Commerce Announces Montana Main Street Program Mural Project
Photo Information
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today it has launched a new web page featuring exterior murals in its Montana Main Street Program communities. The MMS Program awards competitive grant funding to member cities and towns for projects related to downtown revitalization, development and historic preservation. The program also offers technical assistance to MMS communities.
To promote visitation and generate more widespread interest in its network communities, the MMS Program created its mural project and began compiling an inventory of murals in member cities and towns. This inventory, which currently contains 117 murals, can be accessed on Commerce’s website. Web visitors can view a map of murals by location and learn about the meaning behind each one.
Marta Bertoglio, director of the Montana Department of Commerce, stated, “These murals are a way for Montanans to show the world what makes us who we are. They are an expression of our identities and our stories as individuals and communities. Our Montana Main Street Program’s mural project gives these pieces visibility and makes them more accessible for both residents and visitors.”
One mural, found in Broadus, is “The Good Hunting Grounds” by Miah Chalfant Real Bird. This piece tells the story of Powder River Country, Northern Cheyenne Tribe hunting grounds and the settlers of the area.
Another, entitled “The 406 Mural,” was done during a community workshop where Great Falls residents were taught to spray paint. Together, they created the painting and local artist Cameron Moberg overlayed Montana’s “406” area code to tie it all together.
Several pieces were done by local high school students, such as the “Deep Creek Pizza” mural, a brightly colored depiction of Montana scenery painted on one of Townsend’s oldest buildings.
No matter the subject, these murals, and others like them, facilitate artistic and cultural expression, community identity, beautification of public places and local engagement. The project was a collaborative effort, with Commerce staff using innovation and creativity to provide a tool for tourists and locals to enjoy the vibrant artwork found in MMS member communities.
The mural project is ongoing; MMS network communities are encouraged to continue submitting more mural photos on the project webpage.
Currently, there are 38 MMS communities. The MMS Program was established in 2005 and is administered by Commerce’s Community MT Division. Funding for the program comes from Senate Bill 540.
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
To promote visitation and generate more widespread interest in its network communities, the MMS Program created its mural project and began compiling an inventory of murals in member cities and towns. This inventory, which currently contains 117 murals, can be accessed on Commerce’s website. Web visitors can view a map of murals by location and learn about the meaning behind each one.
Marta Bertoglio, director of the Montana Department of Commerce, stated, “These murals are a way for Montanans to show the world what makes us who we are. They are an expression of our identities and our stories as individuals and communities. Our Montana Main Street Program’s mural project gives these pieces visibility and makes them more accessible for both residents and visitors.”
One mural, found in Broadus, is “The Good Hunting Grounds” by Miah Chalfant Real Bird. This piece tells the story of Powder River Country, Northern Cheyenne Tribe hunting grounds and the settlers of the area.
Another, entitled “The 406 Mural,” was done during a community workshop where Great Falls residents were taught to spray paint. Together, they created the painting and local artist Cameron Moberg overlayed Montana’s “406” area code to tie it all together.
Several pieces were done by local high school students, such as the “Deep Creek Pizza” mural, a brightly colored depiction of Montana scenery painted on one of Townsend’s oldest buildings.
No matter the subject, these murals, and others like them, facilitate artistic and cultural expression, community identity, beautification of public places and local engagement. The project was a collaborative effort, with Commerce staff using innovation and creativity to provide a tool for tourists and locals to enjoy the vibrant artwork found in MMS member communities.
The mural project is ongoing; MMS network communities are encouraged to continue submitting more mural photos on the project webpage.
Currently, there are 38 MMS communities. The MMS Program was established in 2005 and is administered by Commerce’s Community MT Division. Funding for the program comes from Senate Bill 540.
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
Tags: Infrastructure + Planning and Press Release
