Hi-Line nonprofit to spend $100K on public art

Opportunity Link Inc. was selected to receive $100,000 for “a creative placemaking project to support vibrant rural and tribal communities in Northcentral Montana with the arts at their core.”

The money will be used to create an art trail and for the commissioning of public art along the Hi-Line.

“It’s going to be for making an arts trail on the Hi-Line, getting communities together, finding out where the arts’ location are, hopefully creating a mobile app that will help tourists and residents find those art-related things that don’t seem to be very well advertised,” said Andi Daniels, a project manager at Opportunity Link.

They’re also looking to be able to fund or partially fund art installations along the Hi-Line, Daniels said. “Arts” include all arts — performing arts, visual arts and such.

She said Opportunity Link has been working fairly closely with arts organizations across the Hi-Line, like Montana Actors’ Theatre in Havre and the Art Spot in Malta, as well as individual artists around the region who will be working with communities and groups to push for the artistic resource.

“Sort of expert groups who make make decision about which things should be included and which art installations will be funded,” Daniels said.

Daniels said that there is not necessarily an area where they have decided to fund the new art. Some artists have expressed their interests, but no decisions have been made. Opportunity Link will start having community meetings to decide what the public wants to see in their areas.

She said that Havreites could possibly see more tourism through the area if they get this resource out to people who live in and are travelling through the area.

“Opportunity Link, County of Hill, and partners intend to promote arts as a defining characteristic of the region,” the press release reads. “The art trail will serve 150,000 regional residents and tourists over 31,000 square miles.”

Opportunity Link covers three tribal reservations and 10 counties, from Glacier to Phillips counties down to Judith Basin and Cascade County.

The art trail will served all the counties and reservations they serve.

Almost $5 million was given to 69 Our Town grant winners from all over the country. The funds will go to Opportunity Link in October.