Trigg-C M Russell Foundation Inc

Programs: Collections and exhibitions: in 2017, 29,752 people visited the c. M. Russell museum. The russell works continue to be displayed thematically and in chronological order. Five major changing exhibitions were on display in 2017: the russell exhibition and sale, artifact into art: the c. M. Russell studio collection, selections from the north american indian by edward s. Curtis, the sun dance series: heart of the blackfeet people, and the leroy strand colleciton. The museum opened a new permanent exhibition: the jospehine trigg collection, which is the museum's foundational collection and impetus behind the museum's mission. The museum continued the extensive permanent exhibition called the bison: american icon, heart of plains indian culture, which opened in december 2008. Staff in this area continually monitors the status of both permanent collection pieces as well as those on loan and manage and improve the environment for all of the art. The museum received donations of art and artifacts during the year valued by the donors at $613,000. The collections and exhibitions area directly supports the museum's mission.

education/public programs: in support of its mission, the museum offers free admission to the public during western art week and to the russell skull society artist suites, offering works by an elite group of western artists dedicated to the legacy of charlie russell. Free admission is also offered to a symposium featuring scholars in the field of western art and history and on friday evening of western art week holding an auction featuring artwork of emerging western artists. The museum continues its educational programs including the fifth grade tours for city and county students who's essays are featured at a special proclamation ceremony related to the russell, sunday sampler (collaborative effort with the local museums consortium), and art explorers, tot's tales, and bison day camps (classes held throughout the year on various art topics including drawing, sculpting, and painting). Family programs included saddles and spurs, holiday open house, and american indian heritage days, which continue to be well attended. The education department also offered a musical outreach program with pianist laura dean to all middle and high schools in the community as well as a comminuty concert by the great falls college featuring a poem by c. M. Russell. Adult classes were provided, such as a sculpture workshop with artist ken mayernik and monthly drawing in the studio classes with live models. Exhibitions were supported through programming by offering lectures and educational components, such as gallery walk and talks with the aritst or curator, lectures such as embodied art: c. M. Russell and the performance of "ah-wah-cous" by curator emily wilson, and hollywood hoofbeats by author petrine day mitchum. The education area is an essential part of the museum's mission, which strives to educate and expose people to russell's art and life as well as the art and life of his contemporaries.

musuem services: the purpose of the trigg-russell foundation, inc. Is to operate and maintain the c. M. Russell museum, while following the mission of the organization. The museum requires operations staff on site during all open hours to ensure safety for staff, visitors, volunteers, and the collections. Museum staff maintains the grounds and building. Museum services also includes guest relations to serve the museum visitors, the administrative staff, events coordination, and the museum store, which furthers the museum's image and recognition with branded products as well as merchandise reltaed to charles m. Russell and the mission of the museum. All of these areas are essential to carrying out the mission of the museum and each component must work with the other to be successful in the museum's curretn and future endeavors.