Downtown in the heart of Bigfork lies CFBB's historic Clocktower Building. The Bigfork Arts and Culture Center is grateful to call this home to continue our mission to reveal the rich cultures and creativity that thrive in our Montana communities. It is at this charming venue that we provide innovative and educational experiences in all areas of the arts for both children and adults, and share Bigfork area history and diverse heritages.
Hours
Special Events; please check our calendar, programs or exhibit pages.
Guiding Principles
The guiding principles of our mission include freedom of imagination, inquiry and expression, as well as freedom of opportunity for all to participate in a vital and diverse arts & culture.
Location
You can find us at 525 Electric Avenue in downtown Bigfork, in the 'clocktower building' and across the street from the Bigfork Playhouse
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are on Indigenous land and waters. We honor the original stewards of this land and their descendants, many of whom continue to live, work, teach, create and learn in this community. We are committed to showing gratitude for the land and its Indigenous peoples by respecting and remembering this in our thoughts and actions.
501c3
As a 501c3 since 1997, we are funded by grants and tax-deductible donations. Together we can make a difference to our community and visitors in this beautiful Flathead Valley!
Our mission and programs are led by Julie Bottum. Julie has been with us since June of 2021. During that summer of 2021, Julie began the process of connecting with community, networking with our local organizations, and evolving the mission of BACC. With a background in education, animal facilitated learning, and nonprofit development, she brings a passion for creating inspiring programs and workshops that help both children and adults explore the amazing world around us. Julie's goal is to continue the legacy of BACC to create extraordinary experiences and inclusive communities for you to connect with art, cultures, & shared stories from across time and place.
Mike Hannley
Board Chair
Bio Link
Mike joins as a part time resident of Bigfork and Arizona. Mike is retired from a career the financial world of banking and has extensive experience in the non-profit sector.
Rchard Janisse
Vice-chair
Rick specializes in business development.
He is President RMJ & Associates, LLC and resides in Bigfork MT
Email: rickjanisse@outlook.com
Nancy Kuhn
Board Secretary
Nancy is a long time resident and former business owner here in Bigfork. Nancy has been an integral part of BACC's success! Her passion for community, the arts, and education is an inspiration to us all!
Mike Sisson
Board Member
Mike is a retired metal fabricator/millwright from the east coast. Currently Mike resides near Bigfork and has been involved at BACC through his fantastic one-of-a-kind metal sculptures as well as a volunteer at BACC events.
Breanna Murphy
First, I am a wife to a U.S. Marine, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq and has severe PTSD. This experience began my journey of studying the brain and trauma. We have 6 beautiful blessings, 3 boys and 3 girls, with just two living at home now. Freshman girl and Junior boy. I am their adopted mom. They came to us with significant trauma from previous living conditions and it is at this point that I went back to school to study adolescent psychology and criminal justice. I am in my final semester at MSU-Northern and will graduate Magna Cum Laude in the spring.
I volunteer with Flathead CASA and am currently advocating for one teenager in the foster system. A CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocate who is an officer of the court and reports directly to the judge. My job is to investigate and interview all persons of interest and figure what is in the best interest of the child, either reunification with parents or another placement. Again, using my experience and education in the field of adolescent psychology.
If you think you’ve seen me before, you just might have! I’ve been involved with Brach Thomson’s Children’s Theatre since 2012. Two of my daughters participated all the way through their senior year. My favorite place to volunteer with the theatre is in the costume shoppe! I love to sew and I collect costumes☺
Additionally, I’ve been a substitute teacher at Bigfork Schools, mainly the middle school grades.
Email: boardadmin@baccbigfork.org
Shauna Gibson
Lisa Bell
Education & Programing Development
Lisa is a Montana native, growing up on a ranch in Eastern Montana before moving to the Flathead Valley as a teenager. She’s been an educator for almost 12 years and loves seeing her students get excited about learning. Outside of work, you can usually find her reading or spending time outdoors with her husband and son. They enjoy camping, kayaking, playing board games, and going on adventures with family and friends.
Lisa earned her AAS in Early Childhood Education from Flathead Valley Community College in 2016 and will graduate with her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Salish Kootenai College in 2025. She has taught all ages, from infant to adult, and is excited to be a part of the Art, Education and Cultural Resource Center as it grows and evolves.
Favorite Children’s Book: Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Email: lisa@baccbigfork.org
Giovanna Carlson
Program Consultant
Giovanna comes to us from Vermont where her family's farm is located deep in the Green Mountain Range. She received a full scholarship to attend the University of Vermont at Burlington. While maintaining a full schedule of community art and dance therapy activities, Giovanna completed studies in dance, nutrition, and experiences in community leadership. At BACC Giovanna will continue to assist in developing educational history and cultural arts programs which will now include dance and music. Growing up in a community steeped in the value of heritage arts, Giovanna is excited to share and learn alongside Bigfork residents and visitors!
Email: giovannacarlson@baccbigfork.org
Check out below to see some of the ways the BACC (and some of our amazing artists) have been featured by our community.
FMAP / Fugro Partnership Pilot Study
Fugro is partnering with the Bigfork Arts & Cultural Center (BACC) to locate and document underwater cultural heritage sites in Flathead Lake, Montana, in support of the Flathead Maritime Archaeology Project (FMAP).
Memory Lane Post
Great things happening at Memory Lane
Bruce on site
Bruce Miller's Photographic journey of worldwide Indigenous cultures and Lands in transition
In The News
Our ongoing History Project Dives Deep!
BACC collaborations
This Summer we hosted artitst from the Salish Kootenai College as part of a collaboration made possible through a grant from Whitefish Community Foundation.
Bigfork schools adjust for farming.
The deep commitment that Bigfork residents have shown towards education and the children of Bigfork!
The Beginning of the Bigfork Volunteer Fire Department
Founded in 1893, The Swan River School has been a beloved landmark in the Bigfork community for over 125 years. In the spring semester of 2018, the students of Mrs. Emslie’s 5th grade glass undertook a project to tell part of their school’s rich history, in the form of short video documentaries that they researched, wrote, shot, and edited themselves.