Kalispell Contemporary Art Center Inc

THE KALICO FOUNDERS ENVISIONED A SPACE WHERE CREATIVES FROM OUR COMMUNITY + BEYOND COULD GATHER TO LEARN, CONNECT, CREATE AND EXPEREINCE ART. AT KALICO YOULL FIND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AGES TO EXPERIENCE ART IN VARIOUS FORMS. EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE KALICO DIFFERENTLY, AND THATS THE POINT. KALICO TAKES AN OUTWARD FOCUS, SERVES ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND IS INVESTED IN COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS ACROSS NUMEROUS SECTORS WITH THE GOAL OF UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS. KALICO BELIEVES QUALITY ART EDUCATION IS FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST A LUXURY FOR THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD IT. JUST AS YOU CANT STRIP OUT HEALTH, HOUSING, OR TRANSPORTATION FROM SOCIAL WELL-BEING, NEITHER CAN YOU REMOVE THE ARTS WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN BY OUR 13% INCREASE IN PROGRAM REVENUE SINCE THE START OF 2022. CURRENTLY KALICO IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KALISPELL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION TO HOST EVENTS THAT UPLIFT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND FEATURE ARTMAKING. WE ARE BEAUTIFYING KALISPELL BY COVERING TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES WITH ARTWORK FROM LOCAL ARTISTS AND FACILITATING MURAL PAINTINGS ALONG THE RAILS TO TRAILS BIKE PATH. WE WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS KALISPELL PARKS AND RECREATION, THE SUMMIT SPARK PROGRAM, GLACIER INSTITUTE, AND IRON HORSE IN WHITEFISH TO PROVIDE ART-MAKING EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMS. INSIDE KALICO WE HOST A FREE ARTMAKING EXPERIENCE CALLED SATURDAY SESSIONS, IN WHICH ALL AGES AND ABILITIES CAN MEET AND MAKE ART WITH LOCAL ARTISTS. ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH WE HOST A TEEN STUDIO HOUR, INVITING TEENS TO EAT FREE PIZZA AND PARTICIPATE IN AN ART-MAKING SESSION. THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH ALL AGES AND ABILITIES ARE INVITED TO A FREE WORKSHOP LED BY A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. MONTHLY WE OFFER A FREE OPEN MIC NIGHT FOR ALL AGES AND A FREE PROGRAM CALLED MOMENTS MAKING ART THAT INVITES ANYONE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CARETAKERS TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND MAKE ART THEMSELVES. KALICO ALSO OFFERS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWING ANYONE TO REGISTER FOR OUR PAID PROGRAMMING AT A PRICE THEY CAN AFFORD, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2021, ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD OF OUR CLIENTS ARE UTILIZING THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. OUR PAID PROGRAMMING INCLUDES A MAKE WITH ME CLASS FOR KIDS UP TO FOUR YEARS OLD. WE HAVE YOUTH PROGRAMMING FOR BOTH HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN AND THOSE ATTENDING SCHOOL. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE HOST SEVERAL DAY CAMPS FOR YOUTH. OUR ADULT PROGRAMMING CHANGES QUARTERLY. SOME OF KALICOS MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS OCCUR IN OUR CLAY STUDIO WHERE STUDENTS CAN TRY THE POTTERY WHEEL OR HANDBUILDING TECHNIQUES IN VARIOUS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. OUR CLAY STUDIO ALSO SUPPORTS OUR PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY STUDIO, AN OFFERING INVITING ANYONE TO VISIT KALICO AND PAINT A CERAMIC PIECE OF THEIR CHOICE.