The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05-23-25 Correspondence - MT Arts Council - ARTeries_ News from the Montana Arts Council for late May 2025From:Montana Arts CouncilTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]ARTeries: News from the Montana Arts Council for late May 2025Date:Thursday, May 22, 2025 3:20:17 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. ARTeries - The Lifeblood of Arts In Montana White Divider Red Ants Pants staffers, artists, and concertgoers hold hands over their hearts as the National Anthem is sung by The War and Treaty's Michael Trotter in 2023. The Power of Words We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. – Preamble to the United States Constitution In the beginning, as it says in the Gospel of John, was the word. Our U.S. Constitution is a dream articulated, 52 words that symbolize hope, peace, liberty, and well-being for ourselves and our posterity. On these 52 words was a nation built. As divided as we may be as a country, we are all engaged in one common task these days. We are all coming to terms with what those 52 words mean to us—as a nation, as a people, as communities of faith and communities of action. We are—always— building our nation. What kind of people are we? However we answer that question, we can’t get there without the forms of expression that ignite our creative intelligence: poetry, language, art, culture. Be brave in your work this week. Be patient with everyone. Do whatever you can to build the nation of liberty and peace in which we can be our best selves. Krys Holmes Executive Director krys.holmes@mt.gov NEA News Federal funding cuts have hit several Montana culture businesses this spring, shuttering creative projects in rural, big-town, and Tribal communities. Things are moving so quickly it’s hard to synthesize. We are keeping tabs on events as they happen at the NEA, and are happy to share out information National Endowment for the Arts Logo as we receive it. Most important to know: your state, regional, and national arts agencies are working to ensure and support the creative vitality of all our small businesses and communities. As my colleague and friend Caitlyn Strokosch (National Performance Network) writes: “Hope is a discipline that fuels durable and adaptive action.” Among all the disciplines that artists practice, hope is at the forefront. Civic care matters: Michael Rohd: “Now is a time for artists and arts organizations to stand shoulder to shoulder with other fields and disciplines that produce care in our communities. Using our resources and creativity, let’s remind those around us, near and far- Civic Care matters, and you don’t want to live in a place where it doesn’t.” Five Things Arts Organizations Can Do Right Now Worth defending: Minnesota’s independent Public News Service reports that Montana may suffer more than most states from federal funding cuts. For every dollar Montana contributes in federal taxes, the state receives $1.40 in return—totaling more than $14 billion supporting Montana in 2024. Much of that comes to the state through our 650 nonprofit businesses, which employ 60,000 Montanans, about 12% of the workforce. Here’s the full article: Federal funding cuts could hit Montana harder than other states says report / Public News Service The National Endowment for the Arts is the only funder—public or private—that supports arts and culture in all 50 states, in all 435 congressional districts. These projects happen in schools, barns, city parks, theaters, and public spaces everywhere. In the past year: Arts and cultural production in Montana added 3.3% or $2.4 billion to the state's economy. Montana’s arts and cultural industries employed 20,269 workers. These workers earned wages and benefits totaling $1.3 billion. 1% of Montana’s adults attended a live music, theater, or dance performance To express support for full funding of the NEA, NEH, and ILMS, go here: Arts Action Center | Arts ActionFund Legislative News In light of events on the national stage, we'd like to express our gratitude to Governor Gianforte, Lieutenant Governor Juras, and the members of the Montana State Legislature for their continued commitment to public funding for Montana's arts. Despite having one of the smallest state arts agency budgets in the US, we're able to work on behalf of Montana's rural and underserved communities in large part due to strong support from our state government leadership as well as Montanans across the Big Sky. Thank you! Artists Spotlight One student's impression of Opera Montana's residency. Public funds at work: This spring Opera Montana traveled to 18 schools—from Winifred to Mammoth—bringing Indigenous musicians to perform and teach classical and contemporary music. The impact went much deeper than a music lesson: students experienced first-hand how music connects people, bolsters well-being, helps them learn, and expands their understanding of their own potential. “I heard students singing Carmen on their way out of the building,” said one teacher after the Opera Montana residency. Another said, “My students, who are not musicians, learned that Native heritage does not restrict them from following their path into careers that interest them.” This project, funded by MAC’s arts education grants, is just one example of the hundreds of stories made possible by public funding of the arts. Artists Thr!ve Logo Resources For Artists Artists Thrive is a program of the Tremaine Foundation to increase the value of artists in every community. Its two goals are: 1) to strengthen and help build careers for working artists of all kinds; and 2) to help strengthen culture businesses, cities, and art advocates in their work so we all thrive. Artists and arts administrators: Go here for free resources to assess, plan, and boost your career: Assess | Artists Thrive. Then, brew a cuppa tea, shut your door, and spend an hour sampling some free, helpful resources on their National Resource Hub: National Resource Hub | Artists Thrive When the arts thrive, we all thrive (businesses, communities, schools, people, and nations). Mark your calendars: March 24-26, 2026 MAC and Artists Thrive will bring an Artists Thrive Summit meeting to MSU Billings! Three days of learning, sharing, and building community together. MAC Director Krys Holmes just returned from the 2025 Artists Thrive Summit in Kansas City, MO, and we are thrilled to be able to bring this super helpful opportunity to Montana. Arts Businesses White Divider Art museums: MAGDA (Montana Art Gallery Directors Assoc.) is soliciting proposals for their Traveling Exhibition Program, encouraging all members to highlight an artist from your area, or an exhibition of works housed in your permanent collection, to propose for traveling exhibitions. Deadline is June 15. Here’s the form: Exhibition_Proposal_Form_2025.01.pdf Image: The Rhythm and Whimsy exhibit of works by Montana sculptor Richard Swanson is currently touring as part of the MAGDA Traveling Exhibition program. Running a rural business? Yes, all arts nonprofits are small businesses. These days rural businesses are exploring new shapes, new locations, and new ways of doing business, including pop-ups, shared buildings, businesses inside of other businesses, and more. Radically Rural is hosting a free webinar on Innovative Rural Business Models Wed., July 9 at 12:00 pm MT. Register early: Ticket ELF | Innovative Rural Business Models Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings was given the Heritage and Cultural Tourism Award at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The award recognizes excellence in promoting and celebrating Montana’s authentic and unique culture for visitors and Montanans. Congrats to museum director Jessica Kay Ogdin, and the YAM staff! Heads Up Starting an innovative project supporting mental health? The LOR Foundation’s Field Work Initiative seeks applications for new, innovative projects demonstrating solutions to persistent community mental health struggles in rural communities. Grants range from $1,000-$25,000 for new projects. Deadline June 6. Check it out, but inquire before applying. Info here: 2025 Field Work initiative ARTeries is produced by the Montana Arts Council. If this email was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe, visit us at https://art.mt.gov/enews Laura Zabel Quote This email was sent to comments@bozeman.net using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: MontanaArts Council MAC Logo Teal Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help | Montana Arts Council | 830 N. Warren Street | Helena,MT 59601 | art.mt.gov