NEXT IS NOW:
THE FUTURE WE ENVISION STARTS WITH THE ACTIONS WE TAKE TODAY.
Can you imagine a community without the arts?
Like the communities of the American West, the arts are multidimensional. They are the cultural connective tissue that ties us together, providing a strong foundation for growth and prosperity. Arts education prepares students to explore their passions and build the confidence to create vibrant, welcoming places to live, work, and raise families.
Jodi Lightner, Art Department Chair
SCULPTURE & CERAMIC STUDIO $11 MILLION
Create space. Spark discovery.
The arts at MSUB help students think differently, challenge assumptions, and find their voice. The new Sculpture & Ceramic Studio is a bold step forward expanding opportunities for exploration and collaboration, giving students room to experiment, take creative risks, and build confidence through hands-on learning. This experience cultivates creativity, problemsolving, and resilience that extend far beyond the classroom and strengthening every career and community they touch.
A new Sculpture & Ceramic Studio will elevate the student experience and add to the vitality of Billings’ arts and culture—drawing people together through artistic expression, innovation, and cultural engagement.
The new Sculpture & Ceramic Studio will:
• Establish a thriving art center at MSUB, honoring Montana’s tradition in ceramics and sculpture
• Provide modern workshops, outdoor workspaces, and specialized areas such as plaster mold and glaze labs
• Include a professional gallery for exhibitions, visiting artists, and campus–community programs
• Equip students with tools and infrastructure to fully realize their vision, cultivating creativity, innovation, and resilience that extend beyond the classroom
• Expand community connections through visiting artists, K–12 programs, public exhibitions, and community workshops
• Increase availability for high demand classes
• Recruit and retain high achieving students
Existing Wood & Metal Workshop
Existing Outdoor Workshop
Existing Ceramic Workshop
AT A GLANCE THE NEW STUDIO
THE NEW SCULPTURE & CERAMIC STUDIO at Montana State University Billings will be inclusive modern spaces where students and community connect through shared practices in the arts. The studios will include state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that provides safe and effective learning environment. There will also be dedicated outdoor workspaces and a sculpture garden featuring ceramic and sculpture art. Beyond the classroom, this vibrant new building will become a cultural asset for Billings—inviting the community to engage with the arts, attend exhibitions, and celebrate the achievements of MSUB’s creative community. It’s a place where talent is nurtured, ideas come to life, and the arts thrive.
MSUB Campus
SCULPTURE GARDENS
Inspire connection. Beyond walls.
Located on the north and south sides of the new Studio, each sculpture garden will showcase works by regional and visiting artists, extending creativity beyond the studio. These highly visible outdoor galleries will reinforce MSUB’s role as a cultural hub and strengthen connections between artists, students, and guests through public engagement with the arts.
Designed to evolve, the gardens will grow with new pieces and changing installations for years to come—inviting fresh perspectives and ensuring they remain vibrant and engaging for future generations. The gardens will also feature the Next is Now donor recognition tribute, creating a lasting reminder of gratitude to all whose generosity powers the campaign and strengthens MSUB’s future. Together, they will celebrate beauty, creativity, and public pride— welcoming everyone to experience art in the open.
As a Health and Human Performance major and member of the cross country team, ceramics gave me a creative outlet that balanced the intensity of athletics and academics. The class environment was welcoming and supportive, and I made so many friends in that space. Ceramics taught me patience and to trust the process— something I now carry into training, competition, and life. It turned out to be one of my favorite experiences at MSUB.
Cecily
Eagleton, Class of 2026
CENTRAL GALLERY
Inspire dialogue. Expand perspective.
At the heart of the Sculpture & Ceramic Studio, the Central Gallery will be a dynamic and welcoming center that showcases artists from Montana and beyond, while giving students direct access to professional artistry. This evolving exhibition space will feature visiting artists, rotating exhibitions, artist receptions, and public lectures that spark curiosity and expand understanding of the wider art world.
The gallery will stand as a place of inspiration and exchange, strengthening MSUB’s commitment to cultivate artists, educators, and creative leaders who will shape the cultural landscape for years to come.
We are ever students, cradle to grave. Making things— whatever the medium—is the greatest personal teacher in life, a universal language that speaks to every age and place. We support the arts and education at MSU Billings and hope many will join in carrying that language forward.
John W. and Carol L. H. Green Friends of MSUB
CERAMIC WORKSHOP
Shape ideas. Fire imagination.
Exploration, experimentation, and artistic growth will flourish in a workshop that blends tradition with innovation and is designed for immersive, hands-on learning. Students will move from foundational skills to advanced techniques, gaining the confidence to push boundaries, refine their craft, and leave a lasting mark on campus and beyond.
Fully equipped with wheel-throwing stations, hand-building areas, glaze and clay mixing labs, a mold-making area, and professional-grade kilns, this workshop will give students the tools and environment they need to master the art and science of ceramics. A modern and inclusive Sculpture & Ceramic Studio will allow MSUB to contribute to the illustrious history of ceramic arts in Montana.
As a studio painter, experimenting with different materials—like working with clay—is essential for creating meaningful, layered artwork. The ceramic studio is an important part of the art program, and having access to ceramics and all of the studio spaces supports and strengthens our creativity.
Karmen Joki, Art Department Student, Class of 2026
Existing Ceramic Workshop
METAL & WOOD WORKSHOPS
Forge ideas. Build mastery.
Innovation and artistry will thrive in these workshops, where students shape three-dimensional forms through metalworking, woodworking, and mixed-media techniques. Designed to support both traditional and contemporary sculptural practices, they foster experimentation and collaboration, helping students develop confidence and creative vision.
Outfitted with advanced welding stations, precision woodworking equipment, and flexible fabrication areas for mixed-media projects, the Metal & Wood Workshops give students the tools and environment to achieve technical excellence and imaginative expression. They honor Montana’s long tradition of craftsmanship and open fresh creative possibilities across disciplines.
Working in three-dimensional art has opened up so many new and engaging experiences for me as an artist. Exploring sculpture and ceramics has allowed me to grow creatively while feeling supported by my professors. These studio classes also welcome students from all majors through courses and art clubs, which broadens both my school and art community.
Clara Eggemeyer, Art Department Student, Class of 2027
Existing Wood & Metal Workshop
Existing Outdoor Workshop
OPEN AIR WORKSHOP
Work big. Think bold.
Building on the legacy of MSUB’s original “art yard”, the Open Air Workshop provides the space, ventilation, and freedom required for ambitious sculptural processes. Here students can cast metal, fire in a Raku kiln, and explore large-scale, interdisciplinary works that demand both creativity and physical range.
As a dynamic extension of the indoor workshops, this covered outdoor area supports experimentation on a grand scale. It invites collaborative projects that unite engineering, design, and the arts and creates a vibrant setting where bold ideas come to life. Together, these opportunities strengthen MSUB’s role as a center for innovation and public engagement in the arts.
Next is Now is the future we envision that starts with the actions we take today.
Chancellor Stefani Hicswa, PhD
Be part of what’s next. Your support now helps transform the MSUB campus and strengthen the arts for generations to come. Together, we can give every student the space to create boldly and share their vision with the world.
