Downtown Great Falls Urban Art Project
Direction by Kellie Grandone
To enhance the downtown environment and honor the creative spirit of our city, the Urban Art Project annually presents three exhibitions of site specific art installation pieces, which fill the eleven windows of the Great Falls South Parking Garage, located at 315 First Avenue South.
The Urban Art Project is supported by donations from the Business Improvement District, the City of Great Falls Parking Project, individuals, local businesses, and the Downtown Great Falls Association.
There are three, three-month exhibits of the Urban Art Project each year. Each exhibit involves eleven artists or artist groups, one per window. Shows run Summer, June 5th - September 5th; Autumn, October 5th - January 5th; and Winter, February 5th - May 5th. During the intermediate months the windows are cleared and prepped for the installations by the next group of artists. Each exhibit is celebrated by an artist's reception. Depending on weather, the reception begins with artists and patrons gathering around the windows and viewing the works while reading the statements which the artists have written to describe the concept of their installation.
The Urban Art Project is supported by donations from the Business Improvement District, the City of Great Falls Parking Project, individuals, local businesses, and the Downtown Great Falls Association.
There are three, three-month exhibits of the Urban Art Project each year. Each exhibit involves eleven artists or artist groups, one per window. Shows run Summer, June 5th - September 5th; Autumn, October 5th - January 5th; and Winter, February 5th - May 5th. During the intermediate months the windows are cleared and prepped for the installations by the next group of artists. Each exhibit is celebrated by an artist's reception. Depending on weather, the reception begins with artists and patrons gathering around the windows and viewing the works while reading the statements which the artists have written to describe the concept of their installation.
Sponsoring a Window or Becoming a UAP Artist
Original Urban Art Banners
Each window is sponsored by a business, organization, or individuals. Some businesses and organizations, like Kelly Sign & Designs, are in-kind sponsors. A year sponsorship is $650.00. For one exhibit is $325.00. Other donations go into the Jean Price Memorial Fund to sponsor window #1.
Money raised is used to pay each artist a stipend to help cover the cost of materials. The UAP is not a space designed to exhibit artworks that would be for sale. Between the temperature extremes and the small amount of UV protection, not to mentions periodic leaks in wet weather, it would be foolish to hang framed works in these spaces. The artists are therefore required to "step outside their box and into the window" to create a unique installation that uses the depth of the space and inspires the viewer to enjoy this free public art space that can be viewed 24/7.
Each exhibition costs approximately $2500 covering printing and mailings costs of our flyers and trifold brochures as well as $125 stipends per artist. Currently we have sponsorships at around $5,000 per year leaving us with a deficit of $2500 to balance our budget. The variance primarily is made up smaller donations to the Jean Price Memorial Fund. We currently have two spaces that could have annual sponsors if you or someone you know is interested.
The artists are the true heroes of this adventure. Their creativity never fails to surprise and delight the viewers. The space is not easy to work with because of the lack of temperature control and the narrow space. Artists must plan carefully so that the piece will read well from the sidewalk or the street and withstand temperature changes over the three month period.
If you are interested in becoming a UAP artist or supporting the UAP through monetary gifts or gifts in-kind, please contact Cortni Harant, UAP director, at 406-260-6532 or email her at cortni_harant@gfps.k12.mt.us.
Money raised is used to pay each artist a stipend to help cover the cost of materials. The UAP is not a space designed to exhibit artworks that would be for sale. Between the temperature extremes and the small amount of UV protection, not to mentions periodic leaks in wet weather, it would be foolish to hang framed works in these spaces. The artists are therefore required to "step outside their box and into the window" to create a unique installation that uses the depth of the space and inspires the viewer to enjoy this free public art space that can be viewed 24/7.
Each exhibition costs approximately $2500 covering printing and mailings costs of our flyers and trifold brochures as well as $125 stipends per artist. Currently we have sponsorships at around $5,000 per year leaving us with a deficit of $2500 to balance our budget. The variance primarily is made up smaller donations to the Jean Price Memorial Fund. We currently have two spaces that could have annual sponsors if you or someone you know is interested.
The artists are the true heroes of this adventure. Their creativity never fails to surprise and delight the viewers. The space is not easy to work with because of the lack of temperature control and the narrow space. Artists must plan carefully so that the piece will read well from the sidewalk or the street and withstand temperature changes over the three month period.
If you are interested in becoming a UAP artist or supporting the UAP through monetary gifts or gifts in-kind, please contact Cortni Harant, UAP director, at 406-260-6532 or email her at cortni_harant@gfps.k12.mt.us.
