Through a variety of partnerships and funding from the Missoula Downtown Foundation, things t
The Missoula Downtown Foundation’s Arts & Culture Impact Grants helped fund the Missoula Arts Museum’s Teen Art mural in the pedestrian alley adjacent to Office City at 115 West Broadway and the Greetings from Missoula mural on the Grizzly Hackle Building at 215 West Front Street.
The MAM’s Teen Art Mural was created by a group of 10 Missoula teenagers exploring the concept of “Filling the Void” in a collaboration of paint and clay that is 20 feet high and 30 feet long. Led by MAM staff and local artists Krissy Ramirez and April Werle, the artwork showcases an exploration of the relationship between the body and its environment across both sides of the alley. The mural celebration for the public was held on August 16. This is the third MAM Teen Art project that the Foundation has provided funding for.
The Greetings from Missoula mural by Missoula Artist Tanya Lee highlights Missoula lifestyles and covers over 700 square feet of a blank concrete wall at the Ryman Street Gateway to Caras Park and A Carousel for Missoula. Visual features include water recreation, smoke jumping, Griz Football, the Garden City and more. The mural celebration will take place in the coming days. The live webcam for this project can be found online here.
Both art murals help beautify the public spaces of Downtown Missoula, reduce target areas for graffiti, enrich the vibrancy and livability of the community, and attract new and long-standing residents and visitors to explore. Art for the public’s enjoyment is a showcase of how Downtown Missoula is an oasis for creativity, community gathering, and supporting our neighbors and friends.
“The Missoula Downtown Foundation shapes Downtown to create a Missoula community experience,” said Dan Maronick, President of the MDF Board of Directors. “We fundraise for Downtown projects and programs that improve our quality of life in Missoula, and we are really excited to see these murals come to completion for the larger community to enjoy. They will leave a lasting impact on our community, and we look forward to doing more in the coming years.”
The Arts & Culture Impact Grants are a new program of the Missoula Downtown Foundation intended to beautify Downtown, activate alleys, promote local artists, and build partnerships between artists and building/business owners. The next round of grants will open up for applications in January 2024.
Those interested in supporting the Downtown Arts & Culture Impact Grants can contribute to the program with a tax-deductible gift to the Missoula Downtown Foundation. Learn more information on the Foundation and how to donate. For more information on these specific projects or an interview request, contact the Downtown Missoula Partnership staff via phone (406-543-4238).