When it comes to cities known for their arts and culture, the Rocky Mountain West is holding its own, and Missoula again is near the top of the list.

The annual “Arts Vibrancy Index Report: Hotbeds of America’s Arts and Culture,” released this week, placed Missoula in the No. 4 spot for medium-sized cities, just behind Santa Fe, New Mexico; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and San Rafael, California.

It ranked within the top 40 of all U.S. cities, including the nation’s major metros, and was the only Montana city to make this year’s list. But that doesn’t come as a surprise to members of Missoula’s arts community.

By Martin Kidston