The only fine arts museum in Bozeman, the Bozeman Art Museum thrives on bringing history, culture, and education to life in the arts where “people of all ages can come together to experience the transformative power of art.”
Come in, and delight in the beauty and creativity while you visit the wonderful city of Bozeman, Montana.
What’s the history behind the Bozeman Art Museum?
The Bozeman Art Museum (BAM) is celebrating its tenth year in existence, having formed in 2012, when Executive Director Linda Williams began reflecting on the reality that beautiful Bozeman has no fine art museum.
She got together with other like-minded individuals to incorporate the Bozeman Art Museum and seek tax exemption status in April 2012.
The small group formed a council and began working on hosting exhibits, displays, and more. In 2013, Linda Williams went to the City Commission of Bozeman with a proposal for the Bozeman Art Museum to turn the Story Mansion into the fine art museum’s permanent home.
The critical question arose: what qualified this group to run a fine arts museum? Linda went on to pursue her master’s in Art History, Theory, and Criticism, progressing her toward the role of Executive Director and spearhead of the BAM.
In 2016, the museum received generous donations to revitalize the museum and its programming.
Today, they continue now to develop a strong donor base and provide unique, excellent programing for the Gallatin Valley, with the ultimate goal of a full-fledged fine art museum in Bozeman.
How do I find out what’s going on at the Bozeman Art Museum?
To see what events, special exhibits, and other exciting opportunities are taking place at the Bozeman Art Museum, you can contact them directly via email or phone, or visit the website and check out the calendar.
- 2612 W Main St Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59718
- (406) 570-1419
- info@bozemanartmuseum.org
- https://bozemanartmuseum.org/
- Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Season: Year-Round
What are the main exhibits and programs at the Bozeman Art Museum?
Exhibits at the Bozeman Art Museum are ever-changing, bringing new and exciting artistic works into the city. Some past exhibits have included such works as
- Russell Chatham: Drawn by the Mystery Exhibit 3
- Multiple Impressions: Select Prints from the St Clair Collection
- ReCouping Sovereignty: Native Artists Amend the Narrative
- Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Reunion
- Brush with the Wild: Wildlife and Sporting Arts: Exhibit 4
- Steve Huston & Floyd DeWitt: Exhibit 1
The BAM has regular lecture series which are hosted at the Museum of the Rockies and educational programming held in the community.
To find current programs being offered while you’re in town, you’ll need to check the museum’s calendar based on your interests.
Where is the Bozeman Art Museum headed?
The Bozeman Art Museum is still in its formative phases, working toward its long-term vision of a fully visualized fine art museum in the heart of Bozeman.
Currently, they are between phase 1 and phase 2 of their long-term plan, aiming for securing a permanent home for the museum in 2025.
In the meantime, to enjoy the offerings of the museum you will need to check their programming to find temporary locations provided by interested parties in the Bozeman and Gallatin Valley communities.
Conclusion
The Bozeman Art Museum is still heavily in its development stages, but that doesn’t mean you can enjoy the fine art offerings provided by the nonprofit.
They run programs, participate in the Bozeman “art walks,” offer educational activities, and partner in lecture series in the arts in the region.
To find out more, contact them directly or spend a little time perusing their website to see what’s coming up next and what temporary location the program or exhibit may be found.