Annual Montana Art Exhibition Hosted at Hellgate High School

Montana Art Interscholastics Returns to Hellgate High School After a Decade

The Montana Art Interscholastics, a significant event for students, returned to Hellgate High School and the University of Montana on April 26 and 27. This event, which occurs every 10 years at Hellgate, provides students with their first exposure to a university campus and higher-level art.

The two-day art intensive featured college-level art critiques on Friday, workshops led by local artists and UM professors, and visits to various art galleries, including the MAC, UC gallery, and MFA candidate gallery at the fine arts center.

On the first day, students spent the night in the Hellgate gym after the workshops and critiques. The University of Montana is preparing for the influx of high school students arriving early on Friday. Around 200 kids from high schools across Montana attended the event.

Laura Elliott, an art teacher at Hellgate, was heading the project this year. The event is a longstanding tradition that travels to a different school each year.

Cameron and Aspen Decker, involved local artists with the Salish community, presented and taught about storytelling, local species of flora and fauna in Montana, and the Salish involvement in the area.

As the day progressed, students had the opportunity to explore the art galleries and returned to Hellgate to prepare for the second day on Saturday. On Saturday, students were divided into larger groups and created luminaries for an art walk and parade back to Hellgate. Interacting with other students who share similar interests across the state creates long-lasting connections.

Artists at the event shared their stories, fostering a more personal connection among participants. A piece of artwork will be installed at the fine arts center for the Montana Art Interscholastics. The next Montana Art Interscholastics at Hellgate High School after 2005 and 2016 would have taken place in 2026.

The Montana Art Interscholastics is a significant event for students, providing them with their first exposure to a university campus and higher-level art. The event enriches students' experiences by exposing them to various art galleries and workshops led by local artists and UM professors. The next Montana Art Interscholastics promises to be another memorable experience for the students and the community.