Hamilton, MT

Hamilton, MT, is located in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. Hamilton is full of history and surrounded by mountains, rivers, hiking, and near Lake Como. The town of Hamilton is the central trade area for hundreds of small farms, ranches, and orchards that fill the valley.

The Artist will be in residence at Explore the ARTS, a non-profit art center located in downtown Hamilton.

The Explore the ARTS building was built in the 1930s as a business location that included housing accommodations for the owner. It is located in the historic area of the town that Butte Copper King Marcus Daly built. Marcus Daly harvested timber for his mines in Butte near Hamilton, and built a summer home with his wife in Hamilton in 1912. “The Daly Mansion” is now a tourist site and event venue. His estate sold the Daly’s ranch to Charles Schwab, who built “The Stock Farm Club,” a private golf club and summer homes for elite members.

From 2016- 2019 Barbara Liss, artist and founder of Explore the ARTS, expanded her use of the building, which now houses an art gallery, her concrete sculpting studio, ARTspace, which provides space for workshops, and finally, the largest space that provides 2 additional studios, gallery and additional workshop space. This 4000 sq ft building is dedicated to providing art experiences to Ravalli county, a population of 46,000.

The art center grew as the community’s interest in the arts expanded. Offering workshops play a vital role in the arts for the community. Explore the ARTS will be entering its 6th year of offering summer youth art programming.

The artist will receive a designated 8x12 studio space at Explore the ARTS.

Explore the ARTS is a bustling non-profit dedicated to providing arts to the community. The space has 3 artists’ studios, 3 gallery spaces, and 2 workshop spaces. It is open to the public 5-6 days a week. Studios are public-facing spaces that allow the public to see how artists create. Art is displayed inside and outside the Explore the ARTS building.

The artist will have access to the artists at Explore the ARTS. Onsite at the art center, Barbara Liss is there 6 days a week, attending to daily business or sculpting in her studio. Artist Bonnie Cazier paints in oils and also creates with alcohol inks. Gary Jensen paints with acrylic and is also a talented singer-songwriter. Jean Driescher is the art educator who runs the summer youth workshop programs and private art classes.

Additionally, the artist will have access to:

• Ravalli County Museum

• Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge

• Teller Wildlife Refuge

• Local ornithologist

Explore the Arts Website

Explore the Arts Facebook page

Hamilton, MT, pop. 4,659, is a beautiful town located in the shadow of the rugged Bitterroot Mountain range, 47 miles south of Missoula.

Explore the ARTS is located 4 blocks from the main street businesses and restaurants. And is within walking distance of 3 Bitterroot River Parks. The Bitterroot River is a Blue Ribbon trout fishery. Hamilton is in a valley surrounded by forest land and many hiking trails. The Bitterroot National Forest, the Rocky Mountain Range on the west, and the Sapphire Mountains on the east.

The artist will be housed in a main-level one-bedroom apartment with a full bath and a full kitchen. The apartment is located half a block from Explore the ARTS in a charming Victorian building.

The apartment has no Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi is available at the studio.

Community engagement is an important component of the residency in Hamilton. Artists are requested to provide one or more workshops for local children and/or adults. Materials and additional compensation will be provided. Studios are in the middle of a bustling art center. Artists should expect to engage in the activities of the art center during their residency.