Bigfork Art and Cultural Center Assistant Director wants to foster community connection

A new face at the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center is bringing years of dance experience and community engagement to the organization— with lots of new programming to boot.

Assistant Director Giovanna Carlson has been working on projects with the center over the past year, including helping them reimagine the gift shop and revamping their website.

After a visit to Bigfork last fall, she said it was hard to not fall in love with the place. She was enticed, but was living in Colorado at the time— another place she really enjoys. When the opportunity arose to be part of the center in a more official capacity, she decided to go for it.

“When this opportunity came around to not only help Julie, but also to just jump in and get a foundation of the arts and be somewhere I'm going to be able to host workshops and help cultivate a community around it— that's really exciting and special, so I couldn't pass it up,” Carlson said.

Executive Director Julie Bottum has been the only person on staff for the center over the past two years. Their volunteers and 11 person board does much for the organization, but last year they decided to look at hiring another staff member. Through funds from the Great Fish Community Challenge and other grants, they were able to look at bringing more people on board. They also decided to invest more in marketing for a new year of jam packed programming.

She said she grew up in Vermont and studied dance, nutrition and community leadership at the University of Vermont in Burlington. She’s also spent the past two years in Colorado, cultivating a foundation for what she wanted her career in art to look like. She said she feels lucky to have been able to have many different experiences that led her to this job.

“It's just one of those things where you have to try and, you know, 100 pairs of boots before you find the pair that you're ready to run in,” Carlson said. “...It's mostly just luck of events and opportunities that I've taken over the years that have kind of led me here in particular— and it’s still unfolding. It's crazy how I got here a month ago and I had a little bit of a clue what it would look like, but every week has birthed the whole new realm of excitement.”

Carlson said she and their team would like to see the center become a hub for people in the community. She said they hold a unique position, not only as a resource for those interested in art, but also anyone interested in local history, culture and more. Her new dance classes have already proved popular with 16 in attendance at her first class.

She said upcoming programming at the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center can be looked at in two facets: their weekly programming and bigger programs lined up throughout the year.

New weekly programming includes dance classes taught by Carlson, ranging from line dancing to an “all style” class, which will include partner dances and other styles like jazz and hip hop.

They also have a new Homeschool Integrated Art Program which begins Feb. 23. The six week curriculum will include art, music and movement.

The center will also continue to offer artist’s workshops, such as the recent classes with artist Annie Allen, who taught how Yugo printmaking and painting on fiber. Carlson said they want to offer some sort of workshop on a weekly basis that is a little more casual, like a “Sip and Step” or “Sip and Paint” where attendees drink wine and participate.

Other notable programs coming up this year include the “Young at Art” exhibit in April, which will ask students from local schools to look at an issue in the community or world from their perspective. She said there will be a competition aspect to that exhibit, where a $500 scholarship and art supplies will be awarded to the winner.

The center will continue their goal of highlighting art from the Salish Kootenai College in June with a student and staff exhibit. For July, they are going to put out a call to local artists to capture the Flathead’s flora and fauna, fostering a conversation about wildlife conservation and being conscientious about the environment.

She said since starting her position at the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center, she keeps coming up with new ideas to get the community involved.

“There's cool things happening, but what are the other cool things that we can offer? You know, to make it even more of an attraction and just get the full potential and opportunity of embracing something like the arts and making it a landmark here,” Carlson said.

Carlson said much is owed to their board members, who include Chair Sylvia Medina, Secretary Nancy Kuhn, Treasurer Therese Rose, Director of Strategic Planning Bea Ettinger, Mike Hannley, Maranda Johnson, Vicky Berry, Stephanie Meyer, Mike Sisson, Arin Lever and Zoe Bedford.

For more information about upcoming programming, check out their recently revamped website baccbigfork.org.