About Us
Why a museum?
BAM’s mission is to inspire and foster creativity and love of art through high-quality exhibits, programs, classes and lectures.
As a non-profit, we are able to secure grant funding to teach classes for local kids & adults, bring opportunities to up & coming artist, and borrow high quality fine art from other nationally renowned museums and art organizations for the Bozeman community to experience & enjoy. While selling work is a large part of some of our exhibits, our mission is to create community and share powerful artwork for free. A museum, unlike a gallery or teaching organization, allows us to dive into each one of these missions under one name.
Currently, we have a small gallery space right off of main nestled between the Frugal Frame Shop and Distinctive Lighting at 2612 W Main St, Suite B. We also have a strong youth & lifetime education program that has been operating since 2017. Our classes provide high quality fine art classes for free to over 12 elementary schools, YMCA, Eagle Mount, Bozeman Public Library, Homeschoolers, Gallatin County Rest Home & The Springs. See our education page for current class programming.
Our Vision
Our vision includes securing land and funding for a standalone permanent building where we can advance our programs to accommodate rotating exhibits, a permanent collection, access to our three libraries of art history books, and accessibility to over 85,000 visitors per year. Your support makes these dreams a reality – we are still looking to secure land & funds for our permanent location. Visit our current space at 2612 W Main St to learn more!
Example BAM design rendering by MSU Masters in Architecture student, Eleanor Usik
Our Story
The Bozeman Art Museum (BAM) came to life in 2012 when Executive Director Linda Williams began to reflect on the fact that Bozeman, Montana does not have a fine art museum.
Billings does. Missoula does. Helena does.
But Bozeman – even with its art-loving culture and community – did not!
This realization motivated a small group of individuals to incorporate as the Bozeman Art Museum and file for (and receive) the tax-exempt status in April of 2012. A small board of directors and a national advisory council assembled and went to work hosting exhibits, displaying a mix of traditional and contemporary art downtown during the local “art walks”.
In 2013, Linda Williams went before the City Commision with a proposal for the Bozeman Art Museum to take over the Story Mansion and turn it into a fine art museum. After the presentation, the first comment from the Commision was, “What are your credentials?”
It was a sobering question that led Linda to enroll in a Master’s program and received her MA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism. While her educational/credential detour delayed the progress of the BAM project, these years were well spent preparing her to spearhead the BAM initiative.
In the fall of 2016, the BAM project was revitalized with a generous donation. The museum has taken major steps to build credibility, a strong donor base, and provide exceptional youth and adult educational programming to the Gallatin Valley – all with the ultimate goal of bringing a fine art museum to the Bozeman community!
Visit us at 2612 W Main St to learn more!
Bozeman Art Museum pledges that, in fulfillment of our educational mission, we will strive to operate according to national standards and best practices to the best of our abilities and in accordance with our resources.
American Alliance of Museums Pledge of Excellence, signed June 17th 2022
What Folks Are Saying About Our Mission
Art is something that everyone can do/enjoy over and over and always learn/see something new.
Dan Messerli
Art is a reflection of the soul of humanity. It makes us human in a world of technology. It is the thread that binds individuals into a community.
Shirley Elliott
Museums add lasting cultural experiences in a growing community.
Eugen Graf
Community, I think, is the keyword. We live in changing times. We live in turbulent times. Art composes life. It shows us how all the parts fit together. Art makes the world beautiful.
Steve Huston
Proud Members of:
