Alpine Artisans, Inc.
EIN
81-0490239
501(c)3 nonprofit
PO Box 841
Seeley Lake
59868
Main Contact
Jenny
Rohrer
2 Valleys Stage Director
406-754-0034
Organization objectives (check all that apply)
operations, We currently have a series and want to improve the quality of performing arts events., We currently have a series and would like to reach a new audience.
Communities Impacted
Name the cities or towns where your programming has an impact
Seeley Lake, Condon, Ovando, Potomac, Bigfork, Lincoln
Name the counties where your program has an impact
Missoula, Lake, Powell
Name all schools, community centers, and other facilities where you program outreach events. Please format as "name of school/facility, city/town" (e.g. CM Russell High School, Great Falls)
Seeley-Swan High School/Seeley Lake, Swan Valley School/ Condon, Seeley Lake Elementary School/Seeley Lake, Seeley Lake Community Hall/Seeley Lake, Swan Valley Community Hall/Condon, Potomac Elementary School/Potomac, Citizens Alliance Bank/ Seeley Lake
Describe any other specific program, practicies, or strategies your organization employs to make a great impact in your area
Alpine Artisans Inc. (AAI) is a 33-year old membership organization of 250 dues paying artists and art supporters who work collaboratively to create a rich cultural environment that we call our Cultural Arts Corridor for the rural residents of the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys of Western Montana. AAI has responded to our region's geographical isolation and economic realities by building a multifaceted arts program to serve our residents and over 400 students in four rural schools.
AAI's particular strength is our ability to bring cultural programming to a community with over a 30% poverty rate that lives minimally 60-80 miles from any city and often cannot afford to attend and enjoy the cultural offerings of Montana's urban centers. Our work includes 1) 2 Valleys Stage, a major performing arts series featuring five community concerts along with dozens of annual workshops in our four schools with instruction by professional musicians and artists, 2) the Open Book Club author series, 3) Nature of Art 2-day fall workshop, 4) annual Loon and Fish Festival and Art Show, 5) Shakespeare in the Park, 6) our signature Tour of the Arts, a self-guided tour of over ten artist studios plus guest artists held each October, 7) our flagship In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Literary Festival, held biennially, 8) free art and music after-school lessons in Seeley Lake Elementary, and an ambitious Youth Grant and Scholarship Program funding private art and music classes, summer camps and higher education in the arts.
This community’s economy has been based primarily on the lumber industry and tourism. However this spring, Seeley Lake's largest employer, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, is closing, impacting over 100 local employees and their families. The resulting unemployment will also affect the local economy and the schools in innumerable ways.
Application Narrative
How is the proposed season different from past programming
The only significant difference is that we continuously work to bring diversity to our programming, and this season offers a mix of jazz, folk rock, classical string performance, celtic fiddle and songwriting.
If you are taking an artistic risk in programming, what is it and why is it a risk?
We always take somewhat of an artistic risk by bringing in diverse music styles.
How is your performing arts series significant to your community?
The primary goal of the 2 Valleys Stage program is to bring quality performing arts experiences directly to students who live in the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys. Emphasis is placed on providing meaningful, educational, and enriching experiences for our schools, including a diverse offering of music, theater, and dance performance. Guest artists offer students hands-on, creative activities through workshops, lessons, and discussions as well as creative arts activities. 2 Valleys Stage (2VS) recognizes that with the extremely rural nature of this area, paired with a higher than average demographic of poverty, our student populationmay have minimal exposure to the outside world of artistic expression and the performing arts. Therefore, we strive to bring that world to our students in a fun, enriching, inclusive and participatory way.
This season's performers will introduce students to both new ideas and traditional techniques.
Rebecca Folsom's music is rooted in folk and gospel. The songs from her recent album Sanctuaryintimately tell universal human stories. Each song, written with or for marginalized communities, is intent upon bringing voice to the parts of ourselves and of our society we have exiled. Her workshop will focus on songwriting.
The Jazz Legacy Projectwill expose how many movements in jazz are a direct result of cultural shifts in America and will demonstrate how connecting an artist's music to place and time or an event in history can open a new world of appreciation when listening to it.They will accomplish this through their presentation of “John Coltrane, The Beauty of Struggle”, a passionate jazz performance combined with socially-conscious and relevant narration.
The 406 Winds Quintet will bring in the magic of Prokofiev's time-honored Peter and the Wolfin which the narrator tells a children's story, while the orchestra illustrates character roles by using different instruments to play a "theme" representing each character in the story.
The Mari Black Trio'sdynamic fiddle performances are infused with a sense of playfulness and deep love of the history behind the music. They weave together both driving dance tunes with beloved stories that bring the music vibrantly to life.
Ian Sherwood will talk about his career as a musician (saxophone player, songwriter, band leader) as he breaks down his songs and how he composed them. He will explain his use of technology and how he has been able to create a one-man performance that works as well for in-house concerts as it does on festival stages and theaters.
The primary focus of 2 Valleys Stage is not dependent on whether a student plans a career in the performing arts. Students will be encouraged and motivated to aspire to greatness when they see and hear what can be accomplished when a relatable individual or group of individuals set their sights on excelling at whatever they choose to do. Without an artist residency of the quality offered and presented by 2 Valleys Stage, students throughout the Seeley-Swan and Blackfoot Valleys may never have contact with the arts in this manner nor to this level of a personal and interactive degree.
What is the audience you wish to reach? (E.g., Describe your current audience or new audience segments you wish to target.)
The 2 Valleys Stage regional touring program serves an area stretching over 140 miles, from north of Condon, south on Highway 83 through Seeley Lake to the Blackfoot Valley including Ovando and Lincoln in a remote, rural area of Western Montana. The closest urban centers offering arts-related activities to Seeley Lake and Condon are Missoula (60+ miles to the southwest) and Kalispell (70 - 100 miles to the northwest). Between the cost of gas, the danger of accidents due to wildlife on the narrow two-lane highway, and the challenges of winter weather, there are very limited opportunities for students to experience live performing arts.
This community’s economy has been based primarily on the lumber industry and tourism, however this spring, Seeley Lake's largest employer, Pyramid Mountain Lumber, is closing, impacting over 100 local employees! This will also impact the local economy and the schools in innumerable ways. Per capita income rates in the valley are relatively low, and 30-65% of local students meet Montana poverty guidelines. Data from the Montana Office of Public Instruction shows that of the 285 students in Seeley Lake, 50% were ‘economically disadvantaged’ in grades P-6, 67% in grades 7-8, and 36% in grades9-12. Among adult seniors in the area, over 17% live below the poverty level. There is a growing population in the schools of families from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic and approximately 4% of our students are Native American.
The four schools in our program include Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE), Seeley Swan High School (SSHS), Swan Valley School and Potomac School. SLE, SVS and SSHS are Title 1 schools. Currently, there is only one part-time music teacher (who is not accredited in music) who serves Seeley Lake Elementary School. Swan Valley School, Seeley-Swan High School and Potomac Schools are without any music teacher. This lack of music educators is unlikely to change because of the area's shortage of affordable housing coupled with low teacher salaries in our area. As a result, 2 Valleys Stage has raised additional funding over the last 3 years to offer free after-school art and music classes (guitar and piano) at Seeley Lake Elementary School (SLE) and dance classes at SLE and Swan Valley School. We are committed to increasing these vital student resources. “Havingmusic available for our children to learn and enjoy is invaluable. I've seen first-hand the confidence that comes from the guitar lessons at Seeley Lake Elementary. Our daughter practices at home after lessons, and we're so grateful for the opportunity for her to do so. She is letting go of her fear of trying new things because our community has made opportunities, such as a guitar lessons, a priority.” stated Seeley Elementary School parent Jena Boltz.
This apparent downward trend for support of the arts by the educational system is of deep concern because of the impact on students’ futures, especially among students with family income below the poverty line. The local lack of economic opportunity in this area effects students and families alike. Ourdance instructor was asked how she perceived the differences between our students and those she teaches in Missoula - She often asks her students to act out what makes them happy and sad. She said in Missoula a student might say that what made them sad was that someone stole their lunch. But in the Swan Valley, one student responded - “I was sad when my brother was shot”, and another “I was sad when we were evicted from our trailer.”
Nationally and internationally acclaimed artists are showcased in the 2 Valley Stage residencies not only to entertain, but also to educate and enlighten our students as to the varied cultures and rich ideas found in other areas of the world. Students may feel inspired and encouraged to aspire to greatness when they see and hear what can be accomplished when an individual or group of individuals set their sights on excelling in their field. The interactive sessions held at the schools provide students ample opportunity for the children to interact directly with the artists, to freely ask questions and to explore some of their own reactions and responses in a safe and supported environment.
How do you propose to reach this audience? (E.g., Describe program, operational, or marketing strategies that you will use to meet your goal.)
Alpine Artisans employs an ambitious strategy to reach both students and adults. Our marketing includes an article and paid ad for each event in the local newspaper - the Seeley-Swan Pathfinder, announcements on MT Public Radio, posters in schools and community outlets, season tickets and individual tickets available at three community businesses and at the door, and listings in Missoula and statewide entertainment publications. We also offer “buddy tickets” for use by season ticket holders as well as a number of complimentary tickets given out to a target group from within the community. The ticket desk workers tally attendance and give a complete report after each concert of how many season tickets were utilized, as well as buddy tickets, individual tickets, comp tickets, etc.
When possible, we schedule 2 Valleys Stage school performances prior to our community concerts. This encourages students to bring their parents and extended family members to the community performance, which was very successful with our recent Supaman residency, an Absaalooke performer. Karen Linford, mother of two local students said "My kids come home after seeing the performers in school and insist that the entire family attend the concerts! It's their idea - not mine! " Our social media presence has grown and is showing an impact. We post on our AAI Facebook page and all the rural, neighborhood Facebook pages, on the seeleyswanevents.com Gatherboard, and we send a series of email blasts featuring descriptions of the events and performers to a large list of supporters.
Promotion
Websites and social media
https://
Season Brochure
Other online marketing
Do you use email marketing?
yes
Subscription URL
Our Vertical Response lists number over 1,600
Event calendars used
State of the Arts (MT Arts Council)
seeleyswanevents.net, missoulaevents.net
Marketing questions or goals:
I don't know!
FY25 Season Info
Artist 1
Name
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks
Date(s)
August 26, 2024
Performance Fee
1515
Outreach Fee
0
Artist 2
Name
Rebecca Folsom and Friends
Date(s)
October 6-8, 2024
Performance Fee
3500
Outreach Fee
1500
Artist 3
Name
Jazz Legacy Project
Date(s)
November 10-12, 2024
Performance Fee
2500
Outreach Fee
1300
Artist 4
Name
406 Winds Quintet
Date(s)
January 12-14, 2025
Performance Fee
1200
Outreach Fee
800
Artist 5
Name
Mari Black Trio
Date(s)
March 30-April 1, 2025
Performance Fee
3000
Outreach Fee
$1500
Artist 6
Name
Ian Sherwood
Date(s)
April 27-29, 2025
Performance Fee
3000
Outreach Fee
1500
Artist 7
Name
Date(s)
Performance Fee
0
Outreach Fee
0
Artist 8
Name
Date(s)
Performance Fee
0
Outreach Fee
0
Total Artist Fees
19815
$
Explanation for unusually low or high numbers
In our negotiations and our contracts, we don't separate the performance fee from the outreach fee. However, perhaps more than other presenters, we require that artists do 1) a community concert, 2) 4 in-school concerts and 3) a workshop with a classroom to follow the in-school concert.
Also, I'm am including one contract (Rebecca Folsom) as this platform can't accept multiple files.
Artists based in, or originating from Montana
406 Winds Quintet from MSU/Boseman
Application Files
Some applicants have multiple PDF's for contracts. Please use the link below to open a folder on the cloud with all artist contracts/letters of intent.