The Flagship Program is a collaborative program that brings local service and educational organizations into the schools to provide quality after school programming in the after school hours. The Missoula Art Museum has offered an interdisciplinary arts program through the Flagship Program since 1998 including classes in the visual arts, dance, and creative writing. Since 2004, the museum has focused its programming in Hawthorne and Franklin Elementary Schools, C.S. Porter Middle School, and beginning this spring of 2008, we now offer an art class at Lowell Elementary School as well. These Flagship programs are  funded through a 21st Century Learning Center Grant and the Macy's Foundation.

In fulfilling its mission to enrich the public through a greater understanding of art, MAM brings teachers who are professional artists to the schools to bring challenging, enriching, and creative experiences to children. 

Flagship students in MAM sponsored art classes visit the museum at least once during the school year to become familiar with museums as fun community resources, setting the groundwork for these students to be life-long museum visitors. The students are offered a guided tour which provides the inspiration for creative projects in the after-school classes.

Our current Flagship teachers:

  BEV BECK GLUECKERT received her MFA degree in printmaking from The University of Montana. She has taught with the MAM Art School for the past 16 years and with the MAM/ Flagship Arts Program at Hawthorne and Franklin schools since 1998. Currently, in addition to her work as a children's art teacher and studio artist she is adjunct professor with The University of Montana's Art Department. Bev is still an avid printmaker and shows her work locally and in the region.

  JEN STEARNS grew up in Butte, Montana and graduated from the University of Montana.  She's been teaching modern dance classes and workshops for all ages around Montana, and has performed in a wide array of settings, including the American College Dance Festival (2007, 2008), and the Seattle Festival of Alternative Dance and Improvisation in Seattle, WA (2007).  Jen has traveled extensively, and has performed or studied dance in Argentina, Peru, Portugal, and Morocco.  She teaches dance classes at Hawthorne, Franklin, and CS Porter schools.