Bozeman ranks seventh in Arts Vibrancy Index

It’s no secret to many of us Bozemanites that our community is a place that loves to share and experience cultural arts. This year, Bozeman was recognized for its art scene in a national ranking, becoming the seventh most art-vibrant medium-size community across the nation in 2020, and returning to the list from 2017.

According to the Bozeman symphony, the sixth annual Arts Vibrancy Index Report, compiled by SMU DataArts, a national center for arts research at Southern Methodist University, ranks more than 900 communities across the country and examines levels of supply, demand and government support for the arts in each city. According to the report, Bozeman ranks ninth in the country on independent artists and 11th on arts, culture and entertainment firms per capita, driving it to the 13th spot overall on Arts Providers for medium-size communities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000.

The SMU DataArts press release states that, while the report is based on 2019 data and therefore does not reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, its findings help illustrate the critical role of the arts, both socially and economically, in cities and towns around the country. At this historic moment, the report also serves as a pre-pandemic benchmark of where the most arts-vibrant communities are located.

Emily Paris-Martin, the Bozeman Symphony Executive Director, who has been with the symphony for over 17 years and has experienced first-hand the impact arts have on the community, said this about the vibrancy index rating: “As a performing musician and arts administrator, I have always seen strong support for the arts in Bozeman. It is exciting to see our community recognized on a national level. With the growth that Bozeman is experiencing, the study solidifies the demand for arts and culture in our community.”

In the report, the Bozeman Symphony was listed as a local landmark arts organization, along with the Arts Council of Big Sky, Intermountain Opera Company, Equinox Theatre Company, Montana Ballet Company and Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture. Bozeman was also recognized for its many unique museums, the Bozeman Public Library and MSU’s diverse arts department.

“It is an honor to be represented along with many of Bozeman’s beloved arts organizations and artists who add to the dynamic of a thriving arts scene in our community,” Paris-Martin said. “The study recognizes the vibrancy we’ve all come to love as the arts inspire and inform our own lives. It is a wonderful reminder during a challenging time.”

From the onset of COVID-19, the Bozeman Symphony, like many arts organizations across the nation, has learned to adapt and come up with innovative ways to connect to the community. Recently, the Bozeman Symphony presented its first-ever Ranch Around concert series hosted by The 1915 Barn and The Big Yellow Barn. These unique open-air concerts featured music director Norman Huynh along with musicians from the Bozeman Symphony and guest violinist William Hagen.

According to the Arts Vibrancy Index website, this rating helps local community members to, “celebrate and remind ourselves of the arts’ enduring importance, resiliency and vibrancy, as well as overall intensity and capacity of the community’s arts and culture sector, and get the recognition our community deserves from its mayors, city council members, state legislators and much more.” If you are interested in reading the full report, please visit, bozemansymphony.org.