The finest pastel artists in the region come to the Longmont Museum for the 5th annual Mile High National juried exhibition. Pastel, powdered pigment held together with a non-greasy binder, has been used as an artistic medium since the 1700s. Impressionist Edgar Degas (1834-1917) showed that pastel could be as expressive a medium as oil with his stunning paintings of ballet dancers. Modern pastel artists continue to explore this expressive and subtle medium.

The Pastel Society of Colorado promotes the pastel medium through a variety of programs including the Mile High National Exhibition.