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THE CURLEY BLOG
Stories from the Creative Campus
Life at the Curley School is full of inspiration—from the hum of the woodshop to the scent of creosote in the garden after a rain. On this blog, we share moments big and small that shape our community of makers, doers, and dreamers in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.


Border Wall Town Hall & Listening Session
The International Sonoran Desert Alliance invites the community to a Border Wall Town Hall and Listening Session focused on ongoing and proposed construction along the U.S.–Mexico border.

Curley School Creative Campus
Aug 171 min read


Meet the Artist: Chip Thomas + Beyond Borders Film Premiere
July 25–26, 2026: A special weekend of art, storytelling and community is coming to the Curley School Creative Campus, with two events exploring the people, places and connections that shape the Sonoran Desert borderlands.
Join us Saturday for a welcoming reception with internationally known public artist Chip Thomas, followed Sunday by the Ajo premiere of the short documentary Beyond Borders.

Curley School Creative Campus
Jul 202 min read


Escape the Heat Indoor Marketplace Returns to the Curley School
The Escape the Heat Indoor Marketplace returns this summer on the second Saturdays of June, July and August, transforming the historic Curley School into a lively indoor gathering place filled with local artists, makers, musicians, food vendors, demonstrations and community activities.

Curley School Creative Campus
Jun 53 min read


Ajo Clay Studio Opens for Summer Workshops & Community Studio Hours
Summer 2026: The Ajo Clay Studio is opening its doors to the community with summer workshops and weekly open studio hours, creating more opportunities for Ajo residents and visitors to learn, experiment and make something of their own.

Curley School Creative Campus
Jun 12 min read


20 Years of Art: Curley Creative Campus Collective Art Show
March 27, 2026 – Ongoing The Curley School Creative Campus is celebrating 20 years of creativity, community and artistic expression with an ongoing exhibition featuring artists from the Curley Creative Campus Collective. As we look ahead to the 20th anniversary of the Curley School Apartments in May 2027, the Curley Gallery will showcase the incredible range of artistic talent that has been part of the Curley community over the years. The exhibition features work by current r

Curley School Creative Campus
Mar 201 min read


Tri-National Sonoran Symposium Returns to the Curley School
March 9–12, 2026 Curley School Creative Campus The Tri-National Sonoran Symposium returns to Ajo March 9–12, bringing together people from across the Sonoran Desert region for four days of learning, conversation and connection at the Curley School Creative Campus. This recurring gathering creates an opportunity for participants from across the United States, Mexico and the broader Sonoran Desert region to exchange ideas, share knowledge and explore the environmental, cultural

Curley School Creative Campus
Feb 92 min read


Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit SPARK! Comes to the Curley School
November 8 – December 20, 2025 Curley School Creative Campus The Curley School Creative Campus is proud to host SPARK! Places of Innovation, a Smithsonian traveling exhibition exploring how small towns across rural America have used creativity, imagination and community collaboration to revitalize the places they call home. Presented through the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program in partnership with Arizona Humanities, the exhibit is designed to do exactl

Curley School Creative Campus
Oct 28, 20252 min read

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