Transformational project will create a permanent home for arts, culture, and community connection in Big Sky
BIG SKY, MONTANA — The Arts Council of Big Sky (ACBS) announced today that it has officially begun construction on the Big Sky Center for the Arts, marking a major milestone in its effort to create a permanent home for arts, culture, and community gathering in Big Sky.
Located in the former Choppers building at 77 Lone Peak Drive, which the Arts Council purchased in 2024, the 7,500-square-foot facility will be transformed into a vibrant, year-round community hub featuring flexible performance and event spaces, classrooms, a pottery studio, an art gallery, music and recording facilities, a community radio station, and a rooftop gathering space. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2028, .
"For nearly 40 years, the Arts Council has worked to bring our community together through the arts," said Brian Hurlbut, the organization’s Executive Director. "This project is the next chapter in that work. We're creating something Big Sky has needed for a long time — a welcoming, accessible place where people of all ages and backgrounds can create, learn, celebrate, and connect."
The need for a dedicated arts and cultural center has grown alongside Big Sky itself. While the community offers extraordinary opportunities for outdoor recreation, accessible indoor spaces for creative expression, cultural experiences, and community gatherings remain limited. The Big Sky Center for the Arts will help fill that gap, providing a year-round destination for residents, families, artists, local organizations, and visitors. It will also offer a variety of rental spaces available for individuals and local organizations.
Over the past year, the Arts Council has been putting the building to work even before renovations begin. More than 100 programs and events involving over 80 community partners have helped demonstrate the demand for flexible, affordable gathering and programming spaces, with more than 5,000 people walking through the doors since the Center opened. This real-world experience has also informed the building's design, allowing the Arts Council to adapt its plans to better serve community needs.
"We've learned so much simply by opening our doors and inviting the community in," said Hurlbut. "The response has reinforced our belief in this project and helped us shape a building that will truly work for Big Sky. We're excited to take this next step."
The Arts Council has selected local firm Two Bear Construction as its General Contractor. Construction will involve significant structural improvements and renovations to create a fully functional, welcoming facility designed to serve the community for generations. While work is underway, the Arts Council plans to continue offering its wide range of arts education, performances, exhibitions, and community programming at alternative locations throughout Big Sky. The ACBS offices have moved next door to 55 Lone Peak Drive, adjacent to First Security Bank in Suite B, and the educational art classrooms have moved to the Morningstar Learning Center campus. Pottery classes will still be held in the BASE Community Center.
“Curiosity and connection are among Morningstar’s core values, and we feel deeply aligned with the Arts Council on the importance of fostering opportunities for creativity to flourish,” said Morningstar’s Executive Director, Mariel Butan. “Big Sky is better together, and it's our pleasure to support our fellow educators and the community with a space for arts education.”
The project is supported by a capital campaign with a $10 million fundraising goal, of which more than 70 percent has been raised. The Arts Council continues to seek philanthropic support to bring the vision to life, and the project has been supported generously so far by the Big Sky Resort Area District (Resort Tax), the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, the Morgridge Family Foundation, Lone Mountain Land Company, the William, John and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation and more than 50 individual donors.
"This project is about much more than a building," added Development Director Katie Alvin. "It's about making Big Sky a better place to live. The arts create connections between people, give young people opportunities to discover their talents, and help build the sense of community that makes this place special. We're grateful to the donors, partners, and community members who have brought us this far, and we look forward to what's ahead."
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held sometime toward the end of the year or early 2027. For more information about the Big Sky Center for the Arts, including project plans and opportunities to support the campaign, visit www.bigskycenterforthearts.org.
