Those who have a love of art and culture will be thrilled to find that the art community is alive and well in Great Falls, Montana. There are numerous art galleries that feature local artists and art museums that display both historical and contemporary works.

One tradition that art enthusiasts will love is the First Friday Art Walk. As you would assume, this event takes place on the first Friday of every month in Downtown Great Falls, MT. During this time, local businesses, restaurants, and galleries stay open late. You can enjoy shopping, viewing and buying works of art, and hearing local musicians.

Paris Gibson Square has been providing the Great Falls area with education and entertainment for over one hundred years. The building that is now Paris Square Museum of Art served as the city’s high school up until 1977, and is a nationally registered historical landmark. The Museum of Art exhibits contemporary art and sculpture, including works by Montana artists as well as other national and international artists. There is a special appreciation here for the cultural diversity of the American Northwest. Paris Gibson Square also offers workshops, art classes, and even yoga and T’ai Chi classes. The museum is open six days a week, and has later hours on Tuesdays. Admission is free, but you can become a member of the museum for as little as $20.

The C.M. Russell Museum focuses on the works of Charles M. Russell, a cowboy and artist who lived from 1864 to 1926. He retired from his wrangling days to become a full-time artist, and produced about 4,000 works of art during his lifetime. He painted, sculpted, and drew what he knew: the culture of the American West. He was the first artist to live the majority of his life in the west, and produced his art when there was much expansion and interest in this area. The C.M. Russell Museum is open seven days a week during the summer, and five days a week during the winter. Admission is $9 for adults, $4 for students, and free for children age five and under. 

For those interested in the art of architecture, furniture, and décor, there is the Bair Family Museum. This museum was actually the home of Charles M. Bair, who worked as a conductor on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The Alaskan gold rush was kind to Mr. Bair, and he used the fortune he made there to invest in mining, oil, and real estate. The lovely home he and his wife build was finished in 1936. There are many treasures to be found here, such as antique silver, furniture, western art, Native American artifacts, and Chinese Porcelain. The Bair Family Museum is open seven days a week from May 1st through September 30th.

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