The Missoula Art Museum collects, preserves, exhibits and researches art that is relevant to the culture of the American West with an emphasis on contemporary Montana artists.

- Adopted by the MAM Board of Directors and Collections Committee, October 2006

BACKGROUND

The MAM Collections began in 1973 with Missoula Festival of the Arts exhibition purchase awards given to Walter Hook, Gennie DeWeese and Jessie Wilber. The Festival of the Arts raised funds to establish the Missoula Museum of the Arts,a County-run museum that opened its doors in 1975. 

After twenty years of steady growth in all aspects of programming, including collecting, the Missoula Museum of the Arts became an independent non-profit called the Art Museum of Missoula, which would continue expanding and eventually adopt the popular name, Missoula Art Museum (MAM).

• Missoula County Art Collection

The 192 artworks collected by the Missoula Museum of the Arts between 1973-1994 remain the property of Missoula County under the name of the Missoula County Art Collection, but are cared for and made accessible to the public by MAM. These works reflect the museum's  long-standing mission to educate through contemporary art. MAM continues to expand its role by assisting the County with the care and management of other County-owned artworks, including the historic Paxson murals.

• MAM Collection

Over 700 artworks have been acquired by MAM since 1995. These works are the MAM Collection. An outstanding feature of the MAM Collection is the Contemporary American Indian Art Collection, which, with over 110 works, is one of the largest bodies of contemporary Native art in the United States. In all, MAM is responsible for nearly 1,000 objects representing the best of this region's contemporary art.

ACCESS

• Exhibits: MAM is commited to always having an exhibition of collection artworks on view. Check out our list of exhibitions to see what's on view now and coming soon. MAM's traveling exhibitions also feature the collections.

• Database: MAM provides additional access through an online database to which new items are added regularly.

• Montana Connections: With support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Montana Cultural Trust, MAM has initiated Montana Connections, a special education program that explores the work of collection artists through images, essays, interviews and curriculum. See the list below for available subjects.