Department: 126- Indigenous Arts | Open

Apr 18

Written By Missoula Fairgrounds

Division A – Traditional

Division B – Contemporary

Print Indigenous Arts Department

Print Exhibit Entry Form

Superintendent

Dre Castillo | 406-274-0520

Prizes & Awards

All exhibits will be judged as a whole to determine the Best of Show of the Department. All exhibits are invited to participate in a Zootown Arts Community Center Gallery Show in November. Premiums will be awarded as follows:

Best in Show - $50
Champion– $25
Reserve Champion– $10
First Place – $8
Second Place– $5
Third Place– $3

Important Facts & Dates

AGE & ABILITY GROUPS

Age 11 & under (Dept. 126A)
Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 126B)
Age 18 & older (Dept. 126C)
Persons with Disabilities Age 11 & under (Dept. 126D)
Persons with Disabilities Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 126E)
Persons with Disabilities Age 18 & older (Dept. 126F)
Professional (Dept. 126G) No age classes. Either employed or selling to qualify as a professional.
Teacher (Dept. 126H) No age classes. Employed as a teacher to qualify.

July 16 – FINAL DAY FOR ONLINE ENTRIES

Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 16 2026, using the online entry system. Parents must sign if exhibitor is under 18 years of age. Following registration, print and save your receipt for entry confirmation.

July 18-19 – DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS

Bring exhibits to the Commercial Building #13, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. West. Exhibits will be accepted 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18 and 11 a.m. to 6p.m., Sunday, July 19. After Sunday July 19th, exhibits may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fair office (Building #12). There is no guarantee exhibits dropped off after Sunday July 19 will be judged or exhibited.

AUGUST 8 – PREMIUM PAYOUT

Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 8 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12) Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (August 10-12). Any unpaid premiums after 6 p.m., August 12 will be forfeited.

AUGUST 9-10 – EXHIBITS RELEASED

Exhibits will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday August 9 and Monday-August 10 If exhibits are not picked up by Thursday August 13 at 6pm, they will be donated.

General Exhibiting Guidelines

Exhibitors in this department must be of Native American descent.
All entries must be the artist’s own recent, original work and must not have been previously exhibited at the Western Montana Fair. Works must have been completed within the past three years.
By submitting your content to this contest, you consent to Missoula County Fairgrounds posting and/or sharing images or videos of your exhibit for promotional purposes.
Entries are limited to one (1) per class.
Officials reserve the right to reclassify entries not entered in the correct division or class, or as otherwise needed for competition. Officials have the right to exclude any content from consideration if it includes explicit content that is not family friendly.
All exhibits will receive care and protection in the surroundings, but always are subject to owners’ risk, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds nor Western Montana Fair can’t be held responsible for damage that may occur.
Space/capacity may be reached before the entry deadline and may limit the number of exhibits permitted. In this instance, exhibits will be accepted in the order the entries were received.
All pieces meant to hang must be ready to display on a hook, whether it’s on canvas, wood, matted, mounted, metal, framed, or other medium. Make sure the hanging system you choose will allow for a ¼ inch hook. No tape. Please practice hanging your work at home to make sure that it is secure.