SLAM (Support Local Artists and Musicians) kicked off their first festival last August in Bogert Park to an engaged audience enjoying art, food, music and drinks. In it’s second year the SLAM festival will take place August 4-5, again in Bogert Park. You can truly go local at SLAM as it is a not-for-profit Festival dedicated to showcasing the local talent of the state, with all artists and musicians being from Montana. Admission to the SLAM Festival is free to the public, enabling all members of the community to enjoy the wide variety of artistic talent that will be showcased. Any revenue generated from the Festival will be reinvested in programs and projects that promote the arts in the communities throughout the state of Montana.

As part of their mission SLAM promised to give back to the community in ways that help promote art education and community involvement. In 2012 SLAM created a need-based scholarship at Bozeman high school for students involved in the fine arts. An $800 scholarship was given to the BHS fine arts department and a student who showed exceptional dedication and skill to the fine arts was chosen by the staff of BHS to receive that scholarship. This year’s recipient was Haley Walsh, a talented metalsmith and jeweler. Haley will be selling her creations at this year’s SLAM festival.

SLAM has also partnered with Bozeman Friends of Parks, the City of Bozeman, Mitch Billis, Sarah Anderson, and Northwest Art Castings to offer you an incredible opportunity to become part of an artistic legacy in Bozeman’s Bogert Park. A bronze trout drinking fountain sculpted by local artist Mitch Billis will be installed in Bogert park this summer, offering refreshment to parched park goers. Another local artist, Sarah Anderson, will complete this functional art installation with a mosaic ten feet in diameter, constructed of colorful pebbles.

While a large percentage of the cost of this installation is covered by the participating sponsors, there is a chance for you to make YOUR mark in Bogert Park. A ring within the mosaic will be constructed of 5.5” x 3” bricks available for purchase. These bricks will be etched prior to installation and are the perfect place to show your pride in your community. A total of 50 bricks will be available for the price of $250 each. Each brick can display three lines with ten characters per line. What a great way to leave your legacy in one of Bozeman’s greatest parks. All bricks purchased are considered a charitable contribution and are tax deductible. SLAM is a registered 501(c)(3), and all funds raised through the sale of these bricks will be used to offset the cost of the installation or used for future community art projects.

In addition to the brick project SLAM and Music Villa will also be selling raffle tickets at $5 each for a Gibson guitar giveaway. The Gibson J-45 Standard is valued at $3,072 and will be raffled off on August 5th at the festival. You need not be present to win, but as the promoters say “it’s more fun if you are!” The proceeds from the raffle will go to support local music scholarships and the SLAM festival. Tickets are available at Music Villa and at the festival.

At this years festival you will enjoy a variety of musical and dance performances in the bandshell ranging from local Ska to singer songwriter to Bluegrass and a variety in between. Some of this years performers include Getting Up Early Boys, Skavacado, the MSU Dance Team with Moon Flowers and Ladies in the House, as well as Sally Newsome, Jawbone Railroad and Bridger Mountain Big Band. Performances range in time from 15 minutes to 2 hours, and run from 11am-7pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

The SLAM festival will be held at Bogert Park, August 4-5, 2012.   If you are interested in purchasing a brick for the fountain project, volunteering at the festival, or just want more information about SLAM, please visit www.slamfestivals.org, or email info@slamfestivals.org.   See you this summer at SLAM festival!