Events
After School Art Adventure - Series 4
April 14, 2026 - May 19, 2026
3:45 - 5:15PM
Ages 6-11
Spark your child's creativity with an inspiring journey through art and imagination!
Join us for an exciting after-school experience where young artists explore the vibrant world of contemporary art at the Missoula Art Museum. Each Tuesday, children ages 6-11 will embark on a creative adventure that begins with a guided tour through MAM's current exhibitions, discovering new artists, techniques, and ideas that will fuel their own artistic expression.
After exploring the galleries, students dive into hands-on art projects directly inspired by what they've seen and learned. From painting and drawing to sculpture and mixed media, each session offers fresh creative challenges that help young artists develop their skills while having fun with friends.
Members $63 // Non-Members $70
Scholarships available - Contact kay@missoulaartmuseum.org for scholarship applications
Forms of the Bison: Storytelling Through Clay
Saturday Multiage Workshop
Forms of the Bison: Storytelling Through Clay with Exhibiting Artist Cameron Decker
April 25th, 11–12:30
Join exhibiting artist Cameron Decker for a free, multiage clay workshop inspired by the bison skull forms featured in his museum exhibition, Q̓ʷeyq̓ʷay 'Buffalo' is Our Good Medicine'. Participants will learn how to create their own small bison skull using a mold developed by the artist, while Cameron shares the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of the bison and its enduring presence in this region. This workshop offers a meaningful opportunity for the community to spend time with the artist, engage more deeply with the work, and connect with clay as a material for holding story, memory, and place. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary.
Workshop is capped at 25 participants. Please register in advance to save your spot(s). Drop-ins are welcome if space is available. Please note: Kids under 10 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. If kids ages 11-18 attend without an adult, MAM is not responsible for their whereabouts if they leave the workshop or museum.
First Friday: Sara Siestreem
May 1, 2026
5:00-7:00 PM
Artist Talk at 5:30 PM
Join us on May 1, 5–7 PM for an unforgettable evening celebrating the opening of Acts of Love, Refusal, and Resistance, a powerful new exhibition featuring the work of Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos). Sara will be in attendance for an artist talk at 5:30 PM, with music by Dylan Running Crane.
MAM first presented Siestreem's work in 2013, and in the years since her artistic growth has been remarkable. Drawing on traditional basket weaving practices, she weaves ancestral pattern motifs into bold geometric abstractions — proud and powerful expressions of Indigenous sovereignty. A recipient of the Hallie Ford Fellowship (2025) and elected 2025 National Academician by the National Academy of Design, Siestreem is an artist in full stride, and MAM is honored to welcome her back.
Special thanks to the Elizabeth Leach Gallery for support in mounting this exhibition.
Thank you as well to Elizabeth Leach, Janet Mohle-Boetani, and Greg and Cathy Tibbles for the publication support, as well as The Ford Family Foundation Visual Arts Program for exhibition support.
Push it, layer it, disrupt it! Paint & Experiment with exhibiting artist Kevin Bell
Saturday Multiage Workshop
Push it, layer it, disrupt it! Paint & Experiment with exhibiting artist Kevin Bell
May 16th, 11–12:30
Join exhibiting artist Kevin Bell for a lively, multi-age workshop rooted in experimentation. Inspired by ideas in his MAM exhibition, Kevin Bell: Western (re)Visions — movement, contrast, and the tension between control and unpredictability — this workshop focuses on collaborative process rather than product. After a brief guided visit, participants will work in small groups on large sheets of paper (18 x 36 inches), using quick sketches and bold paint gestures to explore how an image shifts when it’s pushed, pulled, layered, and disrupted. These are playful, collaborative experiments in movement and mark-making, focused on exploration and discovery rather than creating a finished artwork to take home. This is hands-on and happily messy, so please wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on! This workshop will involve the use of water-soluble house paint for instructional and art-making purposes. All materials included.
Workshop is capped at 25 participants. Please register in advance to save your spot(s). Drop-ins are welcome if space is available. Please note: Kids under 10 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. If kids ages 11-18 attend without an adult, MAM is not responsible for their whereabouts if they leave the workshop or museum.
Arist Bio:
KEVIN BELL Biography Kevin Bell's work is informed by growing up in the western United States, including ten years in Alaska and 15 years in Montana. He is a Professor at the School of Visual and Media Arts at the University of Montana. His artwork is exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, New York City, Vancouver B.C., Houston, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago. His work was featured twice in the publication New American Paintings, selected for the Dublin Biennial, and showcased at art fairs such as SCOPE and Pulse NY. He curated Seeing it Again: Nature Revisited at Anderson Ranch Art Center in Snowmass, Colorado, and was awarded residencies and fellowships in China, Ireland, Chicago and Key West, Florida. His work has received awards from notable curators such as Anne Strauss, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Lucinda Barnes, UC Berkeley Art Museum. Writes Andrea Karnes, Curator of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, “Bell’s paintings update the traditional subject of landscape, so that it is culturally relevant to this moment in our collective and individual experience.”
Week 1: Raptors & Art & Wheels on the Bus (FULL DAY)
June 15 - June 19 2026
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
MAM + Wheels on the Bus: Full-Day Art Camp Bundle
Raptors & Art
Ages 7-11 | MAM Morning Camp: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Led by Professional Teaching Artist Kate Davis and Bev Beck Glueckert
Wheels on the Bus
Wheels on the Bus Afternoon Camp: 1:00–4:00 PM
Make it a full day of creativity at the Missoula Art Museum! This special camp bundle brings together MAM and Wheels on the Bus for an immersive, hands-on art experience that moves from sculptural exploration to clay creation.
Raptors and Art at MAM (Morning Camp)
Start the day with a truly unforgettable experience! Do you love birds of prey? Do you love art? Once again, Bev and Kate team up to create a one-of-a-kind camp that combines art-making with live raptors. Kate brings an assortment of falcons and owls from her home in the Bitterroot, where she operates the educational program Raptors of the Rockies. Campers will create life-size raptor sculptures and a booklet of mixed-media drawings inspired by close observation of these incredible birds. Please note: Priority will be given to children who have not previously participated in this camp.
Clay Creators Camp (Afternoon Camp)
In the afternoon, creativity continues with Clay Creators Camp in the Wheels on the Bus mobile ceramics studio—parked right in front of MAM. Campers will learn wheel throwing, hand-building, and glazing techniques while building confidence through tactile, hands-on making. Museum visits throughout the day help campers connect their own work to contemporary artists and current exhibitions.
Sign up for a morning camp, an afternoon camp, or bundle both for a full day of art! Supervised lunch in the Art Park is included for full-day campers.
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
WHEELS ON THE BUS ONLY: MEMBERS $200 // NON-MEMBERS 225
MAM & WHEELS ON THE BUS BUNDLE: MEMBERS $300 // NON-MEMBERS $350
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 2: Identity In Motion + Wheels On The Bus (FULL DAY CAMP)
June 22 - June 26 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
MAM + Wheels on the Bus: Full-Day Art Camp Bundle
Identity in Motion + Clay Creators Camp
Ages 12–15 | MAM Morning Camp: 9:00 AM–12:00
Led by Professional Teaching Artist Krissy Ramirez
Wheels on the Bus
Wheels on the Bus Afternoon Camp: 1:00–4:00 PM
Make it a full day of creativity at the Missoula Art Museum! This special camp bundle brings together MAM and Wheels on the Bus for an immersive, hands-on art experience that moves from sculptural exploration to clay creation.
In Identity in Motion, students will build a life-size shoe sculpture using masking tape as their primary material. Through folding, layering, cutting, and shaping, campers explore core sculpture concepts including form, structure, balance, and stability. Once constructed, students will personalize their sculptures with elements that reflect their identity, interests, and personal style. This workshop balances technical skill-building with creativity, self-expression, and playful experimentation.
In the afternoon, creativity continues with Clay Creators Camp in the Wheels on the Bus mobile ceramics studio—parked right in front of MAM. Campers will learn wheel throwing, hand-building, and glazing techniques while building confidence through tactile, hands-on making. Museum visits throughout the day help campers connect their own work to contemporary artists and current exhibitions.
Sign up for a morning camp, an afternoon camp, or bundle both for a full day of art! Supervised lunch in the Art Park is included for full-day campers.
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
WHEELS ON THE BUS ONLY: MEMBERS $200 // NON-MEMBERS 225
MAM & WHEELS ON THE BUS BUNDLE: MEMBERS $300 // NON-MEMBERS $350
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 3: Drawing With Nature: An Outdoor Art Adventure
July 6 - July 10 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Drawing with Nature: An Outdoor Art Adventure
Ages 9 - 12
Let’s take our sketchbooks outside! In this workshop, kids will explore Greenough Park through short nature walks, stopping along the way to draw trees, plants, insects, rocks, and other natural discoveries. Through fun drawing games and simple prompts, students will learn to observe closely, notice patterns and textures, and turn what they see into creative drawings. This class is all about slowing down, connecting with nature, and having fun making art outdoors — no drawing experience needed, just curiosity and imagination!
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 4: Full Day: Art Mash-Up! Create, Collect & Imagine (FULL DAY CAMP)
July 13 - July 16 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
MAM + Wheels on the Bus: Full-Day Art Camp Bundle
Art Mash-Up! Create, Collect & Imagine | 9:00–12:00 PM
Ages 7-10
Led by Teaching Artist Jolena Ryan
Wheels on the Bus Afternoon Camp | 1:00–4:00 PM
Make it a full day of creativity at the Missoula Art Museum! This special camp bundle brings together MAM and Wheels on the Bus for an immersive, hands-on art experience that moves from mixed-media exploration to clay creation.
Inspired by artwork on view at MAM, campers will kick off the day with Art Mash-Up! Create, Collect & Imagine, led by professional teaching artist Jolena Ryan. Using paint, collage, sculpture, photography, and found materials, campers will experiment with how artists combine images, objects, and ideas to tell stories—using the museum itself as a playground for imagination.
In the afternoon, creativity continues with Clay Creators Camp in the Wheels on the Bus mobile ceramics studio, parked right in front of MAM. Campers will learn wheel throwing, hand-building, and glazing techniques while building confidence through tactile, hands-on making. Museum visits throughout the day help campers connect their own work to contemporary artists and exhibitions.
Sign up for a morning camp, an afternoon camp, or bundle both for a full day of art! Supervised lunch in the Art Park is included for full-day campers.
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
WHEELS ON THE BUS ONLY: MEMBERS $200 // NON-MEMBERS 225
MAM & WHEELS ON THE BUS BUNDLE: MEMBERS $300 // NON-MEMBERS $350
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 5: Draw It. Stamp It. Print It. BOOM.
July 20 - July 24 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Turn your sketches into bold, awesome prints using patterns, letters, and fun shapes inspired by the world around you.
Get a little messy, play with colors and create art that’s totally you. No experience needed, just bring your creativity for a fun time!
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 6: Gallop Into Art: Wild Horses! Wild Art!
July 27 - July 31 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Horses are strong, graceful, and full of motion! In this workshop, young artists will explore how horses have inspired artists throughout history. Students will visit exhibitions at MAM to gather ideas about composition, color choices, and artistic concepts, then create their own equine-inspired artwork through drawing, printed landscapes, and tabletop horse sculptures made with plaster gauze. A creative adventure full of movement and imagination!
Jennifer Ogden is a collage artist living in Bitterroot Valley. With an MA in Integrated Art. She teaches K-12 Art in a rural public school and serves as a Teaching Artist for both MAM and SPARK Arts. Jennifer has taught using a variety of media, but when she does her own work, she prefers up-cycled paper, re-imagining it to suit her own people and stories.
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 7: My Story, My Way
August 3 - August 7 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ages 7 - 10
Every kid has a story and only you can tell yours!
In this playful, hands-on workshop, young artists (ages 7–10) will explore their own ideas, memories, and imaginations through art. Using clay, paint, comics, and fabric, kids will create colorful artworks that bring their personal stories to life in fun and creative ways.
MAM CAMP ONLY: MEMBERS $100// NON-MEMBERS $125
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Week 8: Print Lab: Exploring Process, Play, And Personal
August 10 - August 14 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ages 12-15
Dive into a week-long exploration of printmaking and visual storytelling where creativity and experimentation lead the way. Each day, students will learn a new printmaking process and try out hands-on techniques that match their own style and interests, from direct printing and hand-pulled processes to dry point, image transfer, and multi-layered prints. The camp encourages curiosity, play, and creative risk-taking while building strong foundational skills in image-making. By the end of the week, students will create a small collection of finished works and have the chance to reflect on and share their artwork.
Bio:
Patricia Thornton is a multidisciplinary artist, printmaker, and arts educator passionate about making creativity accessible to people of all ages. For over twenty-five years, she has worked at the intersection of artmaking, storytelling, and education, using creative practice as a tool for connection, confidence-building, and self-expression. Thornton has more than twenty-five years of experience teaching art and creative skills in community, nonprofit, and educational settings. She is especially dedicated to fostering welcoming, inclusive learning environments where beginners and experienced artists alike feel encouraged to experiment, take risks, and develop their own creative voices
Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Need help registering? Call 406.728.0447 or email aidan@missoulaartmuseum.org
Slow Art Day
Saturday, April 11
10:00 - 5:00
MAM is partnering with @PieceFurniture to transform our lobby into a welcoming Slow Art space for April 11. For this special day, @PieceFurniture will curate comfortable seating alongside selected artworks, creating an environment where visitors can truly sit with the art—literally and figuratively.
By pairing thoughtfully designed furniture with works from the museum’s collection, we’re encouraging visitors to linger, look closely, and connect more deeply. Slow looking allows people to notice details they might otherwise miss—subtle textures, layered meanings, compositional choices, and the emotional resonance that emerges only with time and stillness.
This collaborative installation invites you to pause in the middle of a busy world, settle into a comfortable seat, and let the artwork unfold slowly. It’s an opportunity to experience art not as something to rush past, but as something to sit with, breathe with, and reflect on.
Join us in the lobby on April 11 and discover how slowing down can change the way we see.