Kalispell Contemporary Art Center Inc

THE KALICO FOUNDERS ENVISIONED A SPACE WHERE CREATIVES FROM OUR COMMUNITY + BEYOND COULD GATHER TO LEARN, CONNECT, CREATE AND EXPERIENCE ART. AT KALICO YOULL FIND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE ART IN VARIOUS FORMS. .EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE KALICO DIFFERENTLY, AND THATS THE POINT. KALICO TAKES AN OUTWARD FOCUS, SERVES ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND IS INVESTED IN COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS ACROSS NUMEROUS SECTORS WITH THE GOAL OF UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS. KALICO BELIEVES QUALITY ART EDUCATION IS FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST A LUXURY FOR THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD IT. DURING THE YEAR OF 2022 KALICO PARTNERED WITH THE KALISPELL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION TO HOST EVENTS THAT UPLIFT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND FEATURE ARTMAKING. WE COMPLETED PHASE TWO OF OUR BEAUTIFYING KALISPELL PROJECT BY COVERING TWELVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES WITH ARTWORK FROM LOCAL ARTISTS WHICH WAS FUNDED BY A STATEWIDE TOURISM GRANT. WE COMPLETED THE FINAL PHASE OF OUR TUNNEL VISION PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE HIRING LOCAL ARTISTS TO DESIGN AND PAINT 3 MURAL PAINTINGS ALONG THE RAILS TO TRAILS BIKE PATH.. WE PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL ARTIST TO DESIGN A MURAL FOR KALISPELL MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT EACH STUDENT ASSISTED IN PAINTING. WE ORGANIZED A JURIED CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR OUR ANNUAL BIPOC GRANT AND AWARDED IT TO THE WINNING ARTIST, APRIL WERLE. WE FACILITATED A CALL FOR MURAL ARTISTS FOR NORTH VALLEY FOOD BANK AND ASSISTED IN THE SELECTION OF THE WINNING ARTIST. WE PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS KALISPELL PARKS AND RECREATION, KALISPELL DISTRICT 5, NORTH VALLEY FOOD BANK, AND THE HOCKADAY MUSEUM OF ART, TAMARACK GRIEF RESOURCE GROUP, AND CRY J. INSIDE KALICO WE HOSTED A FREE ARTMAKING EXPERIENCE CALLED SATURDAY SESSIONS, IN WHICH ALL AGES AND ABILITIES CAN MEET AND MAKE ART WITH LOCAL ARTISTS. ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH WE HOSTED A TEEN STUDIO HOUR, INVITING TEENS TO EAT FREE PIZZA AND PARTICIPATE IN AN ART-MAKING SESSION. THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH ALL AGES AND ABILITIES ARE INVITED TO A FREE WORKSHOP LED BY A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. WE HOSTED A FREE PROGRAM CALLED MOMENTS MAKING ART THAT INVITED ANYONE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CARETAKERS TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND MAKE ART THEMSELVES. KALICO ALSO OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWING ANYONE TO REGISTER FOR OUR PAID PROGRAMMING AT A PRICE THEY COULD AFFORD. WE OFFERED A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING FOR PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, AND ADULTS. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE HOSTED SEVERAL DAY CAMPS FOR YOUTH AS WELL. OUR CLAY STUDIO WAS BUSIER THAN EVER WHERE STUDENTS LEARNED THE POTTERY WHEEL OR HANDBUILDING TECHNIQUES IN VARIOUS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AND COMPLETED OUR MAC COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM. OUR CLAY STUDIO ALSO SUPPORTED OUR PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY STUDIO, AN OFFERING INVITING ANYONE TO VISIT KALICO AND PAINT A CERAMIC PIECE OF THEIR CHOICE. A YEAR OF ART AND INSPIRATION, WE HELD FOUR EXHIBITIONS IN OUR SPACE: ONE FOR INDIGENOUS PHOTOGRAPHER HAILEY RAINS, A MEMBERS ONLY SHOW, A STUDENT ART SHOW, AND A SHOWCASE BY LOCAL ARTIST JAMIE BELL. WE WERE ALSO HONORED TO BRING IN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTIST MARY MATTINGLY IN AN ARTIST TALK HOSTED BY MONTANA MODERN FINE ART. PAVING THE WAY FOR EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IN MONTANA, WE WERE SELECTED TO BE A PART OF THE CHANGE NETWORK FOR EQUALITY TRAINING FOR OUR TEAM. ART FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES REMAINS OUR PASSION, ART FOR ALL.