Building on Success
A Campaign for a Permanent Home and Expanded Depth of Programming
In less than a decade, Open AIR has welcomed nearly 200 artists-in-residence of all creative disciplines to our award-winning program. Annually, we reach thousands of intergenerational community members at more than 50 free public events held to date in historically, culturally, and ecologically significant settings across Montana. In our short tenure, we’ve placed over $200,000 directly in the hands of artists.
Blue House
Capital Campaign
With the 2025 acquisition of the ‘Blue House,’ Open AIR is poised for significant long-term momentum. This $2.5M Building on Success Campaign will fund critical one-time investments to transform the property into a permanent, welcoming hub. Our goals include enhancing safety and accessibility, developing a new gallery and community space, providing stable artist stipends and livable wages, and securing our long-term financial health. Ultimately, this investment enables us to expand our capacity, grow our team, and deepen our impact in rural, Indigenous, and community-based programming.
Why Open AIR?
Investing in the Building on Success campaign secures a permanent home for creativity in Montana. Your support anchors our mission to connect communities with creativity across Montana, transforming the Blue House into a creative catalyst that empowers artists and strengthens our state's social fabric.
A contribution to Open AIR is an investment in:
Connection:
Building essential bridges across diverse disciplines, geographies, and cultures.
Resilience:
Fostering imaginative, connected, and economically vibrant communities.
Accessibility:
Ensuring high-quality arts programming remains free and accessible to all.
Areas of Investment
The who, what, and why of our funding requests?
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Complete ownership of the Blue House and current property-related obligations.
Amount: $1,095,035
Portion of Campaign: 43.8%
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Conduct priority repairs; accessibility and safety; furnishings, technology, security, landscaping, permits, insurance, and modest, prudent maintenance reserve. Conduct carriage garage feasibility, code review, design, and early infrastructure/workspace readiness.
Amount: $476,397
Portion of Campaign: 19.1%
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Create a modest operating reserve and organizational systems to support responsible growth.
Amount: $328,568
Portion of Campaign: 13.1%
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Increase Educational, Rural and Indigenous Initiatives, strengthen artist support, public programs & partnerships. Includes the creation of one additional team member to lead Indigenous Initiatives programming.
Amount: $285,000
Portion of Campaign: 11.4%
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Increase compensation, benefits, professional support, contract help, and selective capacity expansion in line with other regional non-profits. Includes the creation of one development position.
Amount: $280,000
Portion of Campaign: 11.2%
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Manage the campaign, including professional fees, printed materials, and other data, reporting, and donor recognition tools.
Amount: $35,000
Portion of Campaign: 1.4%
$2.5M Goal
~60 gifts of many sizes will help secure a permanent home for creativity in Montana. Every gift level helps transform the Blue House into a welcoming hub for artists, community connection, and long-term creative resilience.
Questions or Ready to Discuss a Gift?
We would be honored to discuss your campaign gift, multi-year pledge, stock transfer, Donor-Advised Fund recommendation, or legacy giving plans.
Feel free to contact our Executive Director:
Stoney Samsoe | director@openairmt.org | 406-868-5596
