Washington, DC – Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will visit Montana from March 29—30, 2016. Chairman Chu will meet with Montana Governor Steve Bullock, discuss the way arts organizations are connecting with Montana’s military community at Holter Museum of Art, tour Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, and participate in an “Arts Conversation” hosted by the Montana Arts Council in Helena.  Chairman Chu will also visit the Missoula Children’s Theatre, join an open discussion about the importance of the arts in America and in the Missoula community, and visit the art department at Salish Kootenai College.  Follow @NEAJaneChu on Twitter for updates and photos on her trip to Montana. On Tuesday, March 29^th, Chairman Chu will meet with Montana Governor Steve Bullock at the State Capitol in Helena. Chairman Chu and Gov. Bullock will discuss the role of arts in Montana and the NEA initiatives, grants, and partnerships that are benefitting the state. Next, Chairman Chu will meet with representatives from Myrna Loy Theatre and Holter Museum of Art to learn about their work connecting with military communities through the arts. Chairman Chu will also discuss NEA’s plans to expand its support for creative arts therapies by investing in programs and research focused on clinical and community-based arts programs that serve the military, veterans, and their families. Chairman Chu will then tour NEA grantee Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, including the Shaner Studio Complex, where she’ll meet artists-in-residence.   In FY 2016, an NEA grant was recommended to support the Archie Bray Foundation's visiting artist program and a mosaic mural project.  That evening, Chairman Chu will participate in an “Arts Conversation,” hosted by the Montana Arts Council at the Myrna Loy Center. As part of her remarks, Chairman Chu will talk about NEA’s Creativity Connects and Healing Arts initiatives, and highlight examples of the power of the arts in Montana and across the nation. Click here to RSVP for this event. On Wednesday, March 30^th, Chairman Chu will travel to Missoula, Montana, where she will visit the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT), an NEA grantee. The MCT’s mission is to develop important life skills in children through the participation in the performing arts.  In FY 2015, the NEA supported the theatre’s MCT Tour Program, a performing arts residency tour to underserved communities and U.S. military bases. Later, Chairman Chu will participate in another “Arts Conversation” hosted by the Montana Arts Council.  Chairman Chu will join Montana Arts Council Executive Director Arni Fishbaugh in a conversation about the power of the arts in our nation and Missoula’s dynamic arts community, and also take questions from the audience. Next, Chairman Chu will visit the art department at Salish Kootenai College. There, she will discuss the Montana Arts Council’s Teacher Leaders in the Arts program taking place at the college and also meet with Missoula Writing Collaborative, an NEA grantee whose creative writing residencies also take place on the Flathead Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. As part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ 50th anniversary, the NEA is creating a story bank of multimedia content that showcases the impact of the arts. To date, hundreds of people from across the country, including Montana, have submitted stories about how the arts and the National Endowment for the Arts have impacted their lives. Visit the NEA’s website to learn more about these stories. Tuesday, March 29^th 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Meeting with Montana Governor Steve Bullock Location: Office of the Governor, Montana State Capitol, 1301 East Sixth Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 Room 204 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Steve Bullock, Governor of Montana Tracy Stone-Manning, Chief of Staff for Governor Bullock Meg O’Leary, director, Montana Dept. of Commerce Arlynn (Arni) Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council Cyndy Andrus, chairman, Montana Arts Council Cinda Holt, Montana Arts Council Business Development Specialist  2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Discussion about reaching military audiences through the arts Location: Holter Museum of Art, 12 E Lawrence St, Helena, MT 59601 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Arlynn (Arni) Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council Krys Holmes, executive director, Myrna Loy Center Chris Riccardo, interim director, Holter Museum of Art Cyndy Andrus, chairman, Montana Arts Council 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Tour of Archie Bray Foundation Location: 2915 Country Club Ave, Helena, MT 59602 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Steven Young Lee, resident artist director, Archie Bray Foundation Rachel Hick, director of communications, Archie Bray Foundation Arlynn (Arni) Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council Cyndy Andrus, chairman, Montana Arts Council

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5:30 – 6:00 pm   Media Availability with Chairman Chu 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Helena Arts Conversation Location: Myrna Loy Theatre, 15 North Ewing Street, Helena, MT 59601 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Arlynn (Arni) Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council Cyndy Andrus, chairman, Montana Arts Council Wednesday, March 30^th 10:30 am – 11:30 am Missoula Children’s Theatre Site Visit Location:  Missoula Children’s Theatre, 200 N. Adams, Missoula, MT 59807 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts John Engen, mayor, City of Missoula Arlynn (Arni) Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council Cyndy Andrus, chairman, Montana Arts Council Michael McGill, executive director, Missoula Children’s Theatre

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12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Media Availability with Chairman Chu Location:   Missoula Children’s Theatre, 200 N. Adams, Missoula, MT 59807 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Missoula Arts Conversation Location: Missoula Children’s Theatre, 200 N. Adams, Missoula, MT 59807 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Arlynn (Arni) Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Visit the Art Department Location: Salish Kootenai College, 58138 U.S. 93, Pablo, MT 59855 Participants: Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts About the National Endowment for the Arts Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the agency is celebrating this milestone with events and activities through September 2016. Go to the 50th section at arts.gov to enjoy art stories from around the nation, peruse the Facts & Figures section, and check out the anniversary timeline.

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United States of Arts: Montana

Strengthening Our Creative Capacity and America's Future: A motion graphic about the NEA