Originally established in 2011 as Burns St Studios, VonCommon gained its long-term name a couple months later after moving from Burns St to the historic Radio Central Building in downtown Missoula.
The studio was founded by a group of artists who realized they could afford more space together than individually, and that sense of community remains central to our purpose fifteen years later.
Run by a board composed of artists who have been part of the studio for at least six months, our nonprofit is fully volunteer-led. We encourage all of our members to parrticipate in the studio's operations as much as they're comfortable with, and meet regularly to ensure that everyone's voice is heard when decisions are made.
If you'd like to look us up our EIN is 81-3989754; we've been a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Montana since 2016!
The purpose of VonCommon Studios is to provide affordable artist studio space, and will work to strengthen the visual and performing arts, support emerging artists, and encourage persons to enter the profession by providing an affordable work space and appropriate facilities. VonCommon Studios fosters a community of free expression while providing the community with annual art exhibitions and events, adding to the construction of a well informed and balanced community. For example, we may provide the community with select art educational classes, exposure to alternative art, and recycling.
Providing affordable studio space to artists of all stripes to create whatever they see fit to create.
Placing individual artist practice above all else.
High aesthetic standards: Placing value on art that is beautiful and well
crafted, while recognizing that beauty is subjective and technical detail is
an artist's labor of love, that a beautiful piece of art is not created without
both (and a dash of the artist's soul).
Welcoming: Making art welcoming to those familiar and unfamiliar without
compromising the integrity of the art or the artist who created it. Also
making our organization welcoming to regional artists without sacrificing
the integrity of our mission or our values.
Sound Organization: Our foundation provides us with the tools and
structure to work together and achieve our mission and goals. We will not
sacrifice the integrity of our core values in haste or waste for short term
results, realizing that taking the long view, while difficult, is ultimately
beneficial.
Cooperation: In the spirit of a true cooperative we are open and willing
to work with any persons, organizations, agencies, etc. willing to engage
with us in a mutually beneficial relationship. Additionally, as a cooperative
we are committed to assisting and informing other cooperative and community
organizations when they seek our help.
Professional Development: We place a high value on the growth and
development of our members and artists. We are committed to the
continual growth and development of our artist members as professionals,
and will offer opportunities for professional development.
Invite Inquiry: A healthy organization thrives on the interplay of ideas
among members, patrons, and the community. We invite inquiry about our art and our organization.
Innovation: We are open to new ideas in art, the business of art and our
place in the community. We actively seek to adapt and capitalize on new
technologies and methods to create our art and enhance our organization.
Creativity: Creativity is the lifeblood of an artist. We value our creativity
not only in the art we create, but in the people we are and the solutions our
creativity will provide.
While our everyday operation is focused around the studio, we also host both regular yearly events like:
Art Blizzaard: an art and craft fair just before Christmas. For the past few years we've been fortunate to be hosted by the Missoula Public Library, offering merchant tables with no fees for local and neighboring artists to sell their creations.
First Friday shows! We have at least one of these per year, showing art in a gallery or within our studio. With the option for participating artists to donate either a percentage of sales to the studio, or donate time or goods toward the event, this is an accessible way for artists to put their work in front of the public eye. There's always good music, too!
Education opportunities are spearheaded by our individual artists, who may use our space, work with the studio to arrange an outside venue, or even just take advantage of our social media reach to let the community know what's on offer. With practitioners of media from paint to clay to textiles, we're looking forward to helping the community learn and grow more in the future.