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Challis Arts Council A Home for the Arts

Stay informed about the best local art shows, performances and special events

Challis Arts Council A Home for the Arts

Stay informed about the best local art shows, performances and special events

About Us

Who We Are

Mission:

The Challis Arts Council is a 501c3 non-profit organization conceived in 1988 to promote the arts and humanities in Custer County.

Our History:

The Challis Arts Council purchased the MadDog Gallery in 2007 located on Main Street. We are committed to granting greater community access to local and non-local artists, the arts, and cultural organizations. It has become a dynamic center to educate, enlighten and engage current and future artists, young and old alike.

Volunteers throughout the year manage the programs that include performance, reading and visual arts exhibitions.

We are located at the MadDog Gallery 632 E. Main Street, Challis, ID 83226.

(208) 879-2745. info@challisartscouncil.org

Event Calendar

Our gallery events, performing arts and fundraisers are listed for the current month. Please check back each month as our calendar is updated accordingly.

9/17/2021 - 11/12/2021

"Flora and Fauna, a family collection of art"

MadDog Gallery

Event Details

9/17/2021 - 11/12/2021

"Flora and Fauna, a family collection of art"

Come meet the talented artists Rebecca Varney, Valerie Moen and Trent Moen on September 17th at 5pm. Works include acrylic, pencil, metal a...

Event Details

MadDog Gallery

11/19/2021 - 01/14/2022

MadDog Gallery Artisan's Market

MadDog Gallery

Event Details

11/19/2021 - 01/14/2022

MadDog Gallery Artisan's Market

Come shop this great selection of art. All different mediums will be showcased at the Gallery. Support our local artists. Great holiday g...

Event Details

MadDog Gallery

On Display Now

"Flora and Fauna, a family collection of art"

Rebecca Varney

Growing up in the beautiful Pahsimeroi valley gave me the inspiration to paint. I try to capture the exquisite beauty of the animals and landscapes in my paintings that I’ve seen. I mostly paint with acrylic on stretched canvas, but I have painted on all sorts of materials including saw blades, shovels, and eggs. I have done some pencil drawings as well, but prefer the acrylic medium.

At 30 years old I am still learning lots of new techniques and hope to create many more pieces.

Valerie Moen

At a young age my older sister encouraged me to unleash my artistic abilities. I remember sitting beside her while she painted beautiful scenes and I wanted to try to make a canvas come to life, as well.

I was introduced to the plasma cutter in high school shop class and continued at home to make metal art.

I have also done some acrylic painting, although I'd have to say pencil is my favorite. I like the way pencil can shade and blend to create depth and texture. Sitting down with a sketchpad and pencil is my way to relieve stress and a great way for me to unwind.

Trent Moen

Growing up on a ranch in the Pahsimeroi Valley, I learned quite a bit about wood and metal work. Later on in life I used these same work skills to create metal and wood art. I get most of my inspiration from being outdoors and seeing wildlife while guiding, hunting, and fishing.

Become a Member

Members are the heart of Challis Arts Council. These fine individuals and local organizations realize the importance of nurturing and expanding our local artists' talents. Membership accounts for over a third of all incoming funds to help us operate. We also receive a portion of our funding through grants from the Idaho Commission of Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and other public or private entities.

Membership is open to all. Anyone with an interest in keeping art alive in our community is encouraged to join. Contact us:

Become a Member Today!

Challis Arts Council

Volunteer

Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. They help set up and take down for gallery shows, change out displays in the gift shop, help on Saturdays during heavy traffic months, write grants, prepare food for gallery openings, help with mailing and thank you notes and share ideas with our Board of Directors!

We also have a dedicated part-time staffer, Melissa P. Fitzgerald, who handles much of the financial and inventory duties, runs the Educational Performing Arts program; and keeps the gallery open 4-5 days a week. Thanks Melissa!

Sound fun? If you would like to volunteer please fill out the Get in Touch page at the end of our website and we will get back to you as soon as possible! Please note the following in the message section:

First Name:

Last Name:

Email: email is required

Best Phone Number to Call:

Which areas would you be interested in volunteering? Happy to volunteer where needed , Performing Arts , Gallery/Visual,
Fundraising , Administration, Other

What time of day are you typically available to help?
morning, afternoon, evening, all day

Our Sponsors

We appreciate you!

We deeply appreciate our local sponsors. Their generosity helps our community grow. Please support our local businesses and organizations!

Lambs Market

Allied Builders

Creekside Inn B&B

Northgate Inn

Challis Hot Springs

Wells Fargo Bank

Western Heritage Insurance

Salmon River Electric Cooperative

Custer Telephone Cooperative, Inc.

HUB

Beta Thi Sorority

Garden Creek Studio

Challis Area Chamber of Commerce

Challis Joint School District #181

Challis Vikings Booster Club

Little Vikings Booster Club

Performing Arts

*see our calendar for information on upcoming programs.

IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S mission is to produce great theater, entertain and educate. To realize this mission, the Festival seeks to:

Develop an artistic home for theater artists that supports emerging actors, encourages new regional and national playwrights, promotes sustained employment opportunities
for artists and attracts the very best artistic staff;

Educate through a range of programs, including programs and tours for K – 12 children and teachers, ongoing adult education, interpretive programming, affiliations with universities and cultural organizations, as well as residencies and training opportunities for actors;

Illuminate human nature and our rich cultural heritage through a repertory that includes the plays of William Shakespeare, the richest and most complex in the English language, together with other works from a variety of dramatic periods and genres; and

Promote cultural understanding through highlighting diverse traditions and supporting artists and audiences of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.

MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE is from the Theatre’s International Tour project to local activities for kids and adults in Missoula, MCT programs are all designed to develop the personal and professional skills and goals of the participants. The excellence of our productions along with our unique and acclaimed teaching methods result in the successful fulfillment of our mission: The development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTiNG CONCERT: Challis Arts Council, in cooperation with the Hardy family and Challis Area Chamber of Commerce, pitches in to celebrate the yuletide season with a community concert of Christmas songs.

DINNER THEATER: Challis Arts Council hopes to revive this popular event in 2021.

Education and Fundraiser Fun!

Education and Fundraiser Fun

Please refer to our monthly calendar for additional Educational Arts and Fundraisers throughout the year.

WORKSHOPS
Challis Arts Council tries to hold at least one workshop a year offering instruction from accomplished artists in their particular field. Past programs have taught willow furniture, basket making, watercolor painting, professional art marketing and textile landscapes.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM,
In cooperation with Challis Joint School District #181 the arts council brings in an artist to visit the school for a week. In the past, CAC has brought in storytellers, musicians, and poets that have worked with a variety of ages. One actually had students build and play their own didgeridoos! Stay tuned for information for the upcoming 2021/2022 school year.

We do receive some money from Idaho Commission of the Arts, and apply for grants from different public and private entities, but those funds are never a sure thing from year to year. We also hold fundraisers to keep the coffers full.

OFF THE WALL ART SALE
Local residents clean out their houses by donating their valuables to the MadDog Gallery to help raise money for operations. The Gallery becomes a great second hand art store with furniture, antiques and wonderful artwork that can be purchased over the two week sale.

BACK PORCH YARD SALE
This event is held at the end of the Off the Wall Art Sale with any donated items that would be of value to our community…we believe in recycling and reusing everything in our mountain community.

SOUP AND SONG AT THE MADDOG GALLERY
This evening of music and food held every other year on the first Saturday in November at the Gallery. Local chefs prepare soup, bread and desserts and diners sit down to eat on tables set up in our gallery and listen to local music. With your ticket price you get an original pottery bowl to fill with soup and then take home to remember your art experience.

See below for our current fundraiser and stay tuned for new fundraisers as they’re imagined and developed.

Challis Arts Council A Home for the Arts

Challis Arts Council A Home for the Arts