Poetry Out Loud Finals Page 14 Arts in the Age of COVID-19 Pages 6-7 & 17 Spring 2020 n Montana - The Land of Creativity MAC NEWS Crow tell their own story with major Governor appoints two exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum new members, four By Anna Paige Reprinted with permission from the Billings Gazette, billingsgazette.com, March 15 returnees to MAC As an indigenous female scholar and The Montana Arts curator, Nina Sanders doesn’t lack for stories Council welcomes two to tell. new board members Born and raised on the Crow Indian Res- – Angela Russell of ervation, Sanders is working to decolonize Lodge Grass and Cor- museums and work within such institutions by Skinner of Billings. that have for centuries excluded and misrep- Russell replaces Lynne resented Indigenous voices in exhibits and in Montague, who was history books. appointed in 2015 and served one term, “We can effectively look at cultural insti- and Skinner fills the tutions with historical collections that are the vacated term of Arlene cause of these misinterpretations of our culture Parisot, which ends in and the perpetuation of stereotypes,” said 2023. Corby Skinner Sanders, whose Apsáalooke name, Akbileoosh, “Lynne brought the means Brings the Water. perspectives of an art- Last year, Sanders was invited to curate an ist, an active member exhibition for the Field Museum in Chicago. of the cultural commu- Titled “Apsáalooke Women and Warriors,” it Curator Nina Sanders carries a money tree, a traditional gift to nity, and a profession is the largest exhibition pairing historical and honor someone, in a parade to celebrate the opening of the as an advocate for contemporary items in the Crow tribe’s history Field Museum’s new exhibition “Apsáalooke Women and War- children and juveniles and the first major exhibit curated by a Native riors” in Chicago. (Photo by Anna Paige/Courtesy of Billings Gazette) to the arts council,” American scholar, in collaboration with her says MAC Executive community, in the museum’s 126-year history. Sanders, who brought together more than 20 Indigenous Director Tatiana Gant. collaborators, including writers, scholars, artists, pho- “Lynne served on sev- tographers, filmmakers and designers, to showcase the eral MAC committees, An exploited past powerful place that Apsáalooke women hold in historical including the monthly The history of Indigenous people has most often been and modern times. review of Strategic retold by those outside the culture, which has homoge- Indigenous people have also long been exploited for Investment Grant ap- Angela Russell nized Native Americans and placed them in historically their cultural identity and artifacts, while their traditions plications. She thought deeply about every comment inaccurate contexts while ignoring their lives in contem- and imagery have been appropriated or represented with- she shared – I’ll miss working with her.” porary society. out context or reverence. “That is slowly beginning to change, as Native artists Gant also expressed the Council’s sadness over See Crow Tell Their Story, page 5 the loss of longtime council member Parisot, who tell these stories in incredibly effective ways,” said died Nov. 23. “We will miss her warmth, brilliance and humor,” she wrote in the winter issue of State of the Arts. “She listened carefully, spoke honestly, and Arts in the Age of COVID-19 the council respected her insight.” The two new members, Russell and Skinner, add a valuable perspective to the council. MCT lays off 66 actors/directors, cancels tour “At recent meetings, the council has been looking By Kristi Niemeyer MCT cancelled 254 tour res- at ways to address the inequity of access to cultural As the world knows by idencies through May 20 and resources across Montana,” Gant says. “Having two now, the COVID-19 virus is was forced to lay off 66 actors. new members from the eastern part of the state will unfolding in ways that are both “It’s pretty devastating help us understand the priorities of the residents in rapid and unprecedented, and for all of us right now,” says their communities.” the arts world is certainly not Elander. “But the tendency, She notes, “Corby has been so deeply involved in immune. the statistics and the wisdom the cultural community of Billings, and Angela has Missoula Children’s The- we’re hearing is that it may get accomplished so much around both preservation and atre, an organization with roots worse.” encouraging contemporary expression.” grounded in Montana and The estimated economic hit Gov. Steve Bullock also reappointed four mem- branches that spread across the to MCT is $1.5 million in lost bers: G.B. Carson, Sean Falcon Chandler, Mark nation and around the world, revenue, and much more if the Kuipers and Jean Steele will serve until 2025. was hit particularly hard. summer tour to military bases “This has been such an extraordinary group of The staff at the Missou- around the world is cancelled. leaders, and our new members will add so much,” la-based theatre met March 13 In the immediate future, says Gant. to assess the unfolding public says Elander, “13,000 chil- health crisis, and decided to dren won’t be able to be in Corby Skinner, an independent marketing cancel the last five shows of a production that many look professional in Billings, is regarded across Montana “The Spitfire Grill,” a commu- forward to for the entire year.” for his capacity to assess issues and create positive, nity theatre production, as well Meanwhile MCT’s two-per- effective messages. He’s worked in all aspects of as an upcoming children’s day An MCT production of “Hansel and Gretel” son teams of actors/directors, performing, visual and literary arts. camp, “Beauty Lou and the – one of many touring shows now cancelled spread out across the United As director of The Writer’s Voice since its be- Country Beast,” that had 66 through May. (A2 Photography) States, are trying to find their ginning in 1991, Skinner has coordinated seven Big kids enrolled. way home. Read programs for the National Endowment for the “There were no cases in Montana when we went into MCT veteran Brandon Price posted a note on Face- Arts and 17 consecutive High Plains Book Festivals the meeting, and by the time we got out, there were five,” book’s Tour Actor/Director (TAD) alumni page Sunday featuring authors from a seven-state region and three says Terri Elander, MCT’s International and Public Rela- morning, March 15: “How is MCT doing with all this? Canadian provinces. tions director. Any teams stuck out there? Anything we can do to lend a See MAC Members on next page By Monday, March 16, schools were closing in Mon- hand?” tana and nationwide. In the face of school closures, and strict guidelines coming from the state and federal level, See MCT Tour, page 6 State of the Arts • Spring 2020 A bright spot: the report recognizes Montana for allocating resources, having dedicated FROM THE DIRECTOR staff at the Office of Public Instruction, and working with Native Nations to implement Tatiana Gant, Executive Director Indian Education for All. [email protected] The nonprofit IllumiNative, formed to act on the findings of “Reclaiming Native Truths,” states that invisibility is the modern form of violence against Native Americans. We are in this together The exhibit of “Apsáalooke Women and War- Photo by Czelsi Gomez riors” has the potential to make substantial strides in advancing a truthful and accurate As world events become local, we thank Making Native Nations visible narrative. our constituents for postponing and cancel- Touted as the first major exhibit curated ling events and making accommodations for Twice in the past six months, I’ve had the opportunity to hear presentations on the by a Native American scholar, it involves staff and volunteers. MAC is committed to many Montana contemporary Apsáalooke everything possible to be flexible and under- research and findings behind “Reclaiming Native Truth,” available at the artists along with sacred standing with deadlines and grant funding. items that have not been We will continue to monitor resources for website of the same name. In developing the report, researchers on display for more than the creative sector and share them across our 100 years. We are lucky 2 social media feeds. examined the understanding and perceptions of Native Ameri- that the Billings Gazette The National Endowment is also tuned in, has provided abundant as reflected in this message from NEA Chair cans by their fellow Americans. Among the findings: coverage of the exhib- Mary Anne Carter: it, including sending “As America confronts this period of • 40% of Americans don’t believe that Native Americans are journalist Anna Paige unprecedented change and uncertainty, we to cover the openings in want to assure you that one thing will not a living culture • 72% of Americans rarely Chicago. change: our support for the arts across this If you find the article great nation. receive information on Native Americans, past or present reprinted in this issue “The National Endowment for the Arts is interesting, I encour- open for business. Our staff, while working • .04% of media includes Na- tive characters age you to look at the remotely for the next several weeks, is avail- Gazette’s other pieces. able to you via phone or email, as usual … According to “Becoming Visi- Sign up ble,” a companion publication to the research It’s been wonderful to see my social media “We know that there are more than five feeds flooded with images of the artists and for MAC’s million Americans who make their liveli- referenced, the public school education sys- tem is the most powerful tool for shaping pub- the exhibits.