State of Art | January 2026: Art, Advocacy and What’s Ahead for Pueblo

In the first State of Art conversation of the new year, host Bree Pappan brings together three voices shaping Pueblo’s creative and civic landscape for a candid, forward-looking discussion. Artist and community advocate Tom Carrigan, artist Tia Monson, and Donielle Kitzman, vice president of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and Visit Pueblo, explore what 2026 holds for artists, small businesses, cultural organizations and the broader tourism economy.

Recorded Jan. 9, this episode looks at how art, advocacy and economic development intersect in Pueblo, and why collaboration across sectors matters now more than ever. The conversation spans grassroots creativity and big-picture strategy, highlighting how artists and institutions are working together to tell Pueblo’s story, attract visitors, and strengthen the community’s creative economy.

From what artists can expect in the year ahead to how local organizations are elevating art as a driver of tourism and identity, this episode offers insight, optimism and a call to stay engaged. It is a timely listen for anyone invested in Pueblo’s cultural future and the role art plays in shaping place, pride and possibility.

In this timely holiday episode of Bree on a Budget, Bree sits down with Luanne Maez of the United Way of Pueblo County and longtime Pueblo advocate Tom Carrigan for an honest, heartfelt conversation about navigating the festive season during economic uncertainty.

As holiday expectations collide with rising costs, shifting priorities, and real financial stress, this episode explores how individuals and families are finding balance, resilience, and support. Luanne brings deep insight from her work as Economic Mobility and Opportunity Manager at United Way, sharing how community resources, financial education, and compassion-driven systems can help people move forward, especially during emotionally and financially charged times of year. Tom adds a grounded, lived perspective shaped by his experience as a veteran, artist, and tireless supporter of Pueblo’s creative and civic life, reminding listeners that community connection matters just as much as financial planning.

The conversation is practical, reflective, and human. Listeners get to know Luanne beyond her professional role, learning about the experiences and values that shape her work and her belief that everything happens for a reason. Throughout the episode, Bree guides a thoughtful discussion centered on dignity, hope, and the importance of meeting people where they are.

This episode is a reminder that the holidays do not have to be perfect to be meaningful. With honesty and real talk about money, support systems, and community care, Bree on a Budget offers listeners reassurance, resources, and a sense that they are not alone as they navigate the season.

State of Art Podcast | Sweet Talk Paint Shapes

There are moments when a city’s creative pulse snaps into focus, and Sweet Talk Paint Shapes is one of them. Tucked into Mesa Junction, STPS is not just a studio or a gallery. It is a signal fire. A place where paint, ink, collage, tattoo culture, music, and lived experience collide and refuse to stay quiet. In this episode of State of Art, Bree Pappan steps inside Pueblo’s emerging art hot spot and captures the raw electricity of a space built by artists, for artists, with no apologies and no pretension.

Bree sits down with James Beck and Forest Archuleta Soto, two of the three creative forces behind STPS, alongside Joshua Soto, whose vision helped spark it all. Together, they talk about transforming a working studio into a gathering place where creativity is lived out loud. This is a conversation about trust, collaboration, and what happens when artists stop waiting for permission and start building the spaces they need. From DIY roots to curated chaos, STPS is proof that when artists control the narrative, culture follows.

If you are a painter, musician, photographer, filmmaker, tattoo artist, writer, or anyone who feels the pull to make something real, this episode is for you. This is about showing up, betting on yourself, and choosing Pueblo as the place where bold ideas take shape. Plug in, turn it up, and step into the moment. The future of Pueblo art is already happening.