The Missoula Art Museum is committed to educating the community through contemporary art and to developing and conserving the Art Museum Collection in order to preserve and make accessible our cultural heritage. With the ongoing dedication of artists, educators, community members and volunteers, MAM (Missoula Art Museum) has grown from a summer arts festival to a thriving institution serving the Northwest. Accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1987, MAM develops and hosts approximately 25 exhibitions annually in six galleries located in the Carnegie building. MAM’s exhibition programs encompass diverse media form local and international contemporary artists.\n\nWith education at the core of its mission, MAM offers tours and classes for all ages, and collaborates with local art, literary and music communities to develop lectures and workshops. MAM also participates in the Arts in the Schools and Neighborhoods Program, which takes visual, literary and performance art directly to Missoula’s most at-risk children in partnership with the Flagship Program. MAM also offers classes through the Summer Art School. Programs like gallery tours, artist lectures and panel discussions are designed for every exhibit.\n\nMAM manages the Missoula County Art Collection, as well as its own collection, which is distinguished by the Contemporary American Indian Art Collection, and works from regional and local artists, including: Dale Chihuly, Jacob Lawrence, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Susan Stewart and E.S. Paxson. MAM’s acquisitions in 2005 include work by Terry Melton, Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Branson Stevenson, Gail Tremblay (Onondaga Micmac). MAM has published dozens of artist catalogues throughout the years, which are for sale in the ‘Temporary Contemporary’ museum and online.