Montana the land of creativity : thirty stories : return on investment the western way

2005·3 MB·English

by  Montana Arts Council

MONTANA
s
353.77
AllMLC
2005
The Land
of
An Agency of Montana State Government
MontanaStateLibrary
3 0864 1003 2943 5
Creativity.
The spark of imagination that ignites fresh and entrepreneurial thinking.
The source of inspiration that gives meaning to our lives through words and music^ art and design.
The catalyst for new ways of thinking that helps solve the problems of today for a brighter tomorrow.
Welcome to Montana's future, the land of creativity brought to life through the arts.
This book is about "real Montanans" and their stories of how the arts spur the economy of the state and produce hard-
working partners and community trailblazers. It puts a spotlight on the entrepreneurial spirit, great little towns made better
through the arts, the benefits the public gains from creative minds and the lasting legacy the arts and creativity provide to us
all as Montanans.
The Montana Arts Council is the state agency charged with promoting the arts, and it serves the Montana public with
services and funding investments to help support arts education and arts-driven economic development throughout Montana.
The Montana Arts Council works hard to maximize its public value to Montanans. The agency defines public value as
a principle or ideal, service or product intrinsically valuable or desirable to the citizens of Montana and worthy of state
investment. It is important for Montanans to see the impact of how their tax dollars are spent, just like you'd look to see the
return on your own investments.
There are facts. There are figures. But there has never been a collection of Montanans' own stories that illustrate the return
on the investment in creative enterprise.
These are some of those stories.
The Montana Arts Council,
An Agency of Montana State Government
The Arts and the Humanities
The arts and the humanities often work best when they work together, and over the years the Montana Committee for the
Humanities has had many opportunities to collaborate with the Montana Arts Council. Whenever people think about,
write about, or discuss the arts, they are "doing" the humanities. Whenever the arts are seen in historical or critical
perspective, that is the humanities. Indeed, the humanities are often called the Thinking Arts. It is our response - through
thought and art - to our environment, our breathtaking surroundings, our diverse cultures and heritage, that makes up our
unique Montana culture.
The Montana Committee for the Humanities is grateful to the Montana Arts Council for its early and ongoing support for
many Montana Committee for the Humanities projects, such as the Montana Festival of the Book, our annual invitation
to all Montanans to read the same book, "One Book Montana," our many reading and discussion programs held in
communities across the state, our Speakers Bureau, grants and many other programs. And the Montana Committee for the
Humanities commends the Montana Arts Council for its strong emphasis on preserving and disseminating traditional arts
and culture in our state, for its aid to a myriad of non-profit groups of all shapes and sizes, and for its insistence that the
arts are at the core of healthy and vibrant communities and economies.
In so many of our towns and counties, the public library, the small museum, the local chorale or symphony are the
glue that makes a community. The stories in this collection are a testament to the health and creativity of our state. And
they are a testament to the important work that the Montana Arts Council continues to undertake for all the citizens of
Montana.
Montana Committee for the Humanities
AnAffiliate oftheNationalEndowmentforthe Humanities
MONTANA
The Land
of
THIRTY STORIES: RETURN ON INVESTMENT THE WESTERN WAY
This publication is produced and printed in Montana, by Montanans and for Montanans.
A publication of the Montana Arts Council © January 2005.
The cost for printing this publication was underwritten in part by the Montana Committee for the Humanities.
Montana Committee for the Humanities
AnAffiliateoftheNationalEndowmentfortheHumanities
Designed and produced by
liue CLt
ifIMES
www.livelytimes.com
Cover design by Helena artist Jeff Lovely.
State of Montana programs are available to all Montanans.
Upon request, an alternative accessible format will be provided.
NATIONAL
EFONRDTOHWEMAERNTTS All rights reserved. Written permission is required for reprint. Montanaartscouncil

47
Table of Contents
Spurring a Western Economy Montana's Creative Minds
Creative Enterprise Clusters 3 Artists Residencies in Schools 22-23
The Arts and Economic Development 4-5 Miles City: Custer County Art and FHeritage Center 24
Big Timber: Artists Impact Rural Development 6 Butte: Orphan Girl Theatre 25
Missoula: International Choral Festival 7 Big Sandy, Helena: Art and People with Disabilities 26
Fort Peck: Fort Peck Summer Theatre 8 Martinsdale: Lee Rostad 27
Cut Bank: Storytelling Roundup 9
Community
Trailblazers
Entrepreneurial Spirit Missoula: Jim Caron and Missoula Children's Theatre 28
Chinook: Ken Overcast 10 Billings: Mayor Chuck Tooley 29
Eureka: Dave Clarke 11 Livingston: Photographer Melanie Nashen 30
Roundup: Bill Allison 12 Chester: Pianist Philip Aaberg 31
Blackfeet Reservation: Jay Laber 13
Lasting Legacy
Hard-Working Partners Conrad: Rib Gustafson 32
Hamilton: Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce Gallery 1 Harlem: Jamie and Vince Fox 33
Bozeman: Bozeman Community Cultural Council 15 Helena: Robert F. Morgan 34
Choteau: Performing Arts League Drumming Workshop 16 Crow Reservation: Birdie Real Bird 35
Montana Ambassadors
1
Best Little Towns in the West Montana Arts Council and Staff 36
Troy: Hot Club and Artrain 18
Poison: Port Poison Players 19
Colstrip: Schoolhouse History and Art Center 20
Cut Bank: Historical Murals Project 21
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Montana...The Land of Creativity - Page 3
Spurring a Western Economy
Montana explores the economics of the arts
V^eramics, theater, writing, painting, Gibson said. "I'm no expert on the arts, but I cluster I'm working on that I don't think is
music, sculpture... fulfilling pursuits to be see tremendous growth potential here." geographically constrained."
sure, and for some lucky Montanans, their GeoffSutton ofMissoula is directing • The arts are a value-added proposition,
passions are also theirjobs. Butjust what are the creative enterprise cluster development offering quality products that, unlike basic
thosejobs worth? What are the arts worth program. "Not only are the arts an economic manufactured goods, can'tbe made overseas
to the economy ofMontana? It's a tough benefit, they are an amenity we can use to for less.
number to pin down, but state officials hope draw other businesses to Montana," Sutton • Finally, the arts improve the quality of
to have a rough idea by the end of2004. said. life ofa community. "It's absolutely true that
The Governor's Office ofEconomic Sutton eventually envisions the an arts component is a vital part ofattracting
Opportunity has identified the arts, or development ofa high-end art and craft talented people into a community," Gibson
more specifically, "creative enterprise," market here, involving Montana artists and said.
as a top priority for economic growth. A possibly those from other states. One of -John Harrington, Reprintedcourtesy
study, including a survey of2,700 artists the first steps is determining the baseline ofHelena IndependentRecord
to be compiled by the Center forApplied economic impact ofthe arts, so subsequent
Economic Research at Montana State studies ofthe efforts will have something to Return on Investment
1
University-Billings, will aim to define the be measured against. Montana has a national reputation for the
role the arts play in the state's economy. Gibson noted several areas in which the high quality and number of artists and arts
Dave Gibson, director ofGovernor arts are a strength Montana can play to in related businesses here. They are writers,
Martz's GOEO, said the arts community has developing its economy: musicians, actors, dancers, visual artists,
artisans, traditional artists or galleries, studios
responded well to the notion ofdeveloping a • The arts can affect touris—m, drawing art- and other arts-related private-sector and
"creative enterprise cluster," wherein several lovers to Montana to buy art and to spend nonprofit businesses.
independent artists or money at other businesses There is every reason to look forward to a
businesses would work "I'm looking at this strictly while they're here. day when Montana could be known here and
together at marketing economically. I'm no expert on • The arts reach every around the world as, "the land ofcreativity."
and promoting the comer ofthe state. "Some When creativity thrives in every aspect of life
the arts, but see tremendous - business, tourism, education, and working
industry both within I ofour most rural towns
aMonndteasnpae.cially outside growth potential he-reD.a"ve Gibson, thhaavtearseomreealclryeasttirvueggling otinhuetassbtoaelttuett.eiroWnqhsueatlnoitttyhheaotftcolirufegeahtfiopvriratolylblnMoeotmnstonatlnhyaatnrsfe,sauculiettss i
"I'm looking at this Director of Martz's Governor's people living in them," but also a more vibrant and diversified
strictly economically," Office of Economic Opportunity Gibson said. "It's the one economy.
Page 4 - Montana...The Land of Creativity
Spurring a Western Economy
^ Nonprofit arts play vital role in Montana's economy
In 2003, a landmark study sponsored by also flow into ourbusinesses, ourjobs 2001-2002 fiscal year. The total economic
the MontanaArts Council and conducted and ourbank accounts injust as many impact ofthe 137 organizations and their
by the Bozeman research firmArtsMarket, ways. This research has been conducted attending audience was $85.1 million,
Inc., surveyed Montana nonprofit arts to illustratejust a few ofthe ways the arts generating the following:
organizations to assess how arts and cultural affect our economy through arts organization • 1,949 full-timejobs paying an average
programs contribute to the state economy. and audience spending. Here are a few key of$18,275 perjob;
Financial data collected on 137 Montana findings. • $35.8 million in payroll income;
nonprofit arts institutions was used to • $13.5 million in tax revenues with
calculate impacts. This data was provided by jj^g total economic impact of 1 37 $4 million staying local; and
the Internal Revenue Service and supported Montana nonorofit arts institutions ' 260,000 out-of-state visitors as paying
by surveys conducted in the fall of2002 by "'^S ^$„8_5 mil..l..ion .in F^wY^2^0^0,2^ audience members.
ArtsMarket, Inc.
The multiple impacts ofthe arts are
rExecut^i.ve summary' and, ,key^ a^M^ocnritt.aicnaal^csoemcpoonnoemnyt.otTf^hue W^^KVT^'
TindingS ^^^ affect Montanans in " Total Economic Impact
eleLctirkieciatycotohaltsguivmemselrigbhrteteozeouorrhtohemes, the dsioff^i^cu^lyt t^o^pyl^u^m^batthiteifsull FOR Individual Cities in FY2002
arts are often taken for granted until their ^^p^^ oftheir impact. Even
absence is felt. In as much as we all know it ^^en only evaluating BILLINGS $15.83 million dollar impact
maISrateksaesasfileosraettnosaefnildtlhpaartpewoveenndntbeteehfdeoirtroedkiitsesieospleuMmtopinotnty,,aniat's ^oi^rnedgiaivnmiipdzuaaactlitonMnosonnpatrnaodfniatth'esairrts B_^,^O,Z'__E'_^MAN $1*.^1'25_
particularly during questionable economic attending audiences have on GREAT FALLS $11.99
^^^^^- the economy, the findings HELENA $15.67
Consider how much the arts add to the ^.^ ,obust. This study KALISPELL - WHITEFISH ... $2.05 ^M
quality oflife we enjoy, the education our f^und that Montana's arts MISSOULA $15 07 ^""
children receive and the communities we organizations spent $22.2 p.^., OF MOMTAMa" U 60
Mshoanrte.anTahnesairntshpuonsdirteivdeslyofafwfaeycst.aTndheunairttes J^^^^oopneroantipornosgdruarmimngintghe ^"^"^'^^V^?MTO.N^TTA^NA, 1$815.1. milwlion Adollllar 'impactT"-