as well as others with mental and physical disabilities in the La Plata County area. This program targets and caters to those in need, and who would ultimately benefit most, from therapeutic arts—the economically repressed and those challenged by mental and physical handicaps. They strive to supply all materials and supplies and quality education. Additionally, class tuition and fees are kept to a minimum or at no charge, striving for affordability to the less fortunate­­­­­, but still requiring students to be invested by contributing a nominal amount, although nobody is turned away for lack of funds.