Museum of Friends
Building Connections Through Art, Education, and Preservation
The Museum of Friends (MoF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit contemporary art museum housed in the historic Roof & Dick Building in downtown Walsenburg, Colorado. Founded in 2006 by artists Brendt Berger and Maria Cocchiarelli-Berger, MoF has grown from an initial collection of 600 donated works into a cornerstone of cultural life and creative education in Southern Colorado. As both a cultural anchor and economic catalyst, MoF celebrates the creative spirit of Huerfano County while advancing rural revitalization. Through its Made in Walsenburg Gift Shop, the museum supports local artists and entrepreneurs, strengthening the regional creative economy and expanding access to the arts.
Our Mission
The Museum of Friends' mission is to honor the artists who built the collection, support local artists, and preserve the Roof & Dick Building as a historical site, celebrating its mercantile and economic significance in Huerfano County’s development.
MoF fosters cultural education, inclusivity, equity, and social responsibility — strengthening the cultural and social fabric of the region. It pledges to serve the state of Colorado as a cultural resource and to create opportunities for the underserved, underrepresented, and under-resourced community of Walsenburg and Huerfano County.
Our Focus Areas
Children’s STEAM Program: Hands-on youth programs integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. These initiatives nurture curiosity, confidence, and collaboration through creative learning experiences that build 21st-century skills and community pride.
Healing Through Art Program: Accessible workshops that blend artmaking, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. Offerings include visual journaling, collage, Qi Gong, Reiki Circles, and restorative art sessions that strengthen individual and collective healing.
Cultural Investment & Civic Impact Initiative: A statewide rural arts advocacy project documenting how creative industries drive economic vitality and civic engagement. This effort positions Huerfano County as a model for rural resilience and cultural leadership.
Historic Preservation & Legacy Planning: MoF continues restoration of the Roof & Dick Building, ensuring its preservation as both a cultural landmark and an active community space. Current work includes historically accurate window restoration and long-term sustainability planning.
Your Support Matters
Your contribution helps preserve history, expand arts access, and foster creative education. Donations directly support:
Youth and Family STEAM Education
Healing and Community Arts Programs
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation
Exhibitions and Cultural Events
Together, we’re ensuring that art, history, and opportunity remain vital parts of Walsenburg’s story for generations to come.
Museum of Friends
Mailing Address: 109 East 6th Street Walsenburg, CO 81089
Main Entrance: 600 Main Street
719.738.2858 | info@museumoffriends.orgMoF's Website
The Museum of Friends' mission is to honor the artists who built the collection, support local artists, and preserve the Roof & Dick Building as a historical site, celebrating its mercantile and economic significance in Huerfano County’s development. MoF fosters cultural education, inclusivity, equity, and social responsibility, strengthening the cultural and social fabric of the region. It pledges to serve the state of Colorado as a cultural resource, and to create opportunities for the underserved, underrepresented and under-resourced community of Walsenburg and Huerfano County.
For nearly two decades, the Museum of Friends (MoF) has stood proudly at the corner of 6th and Main in downtown Walsenburg, housed in the historic 1910 Roof & Dick Building. Its enduring presence honors the entrepreneurial spirit of working artists and demonstrates how creativity can spark community renewal, connection, and belonging.
Founded in 2006 by artists Brendt Berger and Maria Cocchiarelli-Berger, MoF grew out of the legacy of the 1960s counterculture movement and the vision of artists who sought to redefine the role of art in society. The founders’ friendships with artists from Drop City (1964) and Libre inspired MoF’s roots in Huerfano County — a place where creativity, collaboration, and community have always intertwined.
Over the years, MoF’s socially conscious exhibitions and educational programs have created jobs, attracted tourism, and inspired new residents to make Southern Colorado their home. What began with 600 donated works has grown into a vibrant collection of over 4,000 artworks, serving as both a cultural anchor and a catalyst for creative and economic vitality in the region.
Thanks to the generosity of our community and supporters across the state, what once seemed impossible has become reality. As MoF enters its next chapter, we’re strengthening partnerships and pursuing creative investment to sustain a thriving, inclusive, and imaginative future for Huerfano County—where art and community grow side by side.
Organization name
Museum of Friends
other names
MoF
2007
Tax id (EIN)
26-1202774
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
109 East 6th StreetMailing
P.O. Box #506 WalsenburgHeadquarters
600 Main StreetHuerfano County, CO, US