Exhibition Reception
Tuesday, November 4th | 5:30 - 7:30pm
Join us to celebrate our local artists in our Free Art Programs!

“The artists offer diverse perspectives shaped by a lifetime of wisdom, acts of courage, and journeys of resilience and discovery. Seniors reflect rich histories and personal legacies; Veterans convey stories of service, sacrifice, and honor; and individuals with disabilities express strength and ingenuity through distinctive artistic voices. Their work transcends aesthetics; it is a vibrant testament to their lives, their truths, and the beauty they contribute to our shared community.

The museum’s Free Art Programs are designed to provide the community with opportunities to express themselves, discuss ideas, and create alongside others with whom they connect. This initiative promotes physical, cognitive, and social growth through the creation and sharing of new ideas. The artwork labeled “Applied Learning" represents participants applying skills they have learned in the museum classes to projects created at their leisure, while the “Class Instructed" indicates artwork created in class during the program. Each piece of artwork enhances the value of these Free Art Programs, as without the students, the show could not go on.

The Free Art Programs are organized by Liz Slot, Education Director, in collaboration with professional artist instructors who receive specialized training that supports each program's needs.

The Veterans’ Art Program is the first of its kind in Montana and was initiated in 2021. The Senior Art Program is an initiative in Lifelong Learning that has been supported at the museum for over fifteen years. Our work and partnership with Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain have been essential to creating lasting connections with all the wonderful people who participate in our Adults with Disabilities Art Program.

We want to thank our amazing instructors for these programs: Nicole Zimmerman, Dan Price, Margi Schindele, Susan Supola, Masina Seau, Ashleigh McCann, Rikka Walters, and Jaymi Jones.” - Liz Slot, Education Director

This exhibition was organized by Liz Slot, Education Director, and was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Montana Arts Council, an agency of the state government; the National Endowment for the Arts; Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain; the Great Falls Vet Center; and an Anonymous Private Foundation. Their commitment to inclusion and artistic expression has helped bring these powerful stories to light.

Exhibitions at the museum are supported in part by the Montana Arts Council, a state agency funded by the State of Montana, and the National Endowment for the Arts. We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana's cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund. Additional funding is provided by museum members and the citizens of Cascade County, Davidson Family Foundation, D.A. Davidson, Montana Credit Union, Hotel Arvon, First Interstate Bank, an anonymous donor, and Kelly’s Signs & Design.