If you love Montana, music and artwork, we’d love to see how you can bring it all together for the official 6th Red Ants Pants Music Festival poster!
 
Beginning today through March 1st, 2016, folks can submit artwork through the Red Ants Pants Music Festival website here: http://redantspantsmusicfestival.com/join-the-colony/poster-contest/

The Red Ants Pants Music Festival poster has become a keepsake for fans and one more way the festival can help promote creativity in the arts. The winner's work will be featured as the backdrop for the 2016 Music Festival Poster.

We print thousands of these posters and distribute them throughout the region and US as part of our marketing efforts. This contest is a great way to get your beautiful artwork the attention it deserves!

The winner will receive six (6) weekend passes to the 2016 Red Ants Pants Music Festival, and will be announced at our Lineup Release Party on Saturday, April 2nd 2016! All submissions are due by Tuesday, March 1st... good luck!

SLAM is seeking local sculptors to create functional bike racks as part of their community art installation program.

Designs will be selected based on creativity and functionality and will be installed in parks around the Bozeman area in the spring/summer of 2016.  Proposals will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

Guidelines for the project:
 
The proposed design must be constructed of metal, or some other weather-resistant and durable material.

It must accommodate a minimum of 10 bicycles.

It must contain elements in the design that will allow it to be bolted to a concrete pad.
 
Please submit proposals with your design, cost per bike rack, timeline, and examples of your work to info@slamfestivals.org or SLAM P.O. Box 2008 Bozeman, MT  59771

Nominations will be accepted through March 13, 2016.  Information and nomination forms can be found at: highplainsbookawards.org.The list of the 2015 winners and other past recipients is also available on the website.
 
The 2016 Awards include twelve categories: Best Medicine and Science Book; Best Children's Book, Best Fiction; Best Nonfiction; Best Creative Nonfiction; Best Poetry; Best First Book; Best Woman Writer; Best Art & Photography; Best Short Stories; Best Culinary and Best Young Adult.
 
Nominated books must have been published for the first time in 2015. Winners receive a $500 prize and are invited to participate in the annual High Plains BookFest in October 2016.
 
All nominated books are read and evaluated by community readers.  Finalist books in each category will be announced by June 2016. Winners in each category will be determined by a panel of published writers with connections to the High Plains region.
 
Winners will be announced at an Awards Banquet in October, 2016, in Billings, Montana. The Awards Banquet is held in conjunction with the annual High Plains BookFest. Writers interested in participating in the 2016 High Plains BookFest should contact Writer's Voice director Corby Skinner via email: corby@skinnerbenoit.com.

Questions concerning the nominations process should be directed to: Dee Ann Redman, Billings Public Library, 510 North Broadway, Billings, MT 59101, email: hpba@ci.billings.mt.us.

Wisetail Works, the charitable giving arm of Bozeman indie tech firm, Wisetail, announced a $100,000 grant to Thrive, a community non-profit providing proactive, preventative programming to support Montana children and families at home, at school and in life.

Recently, Thrive received national recognition and evidence-based status for several of their signature programs after scientific studies demonstrated their proven effectiveness. In 2014, Thrive's programs served over 8,800 parents and children ages birth to teen with free and low-cost programs. As Thrive anticipates double digit growth in the coming years, they applied for a Wisetail Works grant.

 
The Wisetail Works grant will allow Thrive to expand while ensuring all staff and volunteers receive centralized training to accomplish the organization’s mission.
 
“Wisetail Works is proud to help power Thrive’s good work to ensure children, families, educators and the community are connected and all working together to help our kids succeed. Our intention is to help Thrive do even more mentoring and education to make Montana an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family,” said Justin Bigart, CEO of Wisetail.

"Thrive is thrilled to have been selected for this incredible opportunity. Wisetail's software will give our growing staff base, many of whom work in schools and other locations outside of our central Bozeman office, the chance to connect and learn together from anywhere. We are excited to provide our staff with this amazing platform so they can support local children and families even more effectively," said Carrie Hook, Executive Director of Thrive.

 
ABOUT WISETAIL WORKS
Wisetail Works launched in June 2015 as the charitable giving arm of Wisetail, actively working to benefit social, economic and environmental causes in the state. Past Wisetail Works grant recipients include the Montana Code School, Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s bridge project and Montana’s Crisis Intervention Team, (CIT Montana) which is an umbrella group that coordinates crisis intervention training and development across the state.

ABOUT THRIVE
Thrive is a community non-profit based in Bozeman, MT whose vision is to ensure that all children succeed at home, at school, and in life. For over 30 years, Thrive has provided mentoring, education and support to local children and families in Southwest Montana. Thrive's programs are based on the core belief that when children succeed the whole community benefits. Recently, Thrive received national recognition and evidence-based status for several of their signature programs after scientific studies demonstrated their proven effectiveness. In 2014, Thrive's programs served over 8,800 parents and children ages birth to teen with free and low-cost programs.

The Bozeman Public Library Foundation is seeking submissions for its 2017 Atrium Gallery Exhibition Series. The Atrium Gallery located in the Library lobby will showcase both traditional and innovative contemporary art forms, as well as the work of both established and emerging artists of our region.

The Library’s primary objective is to feature exhibitions that will expand public appreciation of art and reflect the diversity of the community. Selections will be made by the Library Art Committee, which is made up of local artists, community members, Library Foundation, and Library staff. Each exhibit will run for one to three months, determined by the committee.

The Bozeman Public Library is committed to promoting the visual and aesthetic enhancement of the Bozeman community through this ongoing presentation of rotating exhibits of public art in the Library. Proposals must be received by April 30, 2016.  Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered. For complete description of the program and guidelines, visit www.bozemanlibrary.org/about/art.php. For additional information, please contact Paula Beswick at 406-582-2426 or director@bozemanlibraryfoundation.org.

Zoot Enterprises is inviting Montana artists to submit proposals for displaying their work in the Zoot Art Gallery. The museum quality gallery boasts 108 square feet of wall hanging space and large floor areas for sculpture. One exhibiting artist described it as “. . . arguably the finest gallery space in the area.”

Exhibits rotate approximately every three months, and are selected by the Zoot Committee for the Arts (ZCA). Application materials deadline is February 19, 2016 COB.

When Zoot founder and CEO Chris Nelson planned Zoot’s new headquarters building he required an unusual design element: space for a dedicated, first-rate art gallery. 

“Art spurs creativity in the work place and we wanted to have that environment here. It’s also important to provide local artists with a venue to display their works.” says Nelson.

All work sold through the gallery is commission-free. Underwriting is provided for artists’ opening receptions.

Public hours are 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. For further information and to download the application materials visit the Zoot art gallery website at www.zootartgallery.com or contact the gallery coordinator, Darcy Barry at dbarry@zootweb.com

Player's auditions will be held this SATURDAY (January 9) at 10am. If you are interested in participating in the Winter Players' Show, please plan to attend. The show will be Black Diamonds, a period piece set in 1884 in Bozeman City, Montana Territory. Performances are scheduled for February 19, 20, 26, 27 & 28.  Many roles for high school and middle school actors. Some roles for elementary ages as well. Click to learn more.

Students in the Winter Players' Show need to participate in at least one after school class.

CLASSES BEGIN THE WEEK OF JANUARY 11.  Be sure to check out our new offerings! Dance for the Stage Class focusing on tap, but also teaching other dance form basics, will also resume on Thursdays from 4-5. Already enrolled CLUB Kaleidoscope families, please let us know which classes you will be taking this session.

The Inaugural Bozeman's Choice Readers' Poll results are here, and they're all yours!

Select a category to see the winners:

• Action & Recreation
• Arts & Entertainment
• Chomping & Chugging
• Here & There
• Media & Info
• Nightlife & Libations
• Ranting & Raving
• Shopping & Spending

The key to rehabilitating wounded wildlife is understanding the extent of an animal’s injuries. At the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC), this step just got a lot easier thanks to the non-profit’s new digital x-ray machine.



When an injured raptor is admitted, MRCC staff stabilize it and perform an initial assessment, which most often involves an x-ray, explains Director Becky Kean. “The images produced by digital x-ray are far superior to those produced on traditional film, which allows us to really target our efforts. Hollow bird bones shatter on impact and leave lots of tiny fragments. With this technology, we can see the fine detail and determine a plan of attack,” she says. The plan could involve setting the bone with splints and tape or surgically with pins.

A golden eagle with a shoulder fracture was one of the first patients to be diagnosed using the new x-ray technology. “We were able to see through the scapula and coracoid into the joint to identify the damage—the detail was impressive,” Kean continues. “Having that visual really helped us set the joint and give the eagle a better chance at recovery and release.”

The digital x-ray is also efficient, adds MRCC Assistant Director Jordan Spyke. “In the past, we’d have to develop film and drive it to the vet for analysis. Now, we can e-mail a digital image in less than half the time. That shortens the entire diagnostic process, and gives us more time to tend to the birds,” he says. “It also saves on supply costs because digital x-rays aren’t developed with chemicals like film is.” Both Spyke and Kean appreciate the reduced exposure to harsh chemicals and radiation associated with traditional x-ray.

“Despite offering both clinical advantages and operational efficiencies, MRCC is the only raptor rehabilitation center in the state with such a high-tech tool, and that’s largely because of the purchase price,” explains MRCC Board President Rick Sanders. “We are fortunate that so many supporters helped us take this significant step. The Gallatin Valley really ‘gave big’ for the digital x-ray this spring, which was a huge push toward our goal.”

Sanders explains that a majority of the funds needed to purchase the technology came in during the inaugural Give Big Gallatin Valley, a one-day community fundraising event that brought in more than $235,000 for 100 local non-profits. “The increased awareness from that day gave us the momentum we needed to meet our goal,” says Sanders, noting that additional funds came from generous matching funds, individual donors, and our friends at the Sacajawea Audubon.

“Although it required a large investment, we’re certain this technology will be worthwhile in the long run,” Sanders continues. “It saves on two critical resources: money and time. And, that efficiency makes it possible to care for more birds.”
The advantages couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Kean, since MRCC is on pace to break every admission record since it was founded in 1988.  “We have treated 230 this year,” she says. “That’s up almost 25% over 2014 when we treated a total of 190 raptors.” It’s difficult to tease out what’s driving the increase—changes in breeding and migration patterns, increased awareness about the Center, or something else—but Kean and Spyke are prepared to rehabilitate and release as many wild birds of prey as they can.

“Thanks to everyone out there who supports us,” Kean says, “2015 has been a great year and we couldn’t do it without you!”