November 27, 2006

Dear Ones:

While much of our fundraising revolves around jazz, food, and art, all with that special Basin flavor, our annual ask takes the form of a letter!  Once again, straightforward and unadorned, it is our direct request to you to open your checkbooks and support the Montana Artists Refuge. Tomorrow’s masterpieces depend on support for today’s artists. By providing time and space for emerging artists to create, the Refuge grows the next generation of creativity.  

As Raina Leon said of her month in Basin: “When I slept, even taking a nap, I woke up with a new poem. I finished two major pieces of work, and before I left, sent off all the poems for publication.”

We have renewed our commitment to what we do best, nurturing artists so that museums and galleries, libraries and bookstores, as well as concert halls and clubs have new works to challenge, illuminate, and delight us all.  Our focus and our challenge for the coming year is to increase the number of fully-funded residencies, and to attract a wider range of competitive applicants.

We are proud of our three fully funded residencies, each one ensuring scholarships for four artists at a time!  Each of these dovetails with events in the community so that this exciting new work can be shared.  For example, MAR inaugurated the Writers Residency with three talented poets, fiction writers and film makers.  The public enjoyed exceptional readings at Helena Festival of the Book events and Naked Words Reading Series.

The American Indian Artists Symposium, held during the American Indian Artists Residency in September, has become a significant center for cross cultural exchange between Indian artists from all over Montana. Bently Spang, Northern Cheyenne Artist and member of the Advisory Committee, thanked MAR for recognizing the importance of supporting American Indian artists in defining themselves in and through their art.

Please send us a tax-deductible donation to make sure this good work goes on.   There are several ways in which you can work and play with us to create Basin as the arts center of Jefferson County and beyond!

Sincerely,

Claudia Montagne                                 India Supera
Former Executive Director                    Board Treasurer