ArtsFest MONTANA is back for its fifth year August 11th – 18th in Downtown Great Falls. The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is excited to announce that there will be at least nine (9) new murals installed this year, thank you to our curator and partner Cameron Moberg out of San Francisco, CA. This is Cameron’s 6th year in Great Falls helping us recruit local, national and international artists to come and paint beautiful murals during ArtsFest MONTANA.
The festival began in 2019 and has continued to grow each year! This year we are welcoming returning artists Camer1sf, Fasm, and Louis Still Smoking. Joining them will be Rilie Tane, La Morena, Joseph Toney, Max Sansing, Ratur, EverydayResearch, and Ian Ross. We are also proud that Sister’s United has supported ArtsFest with a grant to bring two indigenous artists to contribute their work to ArtsFest! From the Blackfeet Nation we welcome artist Louis Still Smoking, and representing her heritage of Xicana: Apache and Yaqui is La Morena.
The founder of Sister’s United commented: ‘Sister’s United was started in 2019 by Candice English of the Farmer’s Daughter Fibers. Sister’s United’s goal is to help support the healing of Indigenous Women, Children and Community. Their focus is often related to art and its healing aspects, so it was really important to Candice and Sister’s United to have Indigenous representation Downtown Great Falls through the murals. The murals bring a sense of community and invoke creative inspiration and wonder. To have Indigenous Representation further these themes by showing inclusivity but also sharing our Culture with the community and its visitors.’
Art installations will begin as early as Friday, Aug 11 and will continue throughout the week at various locations throughout the downtown area. There will also be a live art demonstration on stage at the Downtown Summer Jam on Wednesday Aug 16, with a chance for the audience to bid on 2 pieces of work created during the opening acts of the concert. The following night the BID will host an Artist’s Reception on 5th Street South , where artists will be painting live and interacting with guests, followed by a live auction as well, the Montana Multicultural Fair will also be taking place that evening just up the block!
The Great Falls Business Improvement District (BID) is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 and therefore your donation may be tax deductible.
81-0460024
Thank you to these Sponsors:
NeighborWorks Great Falls
Montana Federal Credit Union
City Bar
Western Office Equipment
Dragonfly Dry Goods
Speaking Socially
ABC Seamless
Great Falls Chamber of Commerce
Susan Wolff
First Interstate Bank
Sletten Construction
Mural Locations for ArtsFest MONTANA 2023:
Rilie Tane – 501 Central Ave (alley)
La Morena – 600 block of Central (alley)
Ratur – 600 block of Central, top of the building
Max Sansing – Special Olympics (alley by City Bar)
Fasm – Runway Salon (parking lot across from Lifestyles Realty on the 700 block)
Ian Ross – Burger Bunker on 1st Ave South
EverydayResearch – Snits on Central Ave
Joseph Toney – The Commons on the 100 block of Central (near the Park Manor)
Louis Still Smoking – 2nd Street South near Real Deals
Camer1sf – Hoglunds (alley)