Arts Missoula launches second year of Artist Grant program – Applications open Jan. 1st 2023 and close Feb. 15th 2023
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Missoula is an arts community. That’s not a secret. Every year Missoula finds itself listed in a new national study highlighting our strength in the arts (read article here). These studies make clear that our nonprofit arts organizations are strong, and that overall, our arts and cultural events and activities have been a boon to our local economy.
What’s been missing in all this has been the artists themselves. Being a professional artist is a challenge. The creation, inspiration, working in one’s studio, honing a craft – that’s the enjoyable part, and it is why folks decide to pursue their craft professionally. What is harder, and often neither the strength nor the passion of an artist, is the business part – marketing, budgeting, looking for gigs or gallery opportunities. And even if one is successful in this latter area, all too often it is still difficult to make ends meet. Paying for groceries, rent, travel (if you are an artist in Montana, you must travel) can all too often force artists to look for other, more affordable communities to live in.
As a strong arts community, we want our artists to live here! But one look at the rising housing prices indicates how difficult it is for many to continue living in Missoula. Now in its second year, Arts Missoula offers an Artist Grant, which will be used to provide grants to individual artists in our community so they can continue to live and work here. Arts Missoula will provide multiple individual artists up to $2,500, in unrestricted grant funds to help establish and grow a Missoula-based livelihood in the arts. We recognize the challenges artists face in sustaining a career in the arts. We also recognize the value that these artists bring to our community and culture. These grants are focused on community-building through the arts, providing financial assistance for individual artists living in Missoula County, whose creative work connects with and enriches our community. This is not a project-based grant per se, but an opportunity to support the individual artists living in Missoula to pursue their creative journey as it relates to connecting with our local area. Special consideration will be given to those whose work and story intersect with and enhances the community.
Individual artists must be 18 years and older, and applicants must currently be residing in Missoula County for a minimum of one year, as well as for the life of the grant. Applicants need to be currently working in the field of visual or performing arts, at any career stage. Aside from exhibiting high artistic quality, innovation, and creativity, artists will have the opportunity to demonstrate interaction with Missoula community members through exhibitions, installations, performances, or any other events or activities that are accessible to the public.
At Arts Missoula, we see this development as a major step in building an ever more vibrant community for arts and culture. We look forward to building the Arts Missoula Artist Grant into a sustainable program, able to fund local artists year after year.
Established in 1999, these awards demonstrate the importance of the arts as they relate to Missoula’s quality of life by honoring those who have made significant contributions to the arts community.
What People are Saying:
“The wonderful folks at Arts Missoula held their 2023 Arts and Cultures Awards Reception this evening and what a tremendous slate of Missoulians recognized for their contributions to the arts, new and old. The arts play such an important role in defining the personality of a community, and Missoula continues to shine brightly. Support for the arts, or as was said tonight, the opportunity to do things with your hands, is the expectation in Missoula, as it should be. The opportunities provided by the Arts for our youngest residents to our oldest, from programs in our schools to cultural events throughout the year, we are lucky to live in this place where people care enough to give back.” – Mike Nugent
Congratulations to the 2023 Award Winners:
Tom Bensen ~ John Engen Cultural Ambassador Award
Julia Galloway of the University of Montana ~ Individual Artist Award
Lewis Nelson of Sentinel High School ~Arts Educator Award
Gary Bowman of Morgenroth Music ~ Business Support of the Arts Award
Liv Swant-Johnson of Word Dog ~ Cultural Vision Award
Julia Tai of Missoula Symphony ~ New to the Zoo Award
Robin Checota accepting the Business Support for the Arts award on behalf of Logjam FoundationRob Tapper accepting the Arts Educator awardJoy French accepting the Individual Artist award from Tom Bensen2022 award winners with incoming Executive Director Heather Adams and outgoing ED Tom BensenOutgoing Executive Director Tom Bensen speaks at 2022 Awards Reception
Watch the 2022 awards presentation and reception
2022 WINNERS!
·The Cultural Ambassador Award, honoring someone who has consistently supported the arts community and cultural diplomacy is awarded to Mayor John Engen.
·The Individual Artist, presented to someone who has shown exceptional achievement in their chosen craft, is awarded to Joy French, founder, choreographer, and dancer of Bare Bait Dance Company.
·The Arts Educator, honoring an outstanding local educator who has devoted a career to teaching the arts, is awarded to Rob Tapper, Professor of Trombone & Director of Jazz Studies at UM.
·The Business Support for the Arts, given to businesses that have provided long-term support to Missoula’s artists and arts organizations, is awarded to Logjam Presents.
·The Cultural Vision Award, honoring artistic and cultural programming, goes to Open Air.
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Past Award Recipients
2020 Honorees
2020 Cultural Ambassador: Nancy Matthews
2020 Individual Artist: Margaret Baldridge
2020 Arts Educator: John Combs
2020 Business Support for the Arts: Blackfoot Communications
2020 Cultural Vision: Zootown Arts Community Center
2019 Honorees
2019 Cultural Ambassador: Mark Thane
2019 Individual Artist: Corwin “Corky” Clairmont
2019 Arts Educator: Matt Loehrke
2019 Business Support for the Arts: Kimberley Roth / Merrill Lynch
2019 Cultural Vision: Marc Moss
2018 Honorees
2018 Cultural Achievement: Sharon Snavely
2018 Individual Artist: James Lee Burke
2018 Arts Educator: H. Rafael Chacon
2018 Business Support for the Arts: Montana Public Radio
2018 Cultural Vision: Charlene Campbell Carey
2017 Honorees
2017 Cultural Achievement: Stephen Glueckert
2017 Cultural Vision: Roxy Theater
2017 Arts Educator: Karen Callen
2017 Business Support for the Arts: Downtown Missoula Partnership
2017 Individual Artist: Chuck Florence
2016 Honorees
2016 Cultural Achievement: John Driscoll
2016 Cultural Vision: Clay Studio of Missoula
2016 Arts Educator: Dorothy Morrison
2016 Business Support for the Arts: Flanagan Motors
2016 Individual Artist: Kendahl Jan Jubb
2015 Honorees
2015 Cultural Achievement: William Marcus
2015 Individual Artist: Stephen Kalm
2015 Arts Educator: Karen Kaufman
2015 Business Support for the Arts: Heather Adams, Downtown Dance Collective
2015 Cultural Vision: Michael McGill, MCT Inc.
2014 Honorees
2014 Cultural Achievement: Cathy Capps
2014 Individual Artist: Beth Lo
2014 Arts Educator: Tarn Ream & Lisa Deer
2014 Business Support for the Arts: Missoula Federal Credit Union
2014 Cultural Vision: Joel Baird, MCAT
2013 Honorees
2013 Cultural Achievement: Carol Stovall
2013 Individual Artist: Darko Butorac
2013 Arts Educator: Mohan Kartha
2013 Business Support for the Arts: The Good Food Store
2013 Cultural Vision: Kim Anderson
2012 Honorees
2012 Cultural Achievement: Herb Swick
2012 Individual Artist: David Horgan
2012 Arts Educator: Carla Getz
2012 Business Support for the Arts: Crossings Collaboration
2012 Cultural Vision: Greg Johnson
2011 Honorees
2011 Cultural Achievement: Jim & Marci Valeo
2011 Individual Artist: Michael Marsolek
2011 Arts Educator: Dean Peterson
2011 Business Support for the Arts: 103.3 The Trail
2011 Cultural Vision: International Choral Festival
2010 Honorees
2010 Cultural Achievement: Bruce Micklus, and Don & Pat Simmons
2010 Business Support for the Arts: First Security Bank
2010 Cultural Program of the Year: Amy Martin, Y Music
2009 Honorees
2009 Cultural Achievement: James Todd and Pat Williams
2009 Business Support for the Arts: The Missoulian
2008 Honorees
2008 Cultural Achievement: Tom & Ann Boone and Ray & Susie Risho
2008 Business Support for the Arts: Advanced Litho Printing
2007 Honorees
2007 Cultural Achievement: Lance Boyd, William Kittredge, Jodi Marshall and Laura Millin
2007 Business Support for the Arts: Dana Gallery and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
2006 Honorees
2006 Cultural Achievement: Alayne Dolson, Joseph Henry and Geoff Sutton
2006 Business Support for the Arts: Allegra Print and Imaging and A.L.P.S.
2005 Honorees
2005 Cultural Achievement: Eugene Andrie, Dana Boussard, Juliette Crump and Annick Smith
2005 Business Support for the Arts: Dollar Rent-a-Car and Gateway Printing
2003 Honorees (Awarded January 2004)
2003 Cultural Achievement: Geoff Badenoch, Sheryl Noethe, Rudy Autio and Gerald Doty
2003 Business Support for the Arts: Southgate Mall and Rockin’ Rudy’s
2002 Honorees
2002 Cultural Achievement: John & Sue Talbot, Theresa Cox, James Welch and Barbara Theroux
2000 Honorees
2000 Cultural Achievement: Terry Conrad, Don Carey, Jim Caron and Monte Dolack
1999 Honorees
1999 Cultural Achievement: Jo-Anne Mussulman, Joseph Mussulman and David Nelson
World View Film Series
Fall 2023 World View Film Series at The Roxy
Help us have another record-breaking season this Fall by attending our four-film series on Cultures In Laughter.All films are FREE and open to the public because of the generous support of these businesses and organizations in Missoula: International Rescue Committee, Jeannette Rankin Peace Center, Pink Grizzly, SG Long Financial, Montana Educators Credit Union and Lake Missoula Tea Company, William Rideg Law, and US Bank.
Join Arts Missoula’s very own, Udo Fluck as your host very second Monday of the month, at 7 PM at The Roxy Theater, located at 718 S. Higgins Avenue. Local artist Courtney Blazon designs the official poster for each fall and spring season.
Joy French, Founder & Artistic Director of Missoula’s Bare Bait Dance Company performs on the Roxy stage, as an introduction to Pina, a German documentary film about the contemporary dance choreographer Pina Bausch (Fall 2018) The Roxy Theater marquee announcing the World View Film Series, which is FREE and OPEN to the public. Udo Fluck welcoming the audience to the opening of the World View Film Series (Fall 2019). Executive Director of Arts Missoula, Heather Adams, welcoming the audience to the World View Film Series (Fall 2022). Executive Director of Arts Missoula, Heather Adams, welcoming the audience to the World View Film Series (Fall 2022).
About the World View Film Series
In the fall of 2018, Arts Missoula GLOBAL in collaboration with The Roxy Theater inaugurated the World View Film Series, which screens four international movies (either foreign productions or with a focus on a country abroad) in the fall and four in the spring of each year. A five-person committee selects a seasonal focus and the corresponding films.
The film series provides a “Window to the World” for Missoula that is FREE and open to the public!
Past seasonal themes included:
Spring 2023 – Cultures In Love (Films about cultures in love)
Fall 2022 – Cultures Healing (Films about cultures recovering from trauma)
Spring 2022 – Cultures in Words (Films about writing and writers) With post-film discussion hosted by Marisa Diaz-Waian, from Merlin CCC.
Fall 2021 – Cultures in Flux (Films about movement in societies) With post-film discussion hosted by Marisa Diaz-Waian, from Merlin CCC.
Spring 2021 – Cultures Coming Together (Films about freedom and democracy) With post-film discussion hosted by Marisa Diaz-Waian, from Merlin CCC.
Fall 2020 – Cultures at the Table (Films about food in movies) In collaboration with the Missoula Public Library. Learn more.
In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we pivoted and offered the World View Film Series as a virtual event, with increased access, by partnering with the Missoula Public Library and their streaming service Kanopy. A post-film community conversation on Zoom was offered, following each film, inspired by questions raised in the movie. The conversations had the aim of creating a space for thoughtful dialogue, reflection, and sharing. The post-film community conversations on Zoom were hosted by the Humanities Montana and Arts Missoula GLOBAL and moderated by members of these three organizations.
Spring 2020 – The Roxy Theater was closed, due to COVID-19.
Fall 2019 – Cultures on Display (Films about art in movies)
Spring 2019 – Cultures in Harmony (Films about music in movies)
Fall 2018 – Cultures in Motion (Films about dance in movies)
For over thirty years, Missoula’s annual book festival has paid tribute to the tradition of writing in the West by bringing together authors from across the region. In 2015, what was the Humanities Montana Festival of the Book became The Montana Book Festival as an Incubator Program of Arts Missoula. Since then, The Montana Book Festival has been a grassroots organization, relying on individual donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, a handful of dedicated locals and the enduring support of the Montana literary community to survive. We have worked to build upon the event’s legacy while also reinvigorating the festival with new ideas and fresh perspective. Every year, local sponsors have come together to bring literary personalities such as James Lee Burke, Jane Smiley, Bill Kittredge, Charles D’Ambrosio, Gretel Ehrlich, Rick Bass and more to our mountain town. Along with an exciting array of readings, panels and exhibits, we annually host Pie & Whiskey, Erotic Fan Fiction, concerts and parties in downtown Missoula. Against the beautiful mountain backdrop, in a city split by the famous Clark Fork River, summer comes to a close and The Montana Book Festival Comes to life.
The 2023 Palmerston North delegation visit was a HUGE success! The 7 person delegation were able to spend quality time at a number of local organizations and met with numerous community members, administrators, city council members, lawmakers and had time to enjoy everything that Missoula has to offer. We are excited to continue our relationship with Palmerston North, NZ.
Read the Missoulian article about our sister city here.
Thank you Flanagan Motors for providing transportation, Missoula Downtown Association, Missoula Downtown Foundation and BID of Missoula for co-hosting the delegates at a variety of functions. And thank you to the Holiday Inn Parkside for being the official lodging for our delegates.
A big thank you to Tim and Dawn Payne for their support in this delegation visit!
Missoula, Montana and Palmerston North, New Zealand have been Sister Cities for over 40 years. In that time the two cities have helped unite cultures and learn from each other through various cultural and educational exchanges. We annually celebrate this unique relationship with New Zealand Day(s), an event highlighting our longstanding connection with Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Sister City Bench Unveiling at Caras Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation visit 2023
Ledger Art Gift Created by Aspen Decker – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation VisitMissoula All Maggots Rugby Game at Fort Missoula Regional Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023 Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023 Sister City Bench and Ledger Art Unveiling at Caras Park – Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Sister City Bench Unveiling at Caras Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023 Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Helena, MT Capitol Sister City Bench Unveiling with Mayor Hess and Dr. Udo Fluck – Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023 Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Worden’s Market – Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Missoula All Maggots Rugby Game at Fort Missoula Regional Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Missoula All Maggots Rugby Hunge at Fort Missoula Regional Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Missoula All Maggots Rugby Game at Fort Missoula Regional Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Payne Family Native American CenterPalmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Paul’s Pancake ParlorPalmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Montana BuildingDinner at the Maggot’s Club House – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationPalmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Missoula Smokejumpers Visitor CenterPalmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023: Lake Missoula Tea CompanyMissoula All Maggots Rugby Game at Fort Missoula Regional Park – Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023 Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023 with Indigenous Made Missoula Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Sister CIty Bench UnveilingPalmerston North Delegation Visit 2023 Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023: Dinner at Melissa Blunt’s HousePalmerston North Delegation Visit 2023 Palmerston North, NZ Delegation Visit 2023Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023: Downtown MissoulaPalmerston North Delegation Visit 2023: Ruby’s Cafe – Filming Location of the series “Yellowstone”Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023: Ruby’s Cafe – Filming Location of the series “Yellowstone”Palmerston North Delegation Visit 2023: Ruby’s Cafe – Filming Location of the series “Yellowstone”
For any questions, email info@artsmissoula.org or give us a call at 406.541.0860.
History of Germanfest
1993 – 2023 30th Anniversary of Missoula’s Sister City Connection with Neckargemünd, Germany
The Origin Story
2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Missoula’s Sister-City Partnership with Neckargemünd, Germany. In 1992 – 1993, delegations from these two cities, including choirs, mayors, city council members and interested citizens, traveled to their potential sister-city to get to know one another and to discuss whether such a partnership might be feasible.
The sister city idea was born during the 1990-91 academic year when Professor Jerry Fetz, from the University of Montana and Professor Erich Pohl, from the University of Heidelberg received Fulbright Awards to trade places for the year. They both became acquainted with their host city mayors and agreed this relationship would be beneficial to both parties. Mayor Dan Kemmis of Missoula and Mayor Oskar Schuster of Neckargemünd, with the blessing and support of their respective City Councils and numerous citizens, agreed that this partnership should be inaugurated and bring these cities, their students, and citizens of all ages closer together.
Over the past 30 years, we can look back to a vibrant partnership that has focused on high school and university students (close to 400 young Missoulians and young Neckargemünders have spent memorable times in each other’s cities, schools, and households) as well as numerous citizen -to-citizen and cultural exchanges. Although the high school student exchange program between Hellgate and the high school in Neckargemünd has experienced a hiatus after some 25 years, efforts are underway to revive the program.
Generous Missoulians have shown guests from Germany not only Missoula and our immediate surrounding area, but Montana’s spectacular landscapes and colorful people as well. And gracious Neckargemünders have greeted and welcomed Missoulians into the homes of on that side of the Atlantic. Exploring Neckargemünd and nearby Heidelberg, the oldest and perhaps most famous German University town that is just five miles downstream on the Neckar River. As well as other remarkable and beautiful areas and towns in this southeast region of Germany.
About Neckargemünd
A very old city, Neckargemünd was first cited in an official document over 1,000 years ago. It is now made up of the main part of town, as well as four additional nearby former villages. It is located on the Neckar River where the smaller Elsenz River flows into it. It also has a river running near it! The town is nestled in by a walled hill of Dilsberg and another hill to Mückenloch, and up to the town of Waldhilsbach. Each of the former villages has its own personality, but all are proud areas of Neckargemünd. In between all these parts of the town lie beautiful, forested areas that invite long walks for every season. Neckargemünd is smaller than Missoula but attracts a lot of visitors from the larger towns like Heidelberg or Mannheim, where many Neckargemünders work or study (collectively known as the Odenwald).
Friendships and understanding have blossomed for the respective partner city, region/state, and country. Out of this partnership, arose the annual Germanfest in Missoula, a fall festival in Caras Park drawing 1000’s over 30 years.
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