State arts agencies develop strategic plans that articulate their missions and guide their work. Each plan is informed by public input gathered from stakeholders inside and outside of the arts sector, with special care taken to reach populations with limited access to the arts. This high degree of public engagement is a hallmark of state…
Montana, also known as Big Sky Country, is home to unique artistic traditions. To celebrate the state’s heritage and the deep relationship between place, landscape and culture, the Montana Arts Council (MAC) developed the Montana Circle of American Masters in the Folk and Traditional Arts. Through this program, MAC shines a spotlight on the contribution…
Governors’ inaugurations are not only celebrations of the democratic process and affirmations of policy visions, but also opportunities for states to showcase their greatest assets, such as prominent artists and cultural traditions. State arts agencies are poised to contribute to inauguration ceremonies and festivities in ways that harness the arts in honor of public service,…
By revising the guidelines of its general operating support program, the Montana Arts Council (MAC) is leveraging the value of its grant making to foster legislative support for the arts in Montana and to maximize the accessibility of creative activities and experiences for all Montanans. For the FY2016-2019 cycle of its Public Value Partnerships (PVP)…
Demonstrating their strong conviction that one of their primary responsibilities is to advocate for the Montana Arts Council (MAC), MAC’s 15 council members have developed a marketing plan to formalize their contribution to spreading the word about the public value of the agency and the arts. The plan, which complements MAC’s 2014–2018 Operating Framework, enumerates…
This summer, the Montana Arts Council (MAC) published the results of a survey inventorying the state of the arts and health care in Montana. The project sought to explore perceptions and possible partnerships among the arts and medical communities across the state. To gain a 360-degree perspective on the issue, MAC surveyed direct medical care…
The Montana Arts Council recently announced that it will receive $175,105 in new federal funds to promote job skills training for Montana Artists. This federal funding, provided from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Community Development Initiative, will expand the Arts Council’s Montana Artrepreneur Program (MAP). MAP is a training program specifically designed to help…
Montana: The Land of Creativity / The Power and Potential of Arts-Driven Economic Development in Montana is an 11-minute presentation by the Montana Arts Council (MAC) meant to educate board members, community leaders and others who may not be familiar with the significant economic impact that Montana artists and arts organizations have on the economy.…
The Montana Arts Council (MAC) is launching a new program, the Artist’s Innovation Award, which is designed to honor the innovative ideas and contributions of Montana artists to the state’s culture and economy. The program will recognize up to five Montana artists per year who show extraordinary innovation in their work and artwork, outstanding originality…