Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art

What Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art does

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art is a private nonprofit contemporary art museum founded in 1977 in Great Falls, Montana, operating from a historic 1896 sandstone building that previously served as Central High School and Paris Gibson Junior High. The institution presents rotating world-class contemporary art exhibitions free to the public, maintains a permanent collection of over 1,000 objects undergoing digitization, and operates a sculpture garden. It serves a broad community including general visitors, K-12 students, Veterans and active-duty military, Seniors (55+), Teens (14-18), and Adults with Disabilities through targeted programming.

The museum generates revenue through a hybrid model combining earned and contributed income: membership dues with annual billing, gift shop sales on a 70/30 consignment split favoring local artists, quarterly art class fees, event vendor fees (e.g., $60 per Arts on Fire Festival booth), and ticketed special events such as wine tastings ($30-35 per person). Major funding comes from grants administered by the Montana Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Montana coal severance tax trust, supplemented by donations from foundations, credit unions, and individuals.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with no formal sales motion. Distribution includes on-site gallery visits, physical gift shop retail, online class registration through Corsizio, and traveling exhibitions circulated via the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association (MAGDA) to 7+ regional venues. The museum has 11-50 employees, is led by Executive Director Sarah Justice and Chief Curator Nicole Maria Evans, and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Name

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art

Legal name

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art

Website

https://the-square.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art is a nonprofit contemporary art museum in Great Falls, Montana, offering free exhibitions, art classes, and community programs for Veterans, Seniors, Teens, and Adults with Disabilities, funded through grants, memberships, and gift shop sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum

NAICS

Art Dealers (459920)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary art museum
• Art exhibitions
• Art education
• Community art programs
• Cultural institution

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The museum offers membership levels that provide benefits including 10% off gift shop purchases and class discounts. Creator level and above memberships receive 10% off all classes and workshops.
2. Gift Shop Sales: The museum operates a gift shop featuring handcrafted items from 65+ local and regional artists. Artists receive 70% commission on sales, with The Square retaining 30% to support daily operations. Sales include artisan jewelry, pottery, original artwork, stationery, art books, and apparel.
3. Art Class Fees: Quarterly art classes and workshops for all ages in various media (drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, printmaking). Classes offered at various price points with quarterly scholarship applications available. Free art programs are offered for Veterans, Seniors (55+), Teens (14-18), and Adults with disabilities.
4. Grants and Donations: Supported by Montana Arts Council (state agency funded by Montana and NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities, coal severance taxes deposited in Montana's cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund. Additional funding from museum members, citizens of Cascade County, Davidson Family Foundation, D.A. Davidson, Horizon Credit Union, and other donors.
5. Event Vendor Fees: Vendor fees for events such as the Arts on Fire Festival ($60 per vendor), where vendors retain 100% of their sales. The museum also hosts ticketed events such as wine tastings ($30-35 per person) and lunch seatings during holiday events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art presents world-class contemporary art exhibitions year-round in its galleries free to the public, alongside a permanent collection of more than 1,000 objects and an outdoor sculpture garden. It also offers quarterly art classes and workshops for all ages, free community art programs for Veterans, Seniors (55+), Teens (14-18), and Adults with Disabilities, and a gift shop featuring handcrafted work by 65+ local and regional artists on consignment.

Product overview

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art operates as a single unified museum institution offering a portfolio of interconnected cultural and educational products and services. The core offering is the exhibition program featuring rotating contemporary art exhibitions alongside a permanent collection of over 1,000 objects, complemented by a sculpture garden with outdoor installations. Supporting the exhibitions are art education programs including quarterly classes and workshops for all ages, free community art programs (Veteran & Active-Duty Art Program, Senior Art Class, Teen Art Program, and programs for adults with disabilities), exhibition catalogues, and a gift shop featuring local artist work. Additional services include venue rentals, a museum internship program, and an annual Arts on Fire festival. The museum's mission focuses on inspiring and promoting contemporary art through exhibitions, collections, events, and education in its historic 1896 building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65 local and regional artists supported through gift shop consignment sales
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northwest Arts Center at Minot State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Co-curated exhibition partnership for 'Wild Forms, Enduring Spirit—The Art & Legacy of Walter Piehl, Jr.' Exhibition draws from Minot State University collection, Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, and private/artist holdings across three galleries. Nicole Maria Evans (Chief Curator) and Gregory Vettel (Director of Northwest Arts Center) serve as co-curators.
• Whitney Center for the Arts at Sheridan CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Originated 'In Mythos & Fairy Tales' exhibition by Tawni Shuler. Assistant Professor of Photography and Printmaking Brittney Denham-Whisonant served as Gallery Director. Exhibition is sponsored via MAGDA for travel to Paris Gibson Square.
• Montana Art Gallery Directors Association (MAGDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026State-wide service organization for nonprofit museums and galleries facilitating traveling exhibitions. Sponsors include Steve L'Heureux & Carol Bradley, Gaines & Beth McFadden for America 250 exhibitions. Coordinates exhibition exchanges among 7+ Montana and regional venues.
• Malmstrom Air Force BasecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership creating opportunities for engagement and support through the arts for military personnel. The museum's Veteran Art Program fosters meaningful partnerships with the veteran community and Malmstrom Air Force Base.
• Northern Plains Heritage FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Foundation supporting the Walter Piehl Jr. exhibition by lending works from their collection. Partnership brings Northern Plains heritage programming to Montana audiences.
• Schoolhouse History & Art CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Originated the 'Jesse Albrecht: Vessels of War and Recovery' exhibition, developed in collaboration with artist. Executive Director Kayla de la Ossa curated the original 2023 exhibition. The exhibition is now traveling through MAGDA to multiple Montana venues.
• Prairie Public TelevisionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023North Dakota public television providing collaboration and support for the Walter Piehl exhibition, extending marketing reach for regional cultural programming.
• Great Falls Museum CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborative network including Ursuline Center, C.M. Russell Museum, Children's Museum of Montana, and The History Museum supporting the Museum Internship Program through facility tours and staff interactions.
• YWCA Great FallsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Nonprofit partner for Empty Bowls event, with VIP Night & Kiln Reveal proceeds going to Mercy Home Emergency Shelter Program. Collaborative community fundraising event.
• Great Falls Vet CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to provide local Veterans a space for healthy creative expression through multiple art forms. The Square and Great Falls Vet Center collaborate on the free Veteran Arts Program, meeting every other Wednesday at the museum. The program is the first of its kind in a Montana museum.
• Montana Arts CouncilcoreOthers · 1 January 1977State agency funded by the State of Montana providing ongoing operational support through grants. The museum receives consistent funding as a state-supported arts organization.
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthers · 1 January 1977Federal arts funding agency providing grants to support exhibitions and education programs. Ongoing partner supporting museum operations and special exhibitions.
• National Endowment for the HumanitiesminorOthers · 1 January 1977Federal humanities funding agency providing grants for exhibition programming and publications.
• Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned ceramic arts residency program in Helena, MT. Robert Harrison served as Resident Artist (1982-85) and Board President (1998-2004). Janina Myronova completed 2024 residency resulting in 'Meet Me in Montana' sculpture acquisition for museum sculpture garden.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northwest Arts Center at Minot State University: A regional art center in Minot, North Dakota presenting contemporary exhibitions. Already a co-curation partner on the Walter Piehl Jr. exhibition, making it directly comparable in curatorial scope and regional reach.
• C.M. Russell Museum: A Great Falls, Montana-based art museum focused on Western American art. Directly comparable to Paris Gibson Square as a regional art museum in the same small city, sharing overlapping community programming and donor base.
• Missoula Art Museum: A Missoula, Montana-based contemporary art museum focused on contemporary regional and national artists. Directly comparable as a Montana-based contemporary art institution with exhibitions, education, and community programs.
• Yellowstone Art Museum: A Billings, Montana-based contemporary art museum with rotating exhibitions, permanent collection, and education programs. Similar regional museum profile with comparable programmatic offerings.
• Art Museum of Eastern Idaho: An Idaho Falls-based art museum presenting contemporary exhibitions and educational programming. Comparable as a small regional art museum and listed as a venue for the Jesse Albrecht traveling exhibition.
• Whitney Center for the Arts at Sheridan College: A Sheridan, Wyoming-based gallery presenting contemporary exhibitions. Already a partner for the 'In Mythos & Fairy Tales' exhibition, making it a directly comparable small regional contemporary art venue.
• Holter Museum of Art: A Helena, Montana-based contemporary art museum presenting rotating exhibitions and education programs. Closely comparable in size, mission, and programming scope as a small Montana contemporary art museum.

Regional players

• The History Museum: A Great Falls-based museum collaborating with Paris Gibson Square on the Museum Internship Program. Comparable as a small local heritage/cultural institution in the same community with shared audience.
• Children's Museum of Montana: A Great Falls-based children's museum that participates in the Museum Internship Program. Comparable as a small community museum in the same geography serving educational programming needs.

Broad incumbents

• Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts: A renowned ceramic arts residency and foundation in Helena, MT. Comparable through its connection to Paris Gibson Square via residency alumni (Robert Harrison, Janina Myronova) whose works are part of the museum's sculpture garden.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paris-gibson-square-museum-art

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art