Supporting the Arts in Park County
Background
Park County has a long history as a center of Montana’s arts culture. For many years, we have celebrated being an eclectic community where ranchers and artists sit side by side at the bar, enriching each other’s lives one conversation – and drink – at a time. Emboldened by its artistic past and supported by a strong slate of arts-focused nonprofits, a new generation of artists is putting down roots in Park County. As Park County continues to evolve, it is incumbent on us to ensure that Park County’s arts culture remains healthy and sustainable.
The We Will Park County community survey provides additional insight into our residents’ perceptions and concerns about current issues in Park County. By overwhelming numbers, Park County residents expressed concern that our shifting economy will lead to a loss of community identity and culture. Community members told us that they value the arts and cultural opportunities in Park County, and many consider it one of the top three things they like most about living here.
The current prominence of the arts has resulted in Park County receiving a ranking of fourteenth in a list of rural arts communities, based on the national Arts Vibrancy Index assembled by the National Center for Arts Research, a project of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.
2023 Park County Arts Assessment
In the fall of 2023, the Park County Community Foundation conducted a comprehensive assessment of the arts to better understand current needs and challenges. This assessment revealed an enthusiastic focus on a powerful vision for the future of the arts in Park County, along with a robust list of opportunities and priorities to move that vision forward.
Launch of the Park County Arts Council
To help realize a coordinated vision for the arts in Park County, PCCF has launched the Park County Arts Council (PCAC), composed of Park County residents with expertise as working artists and nonprofit leadership.
The Arts Council’s mission is to support and guide a vibrant and inclusive arts culture throughout Park County. The vision is to solidify the arts as an integral part of Park County The overall vision is to solidify the arts as an integral part of Park County with an eye to maintaining the region’s natural beauty, acknowledging our heritage, growing economic opportunities, and improving the well-being of its communities throughout the county.
More details about the expectations of this group along with a complete list of Arts Council members is included below.
Park County Fund for the Arts
Guided by the Park County Arts Council’s vision, and with an initial $500,000 gift from the JAKET Foundation, PCCF is launching the Park County Fund for the Arts to elevate and support the arts while increasing collaboration and communication. Priority funding areas include supporting existing Park County arts, promoting innovation in the arts in Park County, and expanding and integrating the arts throughout Park County.
The Park County Community Foundation expects to fund somewhere between two - six transformational grants, in the range of $25,000 - $150,000.
Applications opened on July 17 and are due by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 16th (extended from September 10th).
Click here to read more about this funding opportunity.
Click here to access our fund portal and apply.
More About the Park County Arts Council
The thirteen volunteer members of the Park County Arts Council include both working artists and leaders of nonprofit arts organizations and were identified through a call for applicants earlier this year. An effort was made to include residents from a range of communities outside of Livingston, as noted below.
Inaugural Council Members, 2024 - 2026
- Brett Ozment – working artist: Ozment Arts.
- Dalton Brink – working artist: founder and director of The Cottonwood Club.
- Erika Adams – executive director, The Shane Lalani Center for the Arts.
- Garrett Stannard – working musician and music educator in the Livingston Public Schools.
- Karen Reinhart – recently retired curator, Park County’s Yellowstone Gateway Museum; resident of Gardiner.
- Laura Bray – owner, The Frame Garden gallery in Livingston.
- Mary Tidlow – board member of the Electric Peak Arts Council and historic architect with the National Park Service; resident of Yellowstone National Park.
- Melissa Ragain – professor of Art History at Montana State University.
- Nikki Todd – owner, Visions West Contemporary Gallery, with branches in Livingston, Bozeman, and Denver; resident of Shields Valley.
- Pamela Kendall Schiffer – working artist: painter and printmaker; resident of Pine Creek.
- Robin Hoggan Ebinger – founding board member, the Livingston Center for Art & Culture.
- Steve Harvey – founder and co-chair of the Forget Me Knot music festival in Cooke City, board member of the Colter Pass, Cooke City, Silver Gate Community Council; resident of Silver Gate.
- Traci Blakeman Isaly – working artist: Traci Jo Designs; resident of Quinn Creek.
Expectations of Arts Council volunteers:
- Have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to collaboration.
- Committed to leveraging skills and expertise in supporting the council.
- Interested in finalizing a strategic vision and actionable strategies for the arts.
- Willingness to be present, learn, be creative and work hard.
- Ability to participate in 2-hour mini-retreat in March 2024 and monthly or quarterly meetings throughout the year; anticipated minimum time commitment of 20-30 hours per year.
- Willingness to spend additional time as required to review materials, develop application guidelines, and provide input on funding proposals.
To learn more, call our office at (406) 224-3920 or email Program Director Barb Oldershaw at: Barb.Oldershaw@pccf-montana.org
