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Brief History: The new facility is considered one of the finest in the state with five exhibition galleries, an Education Center, and a Collections and Research Center. The exhibition and education programs are the primary focus of the Museum's operations, with a commitment to show a wide range of mediums, content, and aesthetic sensibilities. The annual exhibit schedule is curated to appeal to the broad and diverse constituency we serve. Exhibited art ranges from historical to modern to contemporary. The primary focus is on contemporary art with twelve exhibitions presented annually. Also display in the galleries, Youth Electrum, ANA, the summer auction and Winter Showcase provide venues for a wide variety of artists and new audiences. In addition to the galleries, our museum shop is a regional showcase for fine art and crafts that includes the Artworks Gallery highlighting the works of about ten local artists each year. With a permanent collection of over 1,000 works, the Museum's small but growing collection focuses on significant regional arts. It is housed in a secure climate controlled vault. A MAP II Collections Assessment was completed in 1996and grant funding from the Institute of Museum of Library Science have helped furnish this to the highest standards. Pieces from the permanent collection are selectively shown throughout the year. Educational programming is both museum and community centered. Programs range from intellectual investigation to hands-on exploration for visitors of all ages. Lectures, slide presentations, tours, published brochures, catalogues, and wall text enhance visitors' experiences. Workshops, artist residencies, community collaborations, and school programs help the Holter meet and reach new audiences and promote creative, quality arts experiences for students of all ages. Many of these are free, and the Ethel Harrison Scholarship allows the Holter to open classes to all without limitations on a student’s ability to pay. Designed to enhance arts literacy and provide lifelong learning, the Holter’s education programs are the strongest, most diversified arts program in the state. More than 100 educational programs are offered every year that relate to exhibitions, seasonal themes, local interest and general arts. Innovative collaborations with other local organizations broaden the range of cultural activities. The Holter continues to present programs in close collaboration with the Archie Bray, Wakina Sky, Golden Triangle Mental Health among many others. The Holter Museum’s educational goal is to meet the need for art education and cultural enrichment among many diverse audiences: students, teachers, artists, adults, at-risk youth, senior citizens, other underserved groups, and community and state-wide organizations. We have confirmed this need, based on the demand for tours, presentations, and art workshops, all which have been extremely strong in the past and are growing ever stronger. For example, we have filled all available openings for school tours in our artist residency program and have developed large audiences for resident artists’ evening presentations. Last year, over 7,310 people attended Holter education programs. Approximately 3,500 of these visitors were students in kindergarten through grade 12. Students from every Helena school, including the two colleges, participated recently in museum programs. And many other school groups traveled from other parts of western Montana, including Twin Bridges, Seeley Lake, Manhattan, and Bozeman. Our educational programs are a significant part of the Holter’s Long-Range Strategic Plan, and plans are firmly in place to continue to develop our successful educational offerings. |
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