The Montana Artists Refuge was created by a community of professional artists whose mediums include painting, music, writing, photography, pottery, sculpture, and mixed media. The Refuge is designed for self-directed people who come in a spirit of exploration. Located in rural, central Montana, our goal is to build a wider, diversified arts community and provide a refuge for artists to relax, create, and rejuvenate away from the hectic pace and pressures of urban life.

Since its inception in 1993, artists from 24 states and four nations have stayed at the Refuge. Housed in two historic brick buildings, the Refuge is located on Main Street in Basin. The town’s history is rooted in mining and dates back to the 1860s. Today the town is home to some 300 people. As artists have explored their passion they have interacted with community members and introduced art as an everyday part of life. At the same time, the relationships they build with people they meet here often bring positive changes to their own lives.