The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Flathead National Forest, Hockaday Museum of Art and Swan Ecosystem Center have recently developed the Artist*Wilderness*Connection program. This program connects artists and the public with our wild lands.

The program places professional working artists in various disciplines, media, and styles in remote forest cabins for five- to seven-day stays followed by a public presentation related to the residency experience.

The program experience will focus on the Bob Marshall, Great Bear and Mission Mountain Wilderness Areas, with opportunities for artists to reside in cabins in or near designated wilderness.

Wilderness values, natural processes and features, history, wildlife, resource management issues and other topics related to wilderness and wilderness management are used as themes around which artists' visits are organized. All media of art works are encouraged.

From December 1st through February 28th, Montana artists are invited to apply for the Artist*Wilderness*Connection program. The program will host three artists in cabins on the Flathead National Forest during the months of August and September. For information about the program or to download an application, visit the Hockaday Museum of Art web site, http://www.hockadayartmuseum.org.