Since its inception in 1989, the Arts Council of Big Sky has been Big Sky’s premier non-profit cultural organization, striving to create an art-centric community through artistic events, cultural outreach, public art, and educational initiatives. Learn more about how we impact our community from our latest impact report.
In July, we welcomed Big Sky’s first large-scale mural in the Little Coyote/Lone Peak Hwy Pedestrian Tunnel by Bozeman-born artist, Stella Nall. This mural was inspired by community feedback from the following prompt; “Think about the landscape/environment of Big Sky and the wonderful plants and wildlife that live here. If you could imagine a make-believe ‘Big Sky Being’, what would it be like?"
This colorful and joyous mural is a beautiful ode to the vibrancy of our community and the surrounding landscape. We’d like to give a HUGE thank you to Ace Hardware for donating the supplies to make it happen and the the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation for a seed grant that got this project started.
The Arts Council of Big Sky in collaboration with Crucible Design Studios has installed a new viewing bench for the Gibbous Kinetic sculpture titled STRATA along with a donor appreciation sign outside of the Franklin Residences. This bench consists of 350 pieces inspired by the mountains and culture of Big Sky. This collaboration is hopefully the first of many in making an 'adopt a bench' program.
We re-homed our very first sculpture, Menhir I, by Bozeman artist, Zak Zakovi. At 13 feet high and over 2000 pounds, Menhir is a formidable installation of steel and stone. Originally installed at the roundabout in 2006, Menhir has seen Big Sky literally grow around it. Now it has settled in its new home, in a pocket park equipped with benches and a stunning view of Lone Peak, outside of BASE Community Center on the NE corner of Simkins Drive and Aspen Leaf. We’d like to give a special thanks to Todd Rossier with Two Bear Construction and Caleb Holt with Armature LLC for their expertise in installation.
Last but certainly not least, we are FINALLY welcoming Wolfie home! To The Skyland is a playful bronze by Montana born artist Brad Rude that tells the tale of a wolf on her own quest. Landscaping is underway on the south end of Fire Pit Park for an end of September/early October installation. Stay tuned for a Ribbon Cutting announcement!
This fall we will be taking extra special care of our collection through routine maintenance projects before the snow falls. We also have plans to update our Public Art Map and create some additional programming such as our Public Art Passport, in which participants will have a task to complete at each sculpture like drawing a flower at the pollinator garden, playing I-spy at the bison, or writing a poem about Wolfie, and come in for a stamp once completed.
It's been five months since the Arts Council of Big Sky closed on the 7700 square foot building at 77 Lone Peak Drive, with the the vision of creating a new Big Sky Center for the Arts. Formerly operated as a sports bar, grill and casino, we have initiated the first phase of transformation by creating an interim office space, community event venue, and art class location, all through the generous support of Todd Rossier of Two Bear Construction, Gina Dee of Provincial Store Fixtures, and countless volunteer hours.
Future renovation will be dramatic. Our main floor will have a dedicated youth classroom, dedicated pottery workshop, gallery, stage, and public event space. With the addition of a second floor, we will add five more art class and community meeting space options, administrative offices, and a radio station broadcast booth. We will build out the basement to create music lesson rooms, a recording studio, and an intimate small performance venue. And last, but definitely not least, a rooftop deck will be a new spectacular and unrivaled event space.
See the future building plans and renderings, and learn how the Big Sky Center for the Arts will transform our community here!
Breaking news: Watch "Big Sky Arts Find Its Center", the latest episode of Explore Big Sky's Hoary Marmot podcast, here!
Space
Two months after closing on the building, the former casino "game room" had been completely transformed. Old carpet was removed and the concrete floor was polished. Blacked-out windows were scraped to reveal the bright southern exposure. National Coatings painted the walls a bright gallery white - for free! Our friend Gina Dee donated a beautiful entry seating area and Big Sky Thrift contributed colorful throw pillows. Five of the Arts Council's team members moved from their 350sf office to a new office space nearly three times the size!
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In the past month, the bar and stage area of the former building received a fresh coat of white paint to create a bright and inviting space where we will host numerous upcoming community events, including High School Prom! (See below for more...) Another exciting development: in preparation for our upcoming Montana Chamber Music event, we will be moving our grand piano from the Wilson Hotel (where it has been on loan). We can't wait to hear how it fills the space!
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The former restaurant dining area has gone through a minimal transformation, mainly to serve as temporary classroom space. It will serve a very important purpose as we launch our first ever, full-time Youth Summer Arts Camp. By having this space available, we are able to expand our class offerings without disrupting programming at our art studio at BASE. Not pictured is another much-appreciated donation: a sink with counter and cupboards to provide running water and storage for any art programs we run in this corner of the building.
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Still in the works... While the new class area sink will be convenient, we still have a fully functional prep kitchen area to stage event refreshments. Much of the prior kitchen equipment remains in the space, though we do not have cooking facilities set up yet. Another transition is in progress downstairs, where basement walk-in coolers are being disassembled and removed. Once it's cleared out, it will serve as future basement storage and music practice and lesson space for local musicians of all ages.
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April 26: Lone Peak High School Prom
May 1: One Valley Give Big community event *
May 7: Big Sky Chamber’s Leadership Big Sky Graduation
June 6-7: Big Sky Artists Collective Plein Aire Kids painting class
June 27: Big Sky Artist Collective Plein Aire Kids exhibit *
July 26: Spanish Peaks Community Foundation Singer-Songwriter event
July 30: Outlaw Wildlands pop-up art exhibit *
* = Free public event
** = Ticketed public event
May 14: ACBS Artist in Residence presentation *
June 20: ACBS Baroque Music Montana concert **
July 9: ACBS Indigikitchen program with Mariah Gladstone **
July 15: ACBS Montana Chamber Music Ensemble with Angella Ahn **
(See our event calendar for more info.)
* = Free public event
** = Ticketed public event
See the future plans for this building and learn how the Big Sky Center for the Arts will transform our community here!
To visit the building and get more information about our upcoming campaign to fully realize the vision for the Big Sky Center for the Arts, please reach out to
Katie Alvin
Development Director
katie@bigskyarts.org
406-995-2472
The Arts Council's Music in the Mountains program was recently awarded a $24,500 grant from the Montana Department of Commerce. The Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant, which is offered through the Department of Commerce, will help fund the popular free concert series, assisting with infrastructure needs, signage and advertising.
The purpose of the Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant is to assist Montana's communities with destination events and new events that will increase tourism to include regional, national and international visitors, promote Montana's unique attributes and generate additional community revenue, with a focus on rural communities.
"We are very grateful to the State of Montana for supporting Music in the Mountains again for 2025," says Brian Hurlbut, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Big Sky. "It recognizes how important this program is not only to our local community, but to our statewide audience as well. As our event expenses continue to go up, grants like this are critical to our sustainability."
In 2024 more than 45,000 people flocked to Big Sky for the free outdoor concert series. The 2025 concerts are slated to start on June 26 and go through September 4. Lineup announcement will be coming in April, stay tuned!
