SCOPE for Wed. February 18– The Voice of the Missoula Cultural Community

Today is February 18 and on this day in 1959 over 250 people attended a dinner at the Hotel Florence to celebrate the Missoula premiere of The Hanging Tree, based on the novel of that name by Dorothy Johnson. She was then a UM Journalism School faculty member and the author of other books, such as Liberty Valence and A Man Called Horse, both also made into motion pictures. The Hanging Tree, starred Gary Cooper as a frontier doctor and was filmed in Yakima County, Washington. A video version is available. Papers of Dorothy M. Johnson, 1896-1958, a collection of typescript drafts and related correspondence for several short stories and The Hanging Tree are at the University of Iowa.

General Interest items

#1a – Let’s try this again, since the hyperlink given last week was defective: To unsubscribe from SCOPE, click here .

#1b – The third Missoula Creative Enterprise Roundtable will take place on Friday, February 27, starting at 2:00 p.m. in the Conference room at the MonTEC building, 1121 E. Broadway. This session will focus on Missoula’s media arts “cluster,” which encompasses film, video, DVD, interactive website development and other media applications which use creative arts talents and resources. Sten Iverson, who heads Montana’s film office, will be one of the presenters. To get a visual idea of what’s involved in “media arts,” look at the schematic on the Missoula Cultural Council website. To get more information and to reserve a seat at the roundtable, contact MCC at 721-9620 or

#1c – MCC has collaborated with the Montana Associated Technology Roundtables in the two previous Creative Enterprise roundtables in Missoula. “Clusters” were proposed at the state’s Economic Development Summit last May as a strategy to revitalize the Montana economy. The appointment of a director to begin the state’s implementation of two of the six suggested “clusters” is expected to be announced on March 1. Meanwhile, the pot is already boiling in the Missoula region. See Creative Community below.

#1c – The Missoula Cultural Council is now accepting applications for surplus office furniture and equipment available through the in-kind donation database which is part of its Business Committee for the Arts program. Those nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that have filled out the BCA application forms will have first choice for filling and storage cabinets, chairs, desks, exhibit components, office equipment and more. To secure an application form call 721-9620 or email

#1d – The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has a very informative website with news about what the nation’s state arts organizations are doing. The current issue, for example, notes that the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts has been named a semifinalist in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards. The PCA’s “Responsive Funding System” represents a new approach to the allocation of state arts funds. Clear funding tracks for applicants, elimination of project-based funding and request amounts coupled with the exclusive use of past performance review has created a granting system that is rational, authentic and transparent. See more NASAA examples below.

#1e – The Montana Committee for the Humanities grants program offers a wide range of funding opportunities for specific projects. The next major grant proposal deadline, for requests over $3,000, is March 20. Requests under $3,000 are due the 20th of each month. Each year MCH invites proposals for media programs in the humanities. Typically, MCH will consider funding up to four media grants of no more than $8,000 each. Funds may be used for research, scripting, production, and/or post-production costs for projects in film, video, radio, audiotape, television, or computer programs in the humanities. For details click here.

#1f (a) – The recent workshop put on by the Montana Arts Council omitted one increasingly important source of fundraising — the internet. A good place to learn how your organization can cash in on this technique is http://www.networkforgood.org/npo/fundraising/ or http://www.fund-online.com/

#1f (b) The Western Montana Fundraisers Association will hold an audio conference February 24 at the Doubletree Hotel in Missoula from 10:50 AM to 1:00, with a buffet lunch served at 12:30 PM. Title is “Fundraising During Challenging Times…and Beyond.” Cost is $20 for members and $23 for non-members. Reservations are needed by this Friday. Contact Dorcie at 243-4609.

#1f (c) The Western States Arts Federation has just introduced CultureGrants Online, an Ingternet-based grants application and disbursement system for state and local arts funders and humanities organizations. WESTAF used a state-of-the-art software platform that allows agencies to better manage the grants process from applicant submissions to the disbursement of funds. Cool!

#1g – South Dakotans for the Arts will host a Practical Arts Leadership Training Seminar at Augustana College in South Falls SD June 2-6. Cost is $350 per person for early-bird registration, plus food and lodging. For info contact Missoula Cultural Council or click on http://www.sdarts.org/PAMI2004.htm

#1h – There’ll be a panel discussion on the St. Francis Xavier School rehabilitation proposal at City Council Chambers on Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m. Get information about this project at http://www.xavierfoundation.net

#1i – Earl Old Person, chief of the Blackfeet Nation since 1978, will lecture this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the UM Gallagher Business Building Room 122 on "Fifty Years of Leadership in Indian Country." This free, public event is the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West’s 10th Annual Native American Lecture. For more information, call 243-7700 or visit http://www.crmw.org.

#1j – Fundraising will be one of the hot topics of the annual meeting of the Museums Association of Montana in Miles City March 11-13. Get info at http://www.montanamuseums.org

#1k – Robert M. Brown, who heads the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, is the state representative for the American Association for State and Local History 2004 awards program. Applications are due by March 1. Get an application here.

#1l – Just formed is the Sanders County Arts Council whose mission is "to foster and promote all forms of art through public performances, workshops, exhibits and any and all other appropriate means, throughout Sanders County.” The new organization was made possible because a generous donor gave $5,000 to start this new non-profit. Stay tuned.

#1m – The Missoula Parks & Recreation Department has just released a draft 99-page Comprehensive Master Plan that notes there is strong support for a cultural center in a revamped McCormick Park that has performing arts facilities and for arts/sculpture in general. One of the plan’s goals is to “incorporate historic and cultural resources and art into park designs to celebrate the unique aspects of Missoula and provide distinctiveness between parks.”

On the Literary Landscape

#2a – Story tellers are being recruited for Missoula’s second annual StoryKeepers Festival, June 18-19. Applicants need to submit a tape, bio, photo, references. For more info call 327-7400 or 549-4803.

#2b – Missoula Reads events this week include informal discussions of Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 at The Break on Higgins Avenue today (Wednesday) at 9:00 a.m. — hurry! — and tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Bernice’s Bakery.

#2c – The SCOPE scribe is just finishing The Nature of Midnight by Robert Rice, a “reformed lawyer” with an M.A. in International Affairs, who plies his craft from a home near Livingston. This latest novel concerns the sinking of the ocean liner Lusitania during World War I but most of the action occurs in modern-day Montana in the Madison River area around Norris. His has also authored The Last Pendragon and Agent of Judgment. You can get information about his next book — and maybe be in it — from his website at http://www.robertrice.com

The Art Scene

#3a – The Art Hang-up and Body Basics shop at 525 S. Higgins Avenue seeks entries for a show and silent auction to benefit the art departments of the Missoula public school system. Artists’ renderings of fans in any medium are requested. Info: 327-8757.

#3b – Drive by Art is an exciting new public art program just launched in Wellington, New Zealand, and the Missoula Cultural Council is going to scope it out during the upcoming cultural exchange with Palmerston North, Missoula’s Sister City, located just a few hours drive north of the NZ capitol city. Street banners designed and created by over two dozen local schools have been installed to help celebrate summer in Wellington and add to the community’s growing public art efforts. MCC will, as usual, share the information with public art advocates in other Montana communities.

#3c – Art Missoula, LLC has expanded its floor space at 219 W. Broadway. The 5,000 square feet of gallery, shop and studio space currently houses Missoula School of Hot Glass, Mary Porter Jewelry Studio, Carrock Blades, a branch of Shakespeare & Co books, Teabody’s tea bar, and Journeyman Bodyworks. Art Missoula represents 60 young, emerging, local artists in its two gallery spaces. Since opening, its had 13 new shows, held a private auction fundraiser for a local non-profit, staged a theater event and started a literary evening series, and hosted many other cultural events. It currently has a 225 sq. ft. retail space available. For information contact Lisa at 549-0422 or [email protected]

#3d – The Art Museum of Missoula’s 32nd annual auction on February 7 netted a record $74,160 from a record attendance of 425. Another record: a winning bid of $12,500 for a ceramic plate by Rudy Autio, the Missoula artist who received a Cultural Achievement Award at the Missoula Cultural Council’s awards luncheon on January 16.

#3d – Maggie Taylor’s unique digital images will be on display throughout March at Gallery Saintonge. The exhibit features many of Taylor’s most recent images among work from the past 4 year. Her images are curious narratives, an intimate mingling of memories and dreams that remain open to interpretation. The show will run from February 26 through March 27 with an opening reception during First Friday Art Walk on March 5 from 5-8pm.

Musical Notes and Stage Cues

#4a – The Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival April 23-24 will feature four top instrumentalists besides the clarinetist for whom the event is named: Gordon Wycliff on trombone, Peter Appleward on vibraphone, Randy Becker on trumpet, and brother Michael on sax. Click on those names to get background info and enjoy a few licks.

#4b – The 2004 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival takes place February 20-25, 2004 at the recently-restored Roxy Theater in downtown Missoula. The festival will showcase non-fiction films from all styles, formats and production dates, from the most innovative and timely new films to classics and rare historic works. Awards will be given in various categories. Get the whole story and schedule at highplainsfilms.org

#4c – The String Orchestra of the Rockies “Leap Day” Concert in the UM Music Recital Hall on Sunday, February 29th at 7:30 p.m. will include the world premiere of Montana composer Eric Funk’s Concerto for Bass and Strings. Guest soloists are David Heyes, bass violin virtuoso, and soprano Sarah Poole, both of London, England. The program includes works by Castrucci, Rossin, Bottesini, Novello and Mendelssohn. Tickets are: $15, $12, and $7 for music students, available at Rockin Rudys, Fact & Fiction, Morgenroth Music and at the performance.

#4d – Volunteers and interns are needed for 27th International Wildlife Film Festival. Host homes also needed. Contact 728-9380 or [email protected].

Cultural Tourism Directions

#5a – Another example of outstanding state arts council programs cited by National Assembly of State Arts Agencies is the participation by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts in a trade mission to Canada which features New Hampshire arts and cultural resources. The state arts council there is part of the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources. Here at home, the Montana World Trade Center recently used an exhibit of Montana art as a “door opener” for commercial contacts in Ireland and is organizing a similar exhibit in Missoula’s Sister City of Palmerston North in New Zealand in late March. The Missoula Cultural Council also will be taking cultural materials to Palmerston North then as it has in the past with Neckargemund, Missoula’s Sister City in Germany. To be included in the MCC “culture kit” contact Louise at 721-9620 or [email protected]

#5b – A 7:00 p.m. public meeting on March 15 at the Missoula Public Library will introduce the Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail and gather public input into the planned statewide birding trail. The steering committee will also accept nominations for bird viewing sites. For information on other community meetings contact Deborah Richie at 721-6609.

#5c – The direct mail piece recently sent out by the Missoula Convention and Visitors Bureau prominently featured the area’s cultural and historical sites. The response rate was very good and inquiries are still coming in. Non-profit arts and cultural organizations are encouraged to become members of this community-based CVB in order to maximize their ability to attract tourists who spend the money needed to grease the cultural wheel. The membership fee is minimal. Call 532-3250 to learn the benefits.

#5d – Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for Global Positioning System users. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches which may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. Since the launch of the web site, the Geocaching sport has grown to caches in all 50 states and nearly 200 countries. There already are 173 in the Missoula area, some of them connected with the Lewis & Clark expedition route, some related to the visual arts. Learn about them here.

The Creative Community

#6a – Another example of outstanding arts council work cited by NASAA is the Virginia Arts Commission whose six-member staff works closely with local cultural organizations to foster the arts as a community building force. Its Building Arts Organizations from the Bottom Up helped two organizations in two small towns there gain a solid financial footing and revitalize their community.

#6b – Richard Florida, whose Rise of the Creative Class is awakening cities and cultural organizations, is against “big boxes” and not the retail store kind either. He’s talking about new convention centers, stadiums, even cultural centers. He believes that people instead should invest public dollars in creative, grass-roots entrepreneurial projects. What drives today’s successful economies is "not institution-building, but investing in creative people," Florida said in a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

#6c – John Barsness, Executive Director of Montana Arts, is one of four people from the United States who will give presentations at a world-wide Creative Cluster conference in Brighton, England, in late April. Another speaker will represent the Creative Economy Council, a partnership among leaders from New England’s business, government, and cultural sectors that promotes the sustainable economic development of New England’s creative economy. State arts councils and local arts organizations in that area have long been active in this field.

The Cultural Environment

#7a – “Money, money, money makes the world go ‘round” according to the song in Cabaret and the constant refrain of some arts administrators, but there’s more to building community support for the arts and culture than rattling that tin cup. Promoting mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts is the mission of Business Committee for the Arts and the Kansas City BCA affiliate provides a sterling example with a story in its current newsletter about how one of its members — Truman Medical Centers — makes the arts a part of everyday work life. Its Center for the Healing Arts offers a variety of programs that use the arts and humanities to encourage employees to find a broader understanding of themselves and become better care givers.

#7b – “There’s a lot of talk in America these days about a cultural divide.” That’s how the moderator introduced the final segment of the recent televised program in Milwaukee where the four remaining contenders for the Democrat presidential nomination did their thing. “One of the hot-button issues in this country right now is gay marriage,” said the moderator and that was the extent of “cultural issues.” Janet Jackson wasn’t even mentioned.

Miscellaneous

#8a – UM linguistics professor Tony Mattina is looking for Missoula families willing to provide home-stays for a group of Italian students from a High School in Bologna who want to visit here this fall and have a particular interest in Indian languages. If interested contact Mattina at 243-5851 or [email protected]

#8b – A call for artists has been issued through the Louisiana Percent for Art Program — administered by the Louisiana Division of the Arts — for a $161,820 commission for a building in Baton Rouge. The deadline for applications is April 16. A complete Call For Artists may be found at the website, http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts under the Percent for Art link. The Louisiana Division of the Arts — an agency in that state’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism — is seeking a Community Development Director to handle a variety of tasks including assisting in the development of arts organizations throughout the state. Deadline to apply is March 5.

#8c – A prominent feature of the Montana Arts Council fundraising workshop was a psycho-metric personality analysis exercise that uses shapes to classify individuals. Thus, the “Box Person” is perceived as typically a very tidy, logical and practical individual who likes everything to be orderly. “Box people” can be quite obsessional in their actions, are very slow decision makers, like to be in control, are highly resistant to change, and definitely not team players. Coming in the next SCOPE, the “Circle person.” The come the triangle, rectangle, and squiggle persons. Then SCOPE will do the same for arts and cultural organizations. First shape will be a tube/silo. Stay tuned.

Academic notes

#9a – Charter Day festivities will be held this Friday to mark UM-Missoula’s 111th birthday. A celebration with cake and candy will be held at 1 p.m. in the University Center Atrium. An awards ceremony and reception follows at 4:30 p.m. in the UC Ballroom with President George Dennison delivering the Charter Day address, and awards presented to UM staffers. Both events are free and open to the public.

#9b – Sussex School, Missoula’s only private independent K-8 elementary school, will host an open house on Tuesday, March 16th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. There will be a presentation and tour of the school at 7:00 p.m. For more information call 549-8327.

#9c – President Bush’s budget released the first week of February proposed increased funding for the three federal cultural agencies but also proposed to eliminate all funding for the Department of Education’s arts education program. The current arts education appropriation is $35 million. Stay tuned.

Closing note: a Miami judge has devised a plan to punish offenders who play their car stereos too loudly by insisting they join him in his chambers and listen to opera. Judge Jeffrey Swartz’s philosophy is simple: "You impose your music on me, and I’m going to impose my music on you."