The arts have subtle yet significant impacts upon education and the daily lives of people within a community. The arts demonstrate the importance of seeking new perspectives and appreciating unique differences, expanding how we behave as humans. The arts, by nature, impress upon its participants willingness and unanticipated results.

The arts add to the enjoyment and understanding of education and lifelong learning. All of these experiences foster personal and human development while enriching the culture of our communities.

A.C.E.S. supplements and creates art enrichment opportunities.

Women in Action granted A.C.E.S. funds to support art installation and beautification projects with the ArtSplot in the new Ophir Elementary School, including four large canvasses painted with scenes of Big Sky created cooperatively all Kindergarten through 3rd grade student. Ophir Elementary School 4th grade students at worked on a copper and ceramic mobile sculpture, inspired by artist Alexander Calder.

Women in Action and the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation provided grants to A.C.E.S. supporting art education at Ophir Elementary School.

The Dana and Robert Smith Charitable Foundation provided grants to A.C.E.S. supporting art education at Ophir Elementary School.

Scholarship funds through A.C.E.S. fund art enrichment opportunities for financially challenged and access denied families.

A.C.E.S. and the ArtSplot were designated the visual arts organization of choice for the Bozeman are to be featured at George Kahrl’s charitable event: “It’s All About Giving” through the Sarah Faith Ranch Foundation.

Northwest Energy granted A.C.E.S. funds, allowing middle school-aged students to go on a field trip, touring the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT and visiting Jim Dolan’s “Blue Horses” sculptural installation on the landscape south of Townsend, MT.

The Bozeman Schools Foundation, Sparks Grant provided all Whittier School students grades 1st through 5th with classroom and field trip opportunities to experience the collagraph printmaking process. The students also visited the ArtSplot studio and used the ArtSplot’s own historic press.

Specially earmarked private donations to A.C.E.S. have been designated for outreach art education at Ophir, Malmborg, Amsterdam, and Cottonwood Schools.

Richard C. Smith

President and Co-Founder of A.C.E.S.

Co-Founder, Co-Owner, and Co-Operator of the ArtSplot

Chelsea A. Smith

Vice President and Co-Founder of A.C.E.S.

Co-Founder, Co-Owner, and Co-Operator of the ArtSplot

Russ Walker

Retired Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Montana State University

Assistant Dean of Letters and Science, Montana State University

Diane Olive Weber

Active Irving Elementary School Bozeman, MT Parent Action Council member focusing on enrichment grant writing and fundraising