A Message From Our Board of Directors – 11.22.24

We deeply appreciate your support of the Emerson Center for Arts & Culture. We would like to share a statement from our board regarding concerns that have been brought to our attention, along with a note from our Executive Director.

The Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture Addresses Community Concerns Amid Public Petition.

The Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture has been a contributing member of the Bozeman community for over three decades, hosting more than 100,000 guests, 60 artist businesses, three art and performance venues, 110 arts education classes serving more than 1200 adult learners and 432 youth summer camp participants annually. The Emerson is widely known for its innovative community-wide annual performance events, such as Wednesdays at The Emerson, The Beast of Bozeman and Holiday Noir.

The Emerson Board of Directors is aware of a petition circulating calling for leadership changes. We take it seriously that our community cares so deeply about the Emerson and our mission “to promote art and culture, set in a historic building.”

In response, the Board of Directors is taking immediate steps to understand the nature of this petition and its sponsors. We remain committed to listening and addressing concerns within the framework of our mission, organizational values and policy responsibilities to all our stakeholders.

The Emerson remains committed to a transparent, fair, and balanced approach to understanding as we seek to meet the needs of all community members and stakeholders. The Board of Directors reaffirms its support for the Emerson’s leadership, while continuing to welcome robust community dialogue around how we may best deepen our service to the Bozeman community.

While the Emerson continues to serve Bozeman’s thriving arts community, we are listening and invite constructive dialogue along the way. If you have information, feedback or concerns, please contact us directly at Board@theemerson.org.

A Note of Gratitude from the Emerson Center for the Arts