Montana Arts Council

06/04/2026

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5818172/study-arts-slow-biological-aging?utm_source=nautilus.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=proof-neanderthals-mastered-dentistry&_bhlid=2228a746f2dd1958f164720284cd73ce8a65e9f4

Making art plays a key role in slowing aging, as a new study makes clear. The Montana Arts Council's Artful Life creative aging initiative mirrors this finding, as we seek to improve health and quality of life for older Montanans.

Learn more about Artful Life at https://art.mt.gov/artfullife, and read NPR's article on the study above.

Eat well and exercise. That's the classic advice for living a long, healthy life. A new study suggests another habit to add to the list: Let your creative juices flow.

05/26/2026

You've probably seen stories of hard-working authors who've spent hours prepping for a book-signing event, only to have no readers show up. Now imagine having that happen to you—after driving across the entire country for the event.

Former Great Falls resident and author K.L. Leadingham is making just such a journey to appear at the Great Falls Barnes & Noble tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27th, to promote her novel The Enchanting Eclipse. Drawn from her experiences with trauma, addiction, and working as an exotic dancer in the Electric City, the book has struck a chord for many readers who've walked similar paths. K.L.'s been posting to social media with a mix of excitement and trepidation about her upcoming journey and event, so if you'd like to support honest storytelling about real lives in Montana stop in ask her about the book and get a copy signed. Good luck, K.L.!

05/21/2026

The Montana Arts Council's Art Works program brings business and promotion skills to working artists through a two-month program of in-person and online instruction. It's also a key networking opportunity, as current Art Works participants demonstrated at their recent session in the Old Lumberyard event space in Livingston. If you're interested in honing the business side of your arts practice, learn more on our website at https://art.mt.gov/artworks.

05/19/2026

Missoula's Tell Us Something is seeking storytellers for its upcoming June 16 live event. The theme for the showcase is "Power of Place," inviting community members to share personal, true stories about the locations that have shaped, challenged, or defined them. Potential storytellers must submit a pitch via voicemail; the deadline to submit your pitch is this Thursday, May 21.

“Place is more than just a coordinate on a map,” says Marc Moss, Executive Director of Tell Us Something. “It’s the backdrop to our most formative moments. We are looking for stories that explore that deep connection—how where we are influences who we become.”

Good luck!

Tell Us Something stories are true personal stories, shared live, from memory, without notes. This allows the storyteller to better connect with the audience, our community. YOUR STORY MATTERS! YOU MUST CALL THE PITCH LINE TO PITCH YOUR STORY: 406-203-4683 Please know that we often have more pitches...

05/18/2026

We like to say that as a state agency we're small but mighty. But right now we're just a little smaller than we'd like, so we're looking for one good Montana resident to join us as a business specialist. Come help us administer grants to artists and arts organizations, oversee Arts Council events and projects, and keep the machinery of our office running smoothly.

Want to know more? Follow the link below for the full job description and application.

https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=26141297&tz=GMT-06%3A00&tzname=America%2FDenver&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

05/14/2026

A pair of Mission Valley cultural institutions have been awarded grants by The Foundation for Montana History: Three Chiefs Cultural Center and the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana will each receive substantial grants to further their work in preserving, sharing, and nurturing the valley's history and culture.

The Ninepipes Museum also received a Strategic Investment Grant from the Montana Arts Council to bring Indigenous cultural performances such as drumming and dancing to area schools and youth organizations. "This project invests in living art forms while providing students formative arts education experiences that reflect Montana’s cultural diversity," said museum director Jo Cheff. "Thank you Montana Arts Council!"

Read about all of these grants and cultural efforts at the link.

The Foundation for Montana History awarded two grants to Mission Valley organizations recently as part of its largest ever grant-making cycle.

05/12/2026

Montana State University (MSU) is seeking to commission a student or professional artist to create an original art installment commemorating students who have died during their time at MSU. The installment should create a meaningful bridge between the living and those who have passed, and should hold space for both honoring loss while celebrating and uplifting the love and memories that remain. The art should invite reflection, engagement, and a sense of lasting connection.

Deadline for submission is June 15. If you're interested, view the full proposal at:

https://www.montana.edu/pdc/committees/ufpb/publicartartifactscommittee/paac-rfpq.html

05/08/2026

Registration for the Montana Performing Arts Consortium's 2026 Artist Showcase and Conference is now open! Held in Helena on October 16-18, the conference is where venue operators and performing artists meet, and schedules for next year's performance calendars get filled. Register today!

Conference registration is open to MPAC members only.​​​ MPAC member dues are paid separate from conference registration.​ If you need to start your membership, click here.