Montana Project Inc.

“Expenses wire transfer fees 22 secretary of state filing fee 20 travel for contributors 2,431 travel 1,713 program expenses 3,711 honorarium 1,250 total 9,147”

“Leisurely slowing-down conversations with montanans, and those attached to montana, on issues of connectivity within and between the arts and sciences that flourish in montanas wide open spaces.”

“The year 2023 was a good one for the montana projecta year of growth as well as laying the foundations for future opportunities. Celebrating montanas culture of small batch makers and crafters and the open spaces and four seasons that inspire them, we continue to celebrate projects such as the black ram guitar, crafted by kevin kopp in service of the yaak valley forest councils visionary drive to designate the nations first climate refuge in northwest montanas yaak valley: 265,000 acres north of the yaak river that would be dedicated to maximizing the storage of carbon in the form of old and mature forests. These forests once comprised as much as 50% of the yaak, but now, less than 10%. The refuge will also protect the regions unique and incredibly bountiful biological diversity; fully one-quarter of the entire list of sensitive species in montana are found on this one national forest, the kootenai, alone. Toward this end, we brought poet laureate ada limn into the old forest at black ram, which resulted in two beautiful poems, one of which was published in the atlantic, and read by ada to president and first lady biden. We also co-hosted the inaugural climate aid in portland, maine, at the merrill auditorium, which was attended by representative chellie pingree, former chairwoman of the house appropriations committee, who, following the performance, vowed to do all she could to designate black ram climate refuge. Maggie rogers played the black ram guitar, along with local musicians including alisa amador, winner of an npr tiny desktop award. Maulian dana of the penobscot nation spoke, as did terry tempest williams and bill mckibben, and poet beth ann fennelly, whose poem, the future logs of unit 72, so accurately describes this visionary project. The montana project is a growing community of artists, small-batch makers, businesspeople, farmers and ranchers. In our catalogue and pop-up events across the state, we identify the best of montana: things we can hold in our hands, and places and creatures we cannot. We connect small batch crafters and makers with a larger audience around the state and in so doing honor the pace of the artisan. We profile crafters and makers and their creations. We re-invest in communities, create mentorships, safeguard the spaces and pace and stillness that defines us, yet which are more imperiled than ever. Slow down. Help nurture a culture that gives rather than takes. This is the montana way. Honoring what came before as we choose what to carry forward gives us a fighting chance. What we do a statewide "society to match our scenery" book club (from the famous wallace stegner wish for our beloved west) things we likeproduct reviews and profiles of the best of montanas small batch makers and crafters conserve our landsupport and information on how to protect open space through conservation easements. Its our open spaces that inspire the artists and artisans who are so much part of montanas fabric of being mentoring programwe seek to connect young artists to apprenticeships and workshops with established makers and crafters some itemized specifics: grant developmentchris bunting, olive hershey, oak foundation, goldman, packard, susan o connor. Red ants pants attendance (four days)outreach to musicians and festival- goers about the guitar. Ongoing kevin kopp calls and meetings. Michael & alyssa calls and summer field trips, dan sullivan (jeff bridges) outreach, numerous field trips into black ram. Design/write/print climate aid poster, program, website. Outreach to terry tempest williams and maggie rogers, colin meloy, richard and tracy stone-manning, mtpr, michelle risho, center for biological diversity. Explored writers hell workshop episode development with chris dombrowski and sarah calhoun. Sustained and continued outreach with michael and alyssa o brienconcert planning. Researched ben & jerrys foundation, high stakes, cinnabar, reynolds, charlotte martin, patagonia, breedlove guitars, and other”