Hungry Hill Center for Art Education and Outreach

Hungry Hill seeks to create a functional and sustainable art center in the heart of the community. Our objective is to build a space furnished with tools and resources for people from diverse backgrounds to participate in artistic pursuits and learning experiences, supported by an organizational framework that serves the community and conducts outreach through art-centered initiatives.

Hungry Hill began as a way of upholding the legacy of regional artists and volunteers crafting bowls for the Butte Emergency Food Bank’s Empty Bowls program. What started as a modest communal endeavor revealed the potential for Hungry Hill to evolve into something greater – a community centered art hub for Southwest Montana. During the planning process, it became apparent that potters were not the only displaced creatives in the community. The initial planning phase included addressing the needs of the community, such as establishing a space for individuals to engage in art and craft activities, especially for those lacking the means to have their own studio and equipment. It included a place where community members could come to learn, experiment, and expand their artistic skills. Additionally, it aimed to address the lack of platforms for art display and methods to leverage art for the community’s benefits, similar to the approach utilized in the Empty Bowls Project.

Additional less evident needs that can be supported by having a community art facility include:
• Providing healthy mental and social outlets for people, especially during our long dark winters.
• Providing lifelong access to personal enrichment activities and socialization opportunities.
• Providing connection and collaboration between businesses and community members through art-based events.
• Drawing people from a wider geographical area to a center point with art as a focus.
• Providing another avenue of community building and integration.
• Providing support for other non-profits in the region through the transformative power of art.

Making Hungry Hill’s art center a functional, sustainable community resource requires not only acquiring the facilities and tools, but also establishing a community engagement strategy and a staffing plan that is scalable as our patron base grows.
Our three goals then, are in short:
(1) Construct a community-based art facility with the essential tools and equipment for various art disciplines.
(2) Establish a versatile and expandable operations plan for the art center. This plan will include staffing, attracting patrons and addressing their evolving needs, and minimizing the economic burden art places on many people by creating a scholarship program and sliding fee scale.
(3) Formulate a strategy for fostering community involvement beyond the confines of the art center by harnessing the transformative power of art as exemplified in the Empty Bowls Program.

Hungry Hill’s strategy for meeting the organization’s goal of creating a community-based art center is divided into three phases.
Phase I:
• Establish a functional community pottery facility within the temporary space provided by the National Affordable Housing Network in the Phoenix Building on West Park Street in Butte, Montana.
• Preserve the relationship between community potters and the Butte Emergency Food Bank to supply the bowls for the Empty Bowls Program.
• Create classes, courses, and workshops with an economically viable payment structure for the community. This includes a scholarship program for individuals in need of tuition assistance.
• Develop a studio access membership plan that is financially sustainable for our demographic and adaptable for future expansion into other artistic mediums beyond pottery.
• Launch classes, workshops, and studio access memberships options to the public.
• Develop a website featuring an e-commerce and class registration section, a studio members-only area, as well as a calendar and information section showcasing Hungry Hill activities and outreach programs.
• Validate our concept by successfully running a community pottery program, paving the way for future expansion into other arts and crafts disciplines.

Phase II:

• Sustain existing successful programs and studio membership plans from Phase I.
• Initiate “Artists as Teachers” development program to build the available instructors pool and to sustain and improve programming.
• Transition the pottery facility to a permanent location, such as a warehouse or another suitable building.
• Introduce new programs and membership opportunities as space permits.
• Plan and construct additional flexible studio spaces to expand offerings to a variety of artistic and craft disciplines including but not limited to metal smithing, fiber arts, drawing and painting, and glass blowing.
• Reach a milestone by having 3-5 separate studios accommodating different artistic disciplines.
• Achieve financial stability to hire an executive director, part-time support staff, and studio technicians.

Phase III:
• Expand the studio facilities to include additional spaces for community events, meetings, public rentals, and an art gallery.
• Scale staff and studio technicians to meet the needs of the membership and classes.
• Focus on building outreach programs and meeting the needs of the greater Southwest Montana region.

Our capabilities stem from the leadership teams’ collective experience and access to community resources. Hungry Hill’s board consists of individuals with diverse skills and interests, united by a recognition of the importance of art in enhancing personal lives and fostering community development. They each have substantial ties to key demographics and businesses in the area. All board members have made significant financial and service contributions towards the successful execution of Phase I.

Goal 1: Construct a community-based art facility with the essential tools and equipment for various art disciplines.
Our leadership team and volunteer corps established a fully functional pottery studio within three months of obtaining the temporary space. Our team includes two general contractors, a master electrician, a master plumber, a project design planner, and many volunteers with construction experience. The all-volunteer workforce, including board members, contributed to the initial work, which was funded through donations from the board and community members. The leadership teams’ focus has shifted to locating and renovating a permanent location for Hungry Hill. Their collective knowledge, construction background, and project management skills are instrumental in ensuring the success of Phase II of Hungry Hill’s development.

Goal 2: Establish a versatile and expandable operations plan for the art center.
Our operations over the past two years indicate that our process and programs are capable of scaling and adapting to growth. We have implemented a studio membership program, introduced educational programming and workshops, organized corporate retreats and community group events, and launched successful community outreach programs and events. Our mission delivery plan has proven both effective and adaptable to meet the community’s needs.
We assembled a strong team of instructors to lead classes and workshops, established a presence on social media, and transformed our website into a versatile tool for both commerce and communication. Our financial structure enables us to maintain a scholarship fund and offer a sliding fee scale to support members of our community with limited resources.

Goal 3: Formulate a strategy for fostering community involvement beyond the confines of the art center.
Our successful partnership with the Butte Emergency Food Bank Empty Bowls program has paved the way for new opportunities with various non-profits and community organizations. We have contributed artwork to silent auctions benefiting medical causes, supported fundraising efforts for United Way, and engaged in multiple community events. Currently, we are developing a plan to extend our reach to smaller communities in the area.

Phase I has been successfully completed. Hungry Hill has acquired new equipment using funds generated from classes and fundraising efforts. A suitable building has been identified for the upcoming Phase II and Phase III expansions. The organization currently offers a scholarship and a sliding fee scale. Demand for our classes and workshops remains high, with all sessions selling out. We have expanded our class and workshop offerings, as well as introduced new programs targeting specific demographics with special needs. Financially, we are operating in a sustainable manner without the need for borrowing funds. Our dedicated volunteer team is committed to advancing our mission. Hungry Hill has gained traction in the region, attracting individuals from within a 100-mile radius.