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Home My WebLink About08-01-25 Correspondence - MT Arts Council - ARTeries_ News from the Montana Arts Council for Early August 2025From:Montana Arts CouncilTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]ARTeries: News from the Montana Arts Council for Early August 2025Date:Thursday, July 31, 2025 3:23:04 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 Observing the moment: A page from Montana artist Cindy Greiman’s art journal the day that five Canada goslings launched from their nest high atop an osprey pole. Cindy Greiman: Art and Photography Kairos Summer in Montana: so fleeting and so sublime. It puts me in mind of the Greek concept of Kairos (and not just because I’m reading a novel of that name, by German writer Jenny Erpenbeck). Kairos is the awareness of the exact moment of opportunity. The instant the archer’s arrow must fly to reach its target. The moment of opening of the loom through which the shuttle must pass. The unrepeatable moment. The right word at the right time. The glint of sunlight on water. In Montana, we know that summer is not an opportunity to be captured but a blessing to receive. The world is always on fire with war and wonder, famine and grace, horror and miracles happening all at the same time. Every moment is fleeting, aflame with possibility, and here we are in the middle of it, together. “We are in hell,” writes philosopher Cioran, “every moment of which is a miracle.” Anne Lamott says there are really only three prayers: Help, Thanks, and Wow. I think most of our work, too, falls under those headings. We are all planning the next season, hanging an exhibit, stretching canvasses, hauling gear for a show, wrestling with budget spreadsheets—all the labor of this art business that delivers unrepeatable moments to thousands across the state. What help do you need? What makes you thankful? What attunes your nerves to the tiny opening, the beautiful gesture, the flit of the bird’s wing in sunlight? This Montana summer day, this Kairos, reminds me that our challenge as artists is to stay curious and astonished, no matter what. Be ambushed by beauty. Krys Holmes Executive Director krys.holmes@mt.gov Advocacy We’re halfway there: This week the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved funding for the NEA and NEH at $207 million each for next year. The Senate proposal stands in contrast to the House version that cuts both by 34%. Debates will continue when Congress re-assembles after the August recess. Time for letters, calls, thank-yous and encouragement to all Montana’s congress members! Ask your community and Board members to tell congress members the impact of the arts in your community, and how important the NEA is to us all, especially in more rural areas. "Freedom of Speech" by Norman Rockwell depicts a working-class man speaking at a town meeting among other citizens, many of whom hold higher perceived social stations in his community. One of Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" paintings made to sell war bonds during World War II, the work highlights the importance of advocating for one's beliefs and is a heartfelt expression of, well...heartfelt expression. Arts In the News It’s Indigipalooza! Celebrate the rich diversity and enduring power of Indigenous storytelling at IndigiPalooza MT: Indigenous Arts & Storytelling Festival, a dynamic two- day event this Friday & Saturday in Missoula. Join our whole staff there! For the full schedule go here: SCHEDULE | Indigipalooza Mt Joy Harjo, the 23rd US Poet Laureate and member of the Muscogee Nation, headlines Indigipalooza’s Friday evening event at 6 pm at UM’s Montana Theater. Interested in an America 250 project? The Montana 250th Commission will host a virtual listening session on Aug. 21, 11:30 - 1:00, to learn more about the Commission and its upcoming grant program for America 250 projects. Interested? Please RSVP to mt250@mt.gov Women in Translation Month: Pen America’s Translation Committee presents this annual August series celebrating translated literature by women, queer, and nonbinary authors whose works deserve international celebration. Weekly online bilingual readings (free!) let you hear works in their original language (what a great experience) and also in English. Check it out: Women in Translation Month Farewell to Ginny: It was a lucky day at the Montana Arts Council when Ginny Newman arrived on our doorstep to manage grant payments, maintain our internal systems, organize Council meetings, answer constituents’ questions, keep the staff organized (and paid), and generally work everyday miracles. Now the winds have shifted and are carrying away our Mary Poppins (yes, Ginny is practically perfect in every way). And so we say a heartfelt farewell to this gift, this colleague, this friend. Heads up: We’ll be a mess for a few days. Ginny Newman, with grandson Oliver, who will miss her at least as much as we will. Work for the Arts Council! White Divider Great job with good people: Our great team at the Montana Arts council is looking for a smart, capable business specialist with a head for details, a capacity for complex projects, a heart for serving the public, and a soul that appreciates the arts. The job listing is here: Job Description - Business Specialist (25141579) If you’d like the complete job description, email JeniferAlger@mt.gov. Grantee Spotlight Strategic Investment Grants (SIG) are MAC’s small but mighty quick-turnaround grants that help artists and organizations seize opportunities when they arise. In July the Council’s SIG committee approved a mini-grant to Arc: A Montana Dance Collective to attend westFEST: New Works Festival in Missoula. At the festival, Arc’s dancers will perform to new audiences, then join in an intensive 5-day workshop where they’ll hone their skills and techniques. Importantly, the festival is also an opportunity for the region’s geographically isolated dancers to collaborate, build relationships, and generate new ideas. Learn more about Arc here: https://www.arcamontanadancecollective.com/ and about westFEST here: https://www.thewestsidetheater.com/westfest-new-works-festival-intensive Arc: A Montana Dance Collective is a relatively new arts nonprofit in Billings. Learn more about Strategic Investment Grants here: Strategic Investment Grants Craft Alliance Logo Resources For Artists Building financial resilience—for individual artists—is the topic of a free Aug 21 webinar you might want to attend, courtesy of our friends at Springboard for the Arts. Info and registration here: Building Financial Resiliency - Register Here Call for public art: Western Wyoming Community College has issued a call for proposals for a public art installation in their new Health Sciences wing in Rock Springs, WY. Preference goes to Wyoming artists, but it’s open to Montanans too. Budget: $51,106. Deadline: Aug 31. CaFÉ - Fresh, original work from emerging artists is what Covet Art Gallery in San Francisco seeks for its online marketplace - a curated platform where artists upload and manage their own portfolios, connect with collectors, and grow their art business. Learn more: Art As Bold As You Are | Covet Art Gallery Functional craft for the home is an upcoming exhibition in Missouri celebrating the beauty and ingenuity of handcrafted objects designed for daily living. Entry fee only $10. Deadline Sept 3. CaFÉ – For Arts Organizations Presenter grants: The 2025-26 Creative West TourWest application will open Aug. 11th. This NEA- supported grant program supports bringing touring performers into Montana communities. This year: a simplified grant process awards flat funding for all qualifying applicants. Want to know more? Join one of two applicant information zoom sessions: one on August 11 here, and one on August 12 here. Volunteer struggles? In our statewide survey last year, we learned that one of the big challenges arts orgs face is finding and keeping young adult volunteers. Last month Montana Nonprofit Association published this article: How to Engage Young Adult Volunteers, packed with tips and research. While you’re there, renew your MNA membership—and check out their ongoing resources, too. Volunteering is an art, too. Photo by Lauren Roberts for The Wichitan. ARTeries is produced by the Montana Arts Council. 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