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
