Butte, Montana

Butte, Montana, was once the biggest city west of the Mississippi due to a mining boom of copper and silver. Butte holds a fascinating history of mining, immigration, and environmental restoration.

The Butte Residency is made up of a partnership between the Historic Clark Chateau and the Hungry Hill Art Center.

The Mission of the Clark Chateau is to preserve the historic building under the ownership of Butte-Silver Bow and encourage its active use by providing a space and support for the community and visitors to gather and engage in cultural, artistic, and humanities programming.

Built by “Copper King”, William A. Clark in 1898, this historic residence has seen the comings and goings of wealthy industrialists, The Butte School of Music and The Shriners Fez Club to name but a few occupants. The Chateau is now owned by the city of Butte, and is used as a community gathering site, as a gallery, museum and cultural center.

The origin of Hungry Hill goes back to 1972 when Mike Kujawa Sr. began teaching pottery classes in the sub-basement at what was then West Junior High. Over the next 50 years, pottery became a fundamental part of both the high school art program and the adult education night school program. 

​Since its official launch in 2022, Hungry Hill has diversified its services to include pottery classes, workshops, clay-centered birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and support for community fundraising events.  In addition, our studio memberships provide round-the-clock access to studio space, tools, and supplies.

​Hungry Hill plans include expansion into other mediums such as drawing, painting, glassblowing, fiber arts, and metal smithing as space allows.

Historic Clark Chateau Website

Hungry Hill Website

Butte Highlights:

 - World Museum of Mining/Underground Mine Tour

 - Mother Lode Theater

 - Orphan Girl Children's Theater

- Covellite Theatre

 - Butte Underground City Tour

 - Saturday Farmers Market

 - Drizzle

Depending on the artistic needs of the Artist-in-Resident, their studio space could be at the Clark Chateau, Hungry Hill Art Center or the IBRC.

Writers and musicians might prefer a space at the Historic Clark Chateau.

Artists-in-Residence at the Chateau will have access to:

• Studio space in the Clark Chateau, centered in Butte's Historic Landmark District

• Access to the Clark Chateau performance spaces, music room, and ballroom, and grand piano.

• Access to the Clark Chateau classroom space

Artists who use the Hungry Hill Ceramic Studio will have access to a fully equipped studio.

• Hungry Hill is an active studio with 15 wheels and ample hand-building space

• The studio is equipped with cone 10 glazes and clay, hand-building and wheel-throwing tools, an extruder, pug mills, and a storage/drying space

• Raku, soda firing, and other firing methods and tools are available

• Hungry Hill is home to an artist membership community, nightly classes as well as a larger community of Empty Bowls volunteers

• Artists will be responsible for their clay and firing fees.

Additionally, artists might also have access to:

• Imagine Butte Resource Center Community Print Studio (housed in the same building as Hungry Hill). The community print studio is home to 7 different presses, with letterpress, relief, drypoint etching, monotype, collagraph, and cyanotype printmaking capabilities and a Tuesday evening Open Studio event.

• Possible exhibition opportunity at Foreground Gallery or other walls in the public parts of the building.

• Oro Fino Coffee, arguably the best coffee shop in Butte, is a frequent place of meeting for the creative minds of Butte.

• Free WiFi

Additional Resources in Butte include:

• Butte Silver-Bow Public Archives for research

• Berkley Pit

• Butte Chinese Museum

The Clark Chateau is centrally located in Butte's historic uptown with access to a free public transport bus system. The Public Library is one block away. The Historic Landmark District in uptown Butte is home to multiple restaurants, coffee shops, and small retailers, all within walking distance of the Clark Chateau.

The historic Phoenix Block, home of Hungry Hill, was originally built in 1906 as Symons Department Store, and it is right in the heart of Uptown Butte's business district. Since 2012, it has been the home of the Imagine Butte Resource Center and Foreground Gallery. The Phoenix is also home to Oro Fino Coffee, the cooperative art gallery, Mainstope Gallery, a small weaving studio, two yoga studios, and more. The Phoenix is within walking distance to many of Butte's favorite food spots, shops, and nightlife.

While artists could be comfortable without a vehicle during this residency, artists may want to have access to one to explore the surrounding area.

Artists coming from out of town will be provided accommodations in Butte. Each year, our housing changes based on the needs of incoming residents and changing housing options in Butte. Generally, residents are housed together in a centrally located furnished home or apartment with a private bedroom. Applicants will have the opportunity to share their housing needs in the Artist-in-Residence application.

Please note that many of the buildings in Butte are historic, and many do not meet ADA accessibility standards. Butte has steep hills, and parking is not always available near the buildings.

In addition to an artist presentation, the artist will have the opportunity to teach a compensated public workshop if interested.

Artists who work at Hungry Hill are asked to demonstrate their work on a studio member night during their residency.

• READ ADDITIONAL FAQ’s document

• Open AIR is committed to accessibility. If the application process or fee poses a barrier,  please reach out to Rachel at program@openairmt.org

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