Holter Museum of Art Receives MAAA/NEA Creative Forces Grant
Creative Forces Supports Community Arts Engagement Projects for Military-Connected People
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbachano, [email protected], (406) 442-6400.
HELENA, Mont. — The Holter Museum of Art is honored to announce that they have been awarded a 2025 Creative Forces Community Engagement grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and Mid-America Arts Alliance. The museum is one of 48 non-profits nationwide to receive this grant and has been awarded $25,000 towards its expanded Holter Healing Art program, “Courage to Create.” This grant project will support non-clinical, military-connected art classes and other opportunities, with the goals to advance creative expression, build social connectedness, improve resilience, and support successful life transitions for our military, veterans, their caregivers, and families.
In October of 2024, the Holter and the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center collaborated to implement and install a Holter Healing Art Cart. This initial project was supported with funding from the VA Creative Arts Grant, and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services department were able to purchase the healing art cart for in-patient residents. After the successful installation of the Holter Healing Art Cart (additional sponsors of that project were the Helena Chapter of Rotary International and Pureview Clinic), the Holter looked to expand its services to veterans and applied for the Creative Forces Community Engagement grant.
Beginning in August 2025, the Holter Museum of Art will offer free, weekly, focused, art instruction for any veteran (and caregivers) or active military member, at the museum. The grant supports the Holter to provide classroom space, art supplies and equipment, and art instructors trained to work with military populations. During these weekly sessions, participants will engage with instructors and other participants in a welcoming, supportive environment, celebrating creative expression and promoting integration into the art community. In mid-September 2025 and August 2026, participating veteran and active military artists will have the opportunity to showcase their work in exhibitions at the museum.
“At the Holter Museum of Art, we aspire to be a beacon of artistic excellence through curating innovative
exhibitions, inspiring creativity in our engaging educational programs, and forging meaningful connections between artists, artworks, and our community, which truly transform lives,” said Christina Barbachano, the Holter Museum of Art Executive Director. “Art fosters a positive, healing environment that benefits caregivers and patients alike. Art can help people with a vast array of challenges – chronic illnesses, mental health issues, injuries, disease, and more. For those facing challenges and trauma, art has
the power to heal. The Holter is proud to receive funding for its new Holter Healing Arts program- ‘Courage to Create.’”
To learn more about the Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant visit
Creative Forces NEA MAA Grant Awardees Press Release
To learn more about the Holter Museum of Art and how it supports communities like Montana Veterans, visit
Holter Museum of Art – Art Galleries Helena MT | Art Classes For Kids & Rental Rooms To learn more about the VA’s National VA Creative Arts programs visit https://department.va.gov/veteran-sports/national-veterans-creative-arts-festival/