The Missoula community is blessed to have a large number of people who value and support the arts. Each quarter Arts Missoula will recognize a new Arts Missoula STAR for his or her important contribution to the Missoula arts landscape. Some of our STARS are artists, some are musicians. Some are business people who generously give of their time and resources. Some are behind the scenes and would not be known by the general public for their contribution. Some are educators who are making sure that the arts are a valued part of our children’s education. All have a place in our Galaxy of Valued Arts Supporters.
August 2023: Karin Balke, Artist, Educator, Visual Art Secretary at MCPS
February 2023: Benjamin Headswift, Artist / Native American Drum Instructor / Cultural Advocate
November 2022: April Werle, Artist / Muralist and Cultural Advocate
April 2022: Rob Watson, Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent
April 2022 Arts Star Presentation!
March 2022: Malcolm Lowe, Owner of Loose Caboose and Performer
March 2022 Arts Star Presentation!
February 2022: Courtney Blazon, Visual Artist
February 2022 Arts Star Presentation!
January 2022: Janaina Vieira-Marques, Artist and Educator
January 2022 Arts Star Presentation!
November 2021: Barb Schwarz Karst, Artist
November 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
October 2021: Fernanda Menna Barreto Krum, Co-Owner of Imagine Nation Brewing
October 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
September 2021: Kristen Wood, Community Volunteer
September 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
July 2021: Betsy Mulligan-Dague, Executive Director, Jeannette-Rankin Peace Center
July 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
June 2021: Mikyla Veis and Christopher Baumann of Zootown Arts Community Center
June 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
May 2021: Drew Holman, Back to the Mother, Gnomefest
May 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
April 2021: Emily Hall, Owner, Art Attic Framing & Design
April 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
March 2021: Jesse Blumenthal, Industrial Artist, and SPARK! Arts Teaching Artist
Mart 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
February 2021: Joy French, Executive Director, Bare Bait Dance
February 2021 Arts Star Presentation!
January 2021: Scott Ranf, Wake Up Missoula Host and Youth Programs at Missoula’s Community Media Resource (MCAT).
December 2020: Travis Yost, Missoula Musician
November 2020: Jazmine Raymond, The Clay Studio of Missoula
October 2020: Montana Area Music Association (MAMA)
September 2020: Mountain Line
August 2020: Tabitha Bear/B. MartiNez, local artist and SPARK! Arts Teaching Artist
July 2020: Randy Zschaechner, Missoula County Public Schools, 5th Grade Band Director
March 2020: Emily Jensen, Program Director, Free Cycles
February 2020: Ken Furrow, Technical Director, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
January 2020: Angie Jones, Fine Arts Secretary, Missoula County Public Schools
December 2019: Matthew Nord, Founder and Director, Tangled Tones
November 2019: Kadin Bardsley, Spontaneous Construction, Home ReSource
October 2019: Stoney Sasser, Western Montana Creative Initiatives, Open AIR, Missoula Public Art Committee
September 2019: Melissa Madsen, Willard Alternative High School; Flagship Program
August 2019: Marlies Borchers, Teaching Artist at Clay Studio of Missoula
July 2019: Janet Palmer, Vice President of the International Choral Festival
June 2019: Anne Ellsworth Bashor, Piano Teacher and Accompanist for MCPS, Missoula Community Theatre, MCT Performing Arts Camps, Dolce Canto, and many other musical groups.
May 2019: Odette Grassi, Living Art of Montana
April 2019: Kim Birck, Art Associates of Missoula
March 2019: Carl Smart, Missoula Community Concert Band
February 2019: Peter McKenzie, Director of Operations, Missoula Symphony Association
January 2019: Marlene Hendrickson, First Night Spotlight Coordinator
December 2018: Ron Wilcott, Music Educator, Director of Missoula Community Chorus
November 2018: Rosie Ayers, Teaching Artist, SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning
October 2018: Dan Torti, VP of Operations, Logjam Presents
September 2018: Liz Ametsbichler, Volunteer, Germanfest
August 2018: Rick Preciado, Volunteer, River City Roots Festival
July 2018: Gary Gillett, Music Educator, Director of Missoula City Band
June 2018: Liddi Elrod, Fine Arts Secretary, Missoula County Public Schools
May 2018: Patricia Thornton, Printshop Manager & Adult Education, ZACC
April 2018: Joe Martinez, Artistic Director, MCT
March 22nd, 2018: Arts Missoula Stars Celebrated at our Arts & Culture Awards Lunch
March 2018: Nikolyn Garner, UM Student, Volunteer Montana Museum of Art & Culture
February 2018: Nisa Caskey, Volunteer, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
January 2018: Doug Grimm, Volunteer, First Night Missoula
December 2017: Barb West, Parent, Volunteer & Board Member at Garden City Ballet
November 2017: Jen Bardsley, K-8 Art Teacher at Sussex School
October 2017: Mindy Hammit, English and Social Studies teacher at CS Porter School
September 2017: Jurgen Knoeller, Bayern Brewing
