MAM ANNUAL REPORT-DEC 1/3/06 11:46 AM Page 1 MAM ANNUAL REPORT-DEC 1/3/06 11:46 AM Page 2 “Raise your glass for the Missoula Art Museum.” Bruce Micklus, owner of Rockin’ Rudy’s. MAM ANNUAL REPORT-DEC 1/3/06 11:46 AM Page 3 MISSOULA ART MUSEUM / ANNUAL REPORT 2005 MAM Mission MAM’s 30th year was literally groundbreaking. On a very cold day in January 2005 we The Missoula Art Museum educates, blessed and broke ground on a long-held dream to renovate, restore and expand MAM’s challenges and inspires the community building, to an extent that will astound you when finished. MAM’s capital campaign through contemporary art. The Museum fundraising efforts were fruitful, bringing us closer and closer to our $5 million goal. preserves our emerging cultural heritage And we experienced a successful year of operation in the Temporary Contemporary in through the development and conservation the historic Florence Building, thanks to faithful patronage. of its art collection. Adopted, Board of Directors, May 2005 MAM’s Board of Directors defines the term ‘working board.’ Board members provided leadership on several major initiatives during the 2004/05 year, successfully leading MAM’s capital campaign, negotiating a financing package for construction, selecting a contractor and managing construction through MAM’s Building Committee, forming an Auction Committee, which is busy planning MAM’s 34th auction for February 4, 2006. Kevin Wilkerson and Frank D’Andraia left the board due to new professional directions and we wish them well. The MAM staff is no doubt the best in the west. The challenge of moving the museum into temporary quarters and continuing to present exhibitions, education and events full tilt, while assisting with the capital campaign and with building development has certainly proved their mettle. MAM’s has been a remarkably stable staff but change is inevitable. This was Eva Dunn-Froebig’s fourth and, unfortunately, last year as Development & Communications Specialist, having made the decision to stay at home with her first child. Happily, Pam Adams joined the staff in April and took the reins as Office Manager. The extent of MAM’s programming and outreach during a state of transition characterizes the dynamic nature of our small museum. MAM not only continued to offer Missoula dynamic exhibitions, education and dazzling events but also commissioned a portfolio of prints, now touring to over 60 venues throughout the region and nation; lent objects from MAM’s collection to other museums; and acquired many new artworks to the collection. All of this is made possible by the good faith efforts of several hundred people who support MAM, including dedicated volunteers, many members, helpful colleagues, our amazing artist community, supportive elected officials and generous patrons, foundations and funding agencies. MAM made some significant new friends in this remarkable year and also lost several dear ones. We urge you to stick with us in 2005 as we continue to literally and figuratively build for the future. Laura J. Millin Cynthia H. Shott MAM Director President, MAM Board of Directors MAM ANNUAL REPORT-DEC 1/3/06 11:46 AM Page 4 OUTREACH: VISITORS & VOLUNTEERS MAM Visitors at a Glance The Missoula Art Museum maintained a positive presence in the community while in its Residence Temporary Contemporary space. Managing the move to the interim space, MAM was still Missoula: 72% open to the public for ten months out of the fiscal year and served over 12,000 visitors Surrounding Communitites: 7% Out-of-town Montana: 7% in the gallery. Out-of-state: 13% MAM’s volunteer program was stronger than ever: 3,094 hours were logged by over 150 Age Missoulians. New volunteer opportunities were created with the shift from MAM staff to Under 18: 9.5% MAM volunteers at the front desk in the gallery. Volunteers helped with special events, 19-30: 20% exhibit installation, mailings, the Annual Art Auction, packing and moving, distributing 31-55: 50% MAM materials, and soliciting event sponsorship. 56 and over: 20.5% In response to the growth and change, MAM had five dedicated committees that did Gender Male: 43.5% everything from cultivating campaign donors to selecting art for the Collection to planning Female: 56.5% and executing the Art Auction. Membership Members: 20% Non-members: 80% PROGRAMMING: EXHIBITIONS MAM’s mission to "educate, challenge and inspire through contemporary art" was adopted in May 2005, and the directives have never been more vital and challenging to the institution’s programming. The curatorial philosophy during this time of transition has MAM Exhibitions been driven by five goals: Century of Change: Lewis & Clark Up 1. Providing for a professional presence in the community through rotating Close, July 9 – July 26, 2004 exhibitions in the Temporary Contemporary. Make Your Mark, August 5 – 6, 2004 2. Acting to preserve the connection of the exhibitions to the educational mission. Gifts, Grants and Legacies: Recent Growth of the MAM Collection, 3. Upholding a presence regionally through outreach including traveling exhibitions, September 8 – October 10, 2004 interpretation, catalogues and programs. Renaissance Renewal and Renovation (Building Exhibition), 4. Maintaining continuity and teamwork with disciplined, engaged planning. September 8, 2004 – ongoing Kristi Hager: Birdbaths, 5. Preparing for a seamless transition into the new MAM, through extensive planning October 15 – November 20, 2004 and groundwork. Contemporary Glass, December 1, 2004 – January 8, 2005 Each goal was met successfully: the Temporary Contemporary was a venue for 12 exhibitions 33rd Annual Benefit Art Auction, in 10 months, and anchored MAM in downtown Missoula; each exhibition provided a venue January 15 - February 5, 2005 for an extensive array of activities; MAM has maintained several traveling exhibitions both Native Perspectives on the Trail: A independently and in partnership with the Montana Art Gallery Director’s Association; staff Contemporary American Indian Portfolio, have been disciplined with their faithful planning, and responsive with their participation February 2 – May 21, 2005 in community accessibility charettes and meetings for developing the new building, the Gail Tremblay: Baskets, permanent collection, and ongoing programming and educational outreach initiatives. February 11 – March 12, 2005 Peter Koch: Nature Morte, In addition to traditional museum venues, MAM curated, installed and shared three March 15 – April 16, 2005 exhibitions at the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) in Libby, MT. MAM’s original exhibition of commissioned artwork, Native Perspectives on the Trail: A Contemporary Jeneese Hilton: Shadow Boxing, April 20 – May 21, 2005 American Indian Portfolio, was the featured annual project for the Art Mobile of Montana, which visited 60 rural and reservation schools, home school organizations and Hutterite Roger Walker: Drawings, colonies in Montana. In addition, MAM published three catalogues and one online essay. May 27 – June 11, 2005 All staff have completed integrated three-year work plans incorporating time-based American Abstract Artists 60th Anniversary objectives, exhibition plans as well as individual and collective goals. Portfolio, May 27 – June 11, 2005 Bobbie McKibbin: Drawn West, June 17 – July 23, 2005 MAM ANNUAL REPORT-DEC 1/3/06 11:46 AM Page 5 Traveling Exhibitions Intimate Landscapes from the Big Sky: Selections from the MAM Collections completed year-long Montana tour at Lewistown Art Center, Lewistown, and Liberty Village Arts Center, Chester. Libby: A Photographic Essay by Brian Plonka; Healing Threads: A Quilt by the Kootenai Quilter’s Guild; Historical Art and Artifacts from the Heritage Museum of Libby CARD Clinic, Libby, June 25 – July 23, 2004 Mark Abrahamson: Montana Legacy Copper Village Museum and Art Center, Anaconda, July 1 – September 1, 2004 Custer County Art Center, Miles City, October 1 – November 15, 2004 Lewistown Art Center, Lewistown, January 1 – February 1, 2005 Western Art Gallery and Museum, Dillon, February 15 – April 1, 2005 Liberty Village Art Center, Chester, May 1 – June 1, 2005 Native Perspectives on the Trail: A Contemporary American Indian Portfolio Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, MT, June – July 2005 Art Mobile of Montana, January – June 2005 to the following areas: Baker, Big Sandy, Broadus, Butte, Chippewa Cree Reservation, Colstrip, Columbus, Condon, Corvallis, Dillon, Divide, Drummond, Dutton, Ennis, Fort Benton, Great Falls, Hardin, Heart Butte, Helena, Judith Gap, Kalispell, Lewistown, Lodge Grass, Melrose, Missoula, Pray, Potomac, Red Lodge, Seeley Lake, Shelby, Troy, Vaughn, White Sulphur Springs, Wibaux, Wolf Point, Whitefish Schools Served PROGRAMMING: EDUCATION Big Sky High School Capital High School – Helena The Missoula Art Museum continued to provide a wide range of educational programs since Bonner School the move to the Temporary Contemporary. Figure drawing, artist’s lectures, discussions, Darby High School Great Falls High School tours, film screenings, gallery tours and a multitude of art classes continued without Skyline High School – Great Falls missing a beat in this transition. Creative activity abounded within the walls of the gallery Chief Charlo Elementary space and often extended into other areas of the Florence building as the MAM used the Clark Fork School lobby, Governor’s Room and Bitterroot Room for programs. Cold Springs Elementary Franklin Elementary Frenchtown Elementary The temporary location did not deter school and community