Arts Missoula Grants

Art Making or Professional Development for 

Individual Artists in Missoula County

$1000-$2500 Guidelines and Application Instructions Spring 2025

____________________________________

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 at 11:59 PM No applications will be accepted following this date

Arts Missoula Staff will only be available Mondays-Fridays 9-4:30pm for questions and assistance with submissions.  Application Fee: $15.00

General Information: Arts Missoula Grants seek to provide funds to assist an individual Missoula County artist whose endeavors intersect with the general public and are designated for a specific project. This includes dance, theater, music, digital, 2D and 3D as well as the literary arts. We believe that art is not only important, it is essential in enriching the community, culture, and in building and maintaining a vibrant economy.

These grant funds help establish, grow, and sustain a Missoula-based livelihood in the arts and to acknowledge achievement in the arts in Missoula.  Grants are focused on community-building through the arts, providing financial assistance for individual artists living in Missoula County, whose creative work connects with and enriches our community.

Special consideration will be given to those whose work and story intersects with and enhances the community.

Artist Eligibility: Individual artists must be 18 years and older. Must currently be residing in Missoula County for a minimum of 1 year. Must maintain Missoula County residency for life of grant. Currently working in a field of literary, visual or performing arts, at any career stage. Must complete entire online application, submit all work samples, and meet all grant requirements. Must exhibit high artistic quality, innovation, and creativity. Must demonstrate interaction with Missoula community members through exhibitions, readings, installations, performances, or any other events or activities that are accessible to the general public.

     Artists are not eligible if they:

Request funds for educational or curriculum development plans and materials.    

Request funds for tuition or fees associated with starting or completing a degree program.

Requests funds for the creation of a general website. Web pages, social media and digital content to promote project is acceptable. 

Submit an application that is incomplete. 

Are an Arts Missoula Board or Committee member, or a fiscal sponsee.      

Request funds for expenses incurred before grant approval.

Past AM Grants award winners are not eligible. 

     Eligible Grant Requests may include:

Supplies – for the creation or production of a new work.   

Services – rental of facilities for the creation of or presentation of new work,  including studio or rehearsal space.   

Creative Process, Presentation or Production – cost associated with the production, preparation, and/or creation of   an exhibit, performance,  or physical work. 

Professional Development - including but not limited to summer study, business courses, classes/workshops, being a part of a cohort for longer term learning, travel to take part in any of these opportunities.

Online Application: The application can be found at https://artsmissoula.org/grants/

Application opens on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Closes February 26th and funds dispersed by April 11th 

____________________________________

Application Form Questions: Please thoroughly read all of the guidelines and instructions before completing this online application. Every question or prompt must be answered. Each question or prompt has a character limit or an   attachment requirement listed.

Submission details: Grant Application Fee $15.00  Upload documents as PDFs and images as jpegs. Name each document using your name or collective name for easy identification, using this format:

lastname_firstname_document (ex: Johnson_Elizabeth_resume.pdf)

lastname_firstname_artwork (ex: Johnson_Elizabeth_artwork.jpeg)

Resume: Include education and artistic training, career and artistic achievements

Personal Statement:  What is your Missoula story? How did you come to be here and why do you choose Missoula?

Funds are requested for what purpose?  Art Making or Professional Development?  Please describe how you intended to use the funds.

Impact - How will access to these funds and their intended use impact you as an artist?

How does improving your skills through better art making tools or professional development impact the artistic work you create here in Missoula?  Are their community impacts to you having these additional assets?

Expenses: If requesting funds for art-making equipment, please include photos and/or descriptions of the equipment you intended to buy.  If requesting funds for professional development, please attach information about the class(es) you intend to take or work you intend to do. Documents may include links to websites where descriptions are found. If funds are requested for intangible items such as space rental or services, please include a word document that describes the service or a link to where information on the service can be viewed.  

Work Samples: 

Visual Artists: 5 to 10 image file submissions of recent works using .jpeg format. (File Size Limit: 1 MB for each image)

Musicians and Performing Artists:  Links to up to three examples of your work, hosted at an outside site, such as YouTube, Vimeo or Soundcloud. 10 minutes in total.

All work samples must be recent (within the last 3 years). Samples should best reflect your work as an artist, and show how your work can connect with the community.

 Provide detailed explanations for all work samples.

Grant Review Process: The Grant Review Panel is made up of members of the Arts Missoula Grants Committee, along with selected community members. Procedures are in place to avoid conflicts of interest. Each panelist reviews every application using the following criteria:

· Quality of Work Samples

· Personal Statement

· Quality of Funds Request

· Impact Statements

· Overall Success of Application

The Jury Panel Rubric is available for viewing at:  https://artsmissoula.org/grants/

  Awardee Notification: After the grant recommendations have been made by the review panel, and approved by the Arts Missoula Board of Directors, all applicants will receive an email stating whether or not the application has received funding. This will occur no later than April 8th, 2025. There will not be specific feedback provided for unsuccessful applicants.

Publicity and Recognition: Grant recipients will be recognized at the Annual Arts & Culture Awards Reception on May 29th, 2025. Recipients receive 2 comp tickets.  All of the projects promotional materials should state…  

…This (project/Show Name, Art work) has been funded in part from a grant through Arts Missoula. You must include AM logo and indicate us as a project funder.

Grant winner will submit project information and promotional materials to Arts Missoula for inclusion in our weekly newsletter as well as provide Arts Missoula with 2 tickets (if applicable) to project presentation (if applicable).

Funding Distribution April 11th, 2025 Prior to the distribution of funds, grant recipients must complete an acceptance letter, along with other appropriate documentation.

Reporting: Due December 31st, 2025 Project Report should include promotional materials, photos from project event or final art work / exhibition and a short narrative on the community impact. Grant funds should be expended by the reporting date. If not, an explanation must be provided in the written report. Budget spreadsheet (see completed example). Questions: For further questions, please contact the Arts Missoula at info@artsmissoula.org

Arts Missoula Grants

Project Based Award for

Individual Artists in Missoula County

$2500
Guidelines and Application Instructions
Spring 2025

____________________________________

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 at 11:59 PM
No applications will be accepted following this date

Arts Missoula Staff will only be available Mondays-Fridays 9-4:30pm for questions and assistance with submissions.
Application Fee: $15.00

General Information: Arts Missoula Grants seek to provide funds to assist an individual Missoula County artist whose endeavors intersect with the general public and are designated for a specific project. This includes dance, theater, music, digital, 2D and 3D as well as the literary arts. We believe that art is not only important, it is essential in enriching the community, culture, and in building and maintaining a vibrant economy.

These grant funds help establish, grow, and sustain a Missoula-based livelihood in the arts and to acknowledge achievement in the arts in Missoula.  Grants are focused on community-building through the arts and providing financial assistance for individual artists living in Missoula County, whose creative work connects with and enriches our community.

Special consideration will be given to those whose work and story intersects with and enhances the community.

Artist Eligibility: 

• Individual artists must be 18 years and older.
•  Must currently be residing in Missoula County for a minimum of 1 year. 
• Must maintain Missoula County residency for life of grant.
•  Currently working in a field of visual or performing arts, at any career stage.  
• Must complete entire online application, submit all work samples, and meet all grant requirements.
• Must exhibit high artistic quality, innovation, and creativity.
• Must demonstrate interaction with Missoula community members through exhibitions, readings, installations, performances, or any other events or activities that are accessible to the general public.

       Artists are not eligible if they:

• Request funds for educational or curriculum development plans and materials.
• Request funds for tuition or fees associated with starting or completing a degree program.
• Request funds on behalf of an 501(c)3 arts organization, with the intention to use the funds in a pass-through manner or for subgranting. 
• Requests funds for the creation of a general website. Web pages, social media and digital content to promote project is acceptable. 
• Submit an application that is incomplete.
• Are an Arts Missoula Board or Committee member, or a fiscal sponsee.
• Request funds for expenses incurred before grant approval.

Past AM Grants award winners are not eligible.

    Eligible Grant Requests may include:

Supplies – for the creation or production of a new work.
Services – rental of facilities for the creation of or presentation of new work,   including studio or rehearsal space.
Creative Process, Presentation or Production – cost associated with the production, preparation, and/or creation of   an exhibit, performance,   or physical work. Payments to other collaborators is allowed.

Online Application: The application can be found at https://artsmissoula.org/grants/

Application opens on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Closes February 26th and funds dispersed by April 11th 

____________________________________

Application Form Questions: Please thoroughly read all of the guidelines and instructions before completing this online application. Every question or prompt must be answered. Each question or prompt has a character limit or an   attachment requirement listed.

Submission details: Grant Application Fee $15.00
 Upload documents as PDFs and images as jpegs.
      Name each document using your name or collective name for easy identification, using this format:

lastname_firstname_document (ex: Johnson_Elizabeth_resume.pdf)

lastname_firstname_artwork (ex: Johnson_Elizabeth_artwork.jpeg)

Resume: Include education and artistic training
         Career and artistic achievements

Personal Statement:  What is your Missoula story? How did you come to be here and why do you choose Missoula?

Project:  Describe the project and projected outcomes.

Project Budget: Briefly outline how you will use these funds, explain all expenses related to the project. List anticipated revenue from project. i.e. ticket sales and art sales.
      Describe other sources of funding. The Project Based Grant allows you to pay collaborators. You can show a budget surplus but may not submit a budget deficit. You may also show a balanced budget, i.e. income $100, expense $100=$0.

Download a template at www.artsmissoula.org/grants/

Work Samples: Visual Artists:
         5 to 10 image file submissions of recent works using .jpeg format.
         (File Size Limit: 1 MB for each image)

Musicians and Performing Artists:
         Links to up to three examples of your work, hosted at an outside site, such as YouTube, Vimeo or Soundcloud. 10 minutes in total.

All work samples must be recent (within the last 3 years)
         Samples should best reflect your work as an artist, and show how your work can connect with the community.

 Provide detailed explanations for all work samples.

Grant Review Process: The Grant Review Panel is made up of members of the Arts Missoula Grants Committee, along with selected community members. Procedures are in place to avoid conflicts of interest. Each panelist reviews every application using the following criteria:

· Quality of Work Samples

· Artistic Narrative Statement

· Project Budget

· Community Impact Statement

· Overall Success of Application

The Jury Panel Rubric is available for viewing at:  https://artsmissoula.org/grants/

Awardee Notification: After the grant recommendations have been made by the review panel, and approved by the Arts Missoula Board of Directors, all applicants will receive an email stating whether or not the application has received funding. This will occur no later than April 8st, 2025. There will not be specific feedback provided for unsuccessful applicants.

Publicity and Recognition: Grant recipients will be recognized at the Annual Arts & Culture Awards Reception on May 29th, 2025. Recipients receive 2 comp tickets.
         All of the projects promotional materials should state…

…This (project/Show Name, Art work) has been funded in part from a grant through Arts Missoula. You must include AM logo and indicate us a project funder.

Grant winner will submit project information and promotional materials to Arts Missoula for inclusion in our weekly newsletter as well as provide Arts Missoula with 2 tickets (if applicable) to project presentation (if applicable).

Funding Distribution April 11th, 2025
   Prior to the distribution of funds, grant recipients must complete an acceptance letter, along with other appropriate documentation.

Reporting: Due December 31st, 2025
   Project Report should include promotional materials, photos from project event or final art work and a short narrative on the community impact. Grant funds should be expended by the reporting date. If not, an explanation must be provided in the written report. Must also submit a finalized budget spreadsheet (see completed example).   

Questions: For further questions, please contact the Arts Missoula at  info@artsmissoula.org

Hello and Welcome to the Arts Missoula Directory App!

Arts Missoula Directory is an app showcasing artists in Missoula. It helps you with networking by listing venues, open calls, and other artists for event and project collaboration, and is a supportive, encouraging platform for exhibiting your talents!

The Artist Directory is the main way for artists to get their work seen and to make connections in the community for more opportunities. 

All submissions will be reviewed and your submission to the directory does not guarantee inclusion. 

Register below to join the Artist Directory.

Any questions? Call the Arts Missoula Office at (406) 541-0860.

This submission is only for artist directory only. Please see our other submittable applications to submit events for inclusion in our weekly newsletter. 

Thank you for submitting your open call to the Arts Missoula Directory: A Guide to Arts in Missoula! Once your submission has been reviewed, we will notify you when it has been uploaded to the app. Please note that your submission does not guarantee inclusion.  We seek to provide genuine opportunities for artists in our community.  

By downloading Arts Missoula Directory, you will gain access to a vast directory of local artists across various mediums, exhibition opportunities, connections with local galleries for First Friday showcases, valuable resources, and much more.  we are glad you are here. 

If you have any additional questions, please contact our office by phone at 406-541-0860 or by email at info@artsmissoula.org.

Arts Missoula sends out a weekly eNewsletter highlighting local art & cultural events, opportunities, classes, and more. 

We would love to share your art & cultural event!

Use the form below to send us your event information. 

We can share it in our eNews in our "Missoula Area Art Happenings", "Art Calls & Auditions", etc.

If you are interested in our "Featured Ad" option which includes a graphic/image of your event, description in the top portion of our newsletter, and posts about your event on our social media, fill out our featured ad submittable here: https://artsmissoula.submittable.com/submit/284168/featured-ad-in-arts-missoula-newsletter 

Information needed by 5pm Thursday to make it into the following Monday's eNews.

Please do not send event info more than 2 weeks in advance.

Contact Office Manager, Nathan Poukish, with any questions at nathan@artsmissoula.org 

Arts Missoula hosts a First Friday Pop-Up Gallery monthly at The Wren Hotel (201 E. Main St.) from 5-7pm.  

Additional showings of the artists' work throughout the month will be by appointment only and scheduled between the artist and The Wren concierge desk.

Artwork will hang in The Wren's meeting space which features white walls, natural light, and garage doors opening onto Main Street. This gallery space is centrally located on Pattee and Main, with Basecamp Coffee, Conflux and three busy hotels sharing the corridor.  

We are seeking new artists to showcase each month. Showcase your work in this centrally located spot in downtown Missoula, sure to catch the attention of all First Friday goers!

**Note** December artists will have an opening in December but not January, however their artwork remains in place until the end of January.  

What you need to submit: an artist statement, your preferred month(s) of gallery opening, artist bio and high-res jpegs of your work. 

No group shows at this time.  

Artists will be selected by committee to ensure our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and variety of work displayed.

Arts Missoula will arrange refreshments for each opening. All beverages served at openings must be alcohol-free due to restrictions for the Hotel.  

Arts Missoula will take a small commission on artwork sold to cover marketing, refreshments, and staff time.  

Arts Missoula is consistently seeking sponsorships for each month to help defray costs and take pressure off the gallery to make sales. These openings are about providing a unique opportunity for artists to show their work in a focused environment.    

Accept or Decline notifications will be sent within one month from submission date. If your proposal is accepted we will arrange a meeting and review a showing month that works for you. Please select all months that you are available.

This space is only available for 2D artists. 3D art such as sculpture will not be allowed, due to the nature of the space as a shared meeting room.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis. 

Arts Missoula sends out a weekly eNewsletter every Monday at 10 am highlighting local art & cultural events, opportunities, classes, and more. 

Thank you for your interest in our featured ad option showcased in our newsletter! 

Featured ads are 50 dollars a week. We use a square checkout link that you can use to purchase the featured ad. Once your featured ad is confirmed, a square checkout link will be emailed to you.

What you will receive:

-Your graphic, description of the event, and links to your preferred website or social media in our “featured events” space located at the top portion of the newsletter.

-This offer also includes social media posts of your event on the Arts Missoula Facebook and Instagram page.

Information needed Thursday by 5 PM to make it in Monday's eNews.

Featured events will only be submitted in the newsletter 1 week prior to event.

Contact Office Manager, Nathan Poukish, with any questions at nathan@artsmissoula.org 

Established in 1999, to honor those who have made significant contributions to the Arts and Cultures community in Missoula. 

For more information, visit www.artsmissoula.org

Thank you for your nomination.  Use the form below to either type within the box or attach a document at the bottom of the page and click the submit button. You must chose one of the following categories for your nomination.
 

• Individual Artist Presented to someone who has shown exceptional achievement in music, visual art, dance, literature, film, theater or performance art. 
• Arts Educator Honors an outstanding educator for any age level who has devoted a career to teaching one or more of the arts and makes a significant impact on this community. 
• Business Support for the Arts Awards Honors a local business that has made significant contributions to Missoula’s arts and cultural organizations. 
• Cultural Vision Awarded to a person or organization that has developed a special project or program demonstrating unique artistic vision. 
• New to the Zoo Honoring an artist of professional who advanced the arts and cultural community where they lived prior to Missoula and now shares their stewardship and creativity as a resident of Missoula. 
• John Engen Cultural Ambassador Award Given to an individual or couple who have supported Missoula’s arts community or helped to advance cultural diplomacy through volunteer, administrative, philanthropic, professional or legislative efforts.