By TOM BENSEN
First Night Missoula, the New Year’s Eve community celebration of the arts, is 10 days away! 12 hours, 80 events, 25 venues. Admission buttons are $15 ($18 on December 31). Visit here or call 541-0860 for more information.
First Night Spotlight, the annual High School singing competition, will be held at the Dennison Theatre on the UM campus this year during First Night Missoula on New Year’s Eve. Admission is a First Night Button plus a $2 ticket ($3 on December 31) to assure your seat for the show. Visit here for tickets and information.
The Missoula Art Museum presents Terrain: Plateau Native Art & Poetry through February 27, 2016; John Buck: Free for All through March 12; Good Wood: Carved And Cut From MAM’s Permanent Collection through March 12; A Few of My Favorite Things, an exhibition selected by MAM’s Senior Exhibition Curator Emeritus Stephen Glueckert, through December 23; MaryAnn Bonjorni: Legends Are History, through January 2 (pictured here). The 44th Benefit Art Auction Exhibition opens January 8 with Exhibition Opening and Artist Reception from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Mam’s 44th Benefit Art Auction is Saturday, February 6, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre presents the Vienna International Ballet Experience (VIBE) January 12-16 at venues throughout Missoula. A special preview of this week long festival occurs during First Night at 5:00 p.m. a the UM Dennison Theatre. Visit here for more.
The Montana World Affairs Council has an immediate opening and is accepting resumes for the position of Executive Director. This is a full-time, salaried position, reporting to the Board of Directors. The Montana World Affairs Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2000, enables Montanans to appreciate the relationship of foreign policy and international issues to their lives in the Rockies. The Council offers opportunities to better understand world events through people-to-people diplomacy, distinguished speakers, overseas visits, and educational outreach programs. As globalization reaches into all corners of the Big Sky, the Council seeks to help educate citizens about their increased political, economic, and cultural integration into the world community. Interested applicants should email resume, cover letter, and three professional references to snyberg@sglong.com. Visit here for more.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Glorious Vista: Art of the American West from the MMAC Permanent Collection, from January 7 – February 20, 2016 in the Paxson and Meloy Galleries. From the Pueblos of New Mexico to Glacier National Park, this exhibition explores the landscapes and people of the Rocky Mountain West during the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by Edgar Paxson, Joseph Henry Sharp, Charles M. Russell, Ace Powell, Julius Seyler, Nancy McLaughlin, and George Catlin.
Zootown Arts Community Center has two Calls for Artists. Art Activism, co-sponsored with the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, has a deadline of January 10, 2016. All Works must depict a social, environmental, or political issue. This juried group show is kicking off 2016’s Big Sky Film Festival in February. The 4th Annual Mini Benefit Show deadline is February 1, 2016. All Works must be 12″x12″x12″. This art auction celebrating everything miniature will take place on March 26, 2016 at the Wilma. Visit here for more.
MCT is participating in Toys for Tots this holiday season. Please drop off new, unwrapped toys for a deserving child at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts before December 23, between the hours of 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. You may also drop toys off one hour before each performance of The Sound of Music (Dec 3-6, 9-13 and 16-20). For more information, call MCT at 728-1911.
The last week of the 2nd Annual Holiday show a Radius Gallery is coming to a close December 24, and it has been such a phenomenal turn out this year. We want to thank all the artists and collectors for participating in supporting local businesses like us. So, get your last minute gifts, or add to your collection, with art work that inspires and illuminates you from the inside out. Radius Gallery is located downtown Missoula, at 114 E Main St. Call 541-7070.
The Sweat Shop, at 225 North Higgins, has a grand opening on New Year’s Day from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy live music by local musician Sam Waldorf, NOTORIOUS P.I.G. samplers, drinks, door prizes and a raffle for a month of unlimited fitness and yoga classes at The Sweat Shop. The free event will include an art showcase entitled Placeless Landscapes by local artist Sarah Hultin.
The Missoula Public Library shows a free international film monthly on the 2nd Friday of the month. All films are shown in original language with subtitles. We hope this program is of interest to you, and we offer an attached copy of this month’s film for printing and posting. Please forward to any who may be interested in MPL’s free foreign film series.
January’s film is The Lesson: From Bulgaria, the film is in Bulgarian with English subtitles and runs 111 minutes. Loosely based on a real-life incident, this gripping drama has won awards at several international film festivals for best new directors, best screenplay, and best film debut. Join us for a screening and brief discussion (optional) on Friday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room. Lower level doors will be open from 6:45-7:15. Call 258-3848,
The Missoulian is accepting submissions for the 2016 MLK Youth Art & Essay Contest. Submit a piece of 2-D art work or an essay, poem or letter of no more than 250 words in response to the quote “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Handwritten or typed essays will be accepted. Artwork may be any medium but no larger than 8.5 X 11 inches. On the back of each entry please include the student’s full name, grade, school, home address and home telephone number. Entries will not be returned unless special arrangements are made. To enter you must be a student in preschool-12th grade in Western Montana. Entries must be received at the Missoulian by December 18. Winners will receive a cash prize, be featured in the Missoulian, and recognized at the MLK Community Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2016. For questions, contact Ben Mincks. here
The Missoula Children’s Theatre celebrates 2016 with its original, world-premiere of The Snow Queen. This winter performing arts class runs January 18-February 21 and is open to Grades K-12. Give the gift of wonder this Holiday season with a registration to The Snow Queen! Register here.
You can’t buy love, you can purchase laughter for a holiday gift! The Missoula Community Theatre ushers in 2016 with The Drowsy Chaperone, a Tony Award-winning spoof of musical comedies! (January 21-31). But wait, there’s more! The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) is a zany, non-musical production that will appeal to anyone who loves a good laugh. (March 10-20). Rounding out the season is Mary Poppins, the Broadway musical. (April 28-May 15). Visit here for more.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website.