Alpine Artisans, Inc.

Alpine Artisans Inc. (AAI) is a 35-year old membership organization of 250 dues paying artists and art supporters who work collaboratively to create a rich cultural environment for the rural residents of the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys of Western Montana. AAI has responded to our region’s geographical isolation and economic realities by building a multifaceted arts program to serve our residents and over 400 students in four schools. AAI’s particular strength is our ability to bring cultural programming to a community with over a 30% poverty rate that lives minimally 60-80 miles from any city. Our largest program is 2 Valleys Stage, a major performing arts series featuring five community concerts along with 10 days of in-school concerts and workshops annually. Additional programs include:

• Open Book Club author series, 7-8 events per year,
• Annual 3-day Loon and Fish Festival and Art Show in mid-July featuring 25+ artists, live music and kids activities,
• Montana Shakespeare in the Park and International Choral Festival,
• Tour of the Arts, a self-guided tour of a dozen artist studios each October,
• In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Literary Festival, held biennially,
• A two-week summer Cliff Nelson Theater Camp for middle-school students,
• Nature of Art 2-day workshop in September,
• Free art and music after-school lessons in Seeley Lake Elementary,
• AAI also has awarded over $50,000 in youth grants for private art lessons and summer camps to over 105 students in our rural area since 1996.