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The Butte Silver Bow Arts Foundation (BSBAF) was formed in 1976 by the Butte Silver Bow Bi-Centennial Commission to promote the arts for residents of Butte and Southwest Montana. Originally, there were 18 members of the Bi-Centennial Commission, who raised the funds to purchase the Charles Walker Clark Mansion in 1976 and gave it to the county of Butte Silver Bow.

A non-profit organization was formed in 1977 known as the Butte Silver Bow Arts Foundation under IRS Code 501(c) 3 status to promote the arts using the Charles Walker Clark Mansion under the name of The Arts Chateau as its base of operations. BSBAF made an agreement to maintain and restore The Arts Chateau with annual support from the Butte Silver Bow Government.

Each year the BSBAF leases the Charles Walker Clark Mansion, built in 1898, from the Butte Silver Bow County for area residents to use as a cultural center for the arts. Today, this historical building formerly known as The Art Chateau Museum (ACM) is being renovated into Butte’s unique period museum from the early mining boom and is registered in the National Historic Landmark District.

In addition to the main facility at The Arts Chateau Museum, BSBAF expanded the cultural center programs to include a building in historic Uptown Butte known as the Butte Silver Bow Arts Center (BSBAC). At this location, we are able to advance our mission by providing quality arts and humanity activities through our new gallery and lecture hall, artist-in-resident program, and increased community involvement at the arts center.

Under its governing body, the BSBAF continues its original mission:


• to foster and encourage an understanding and interest in local traditions, heritage and arts

• to maintain and restore the Charles Walker Clark Mansion which serves uniquely as a period museum and arts center

•to promote creative opportunities for adults and youth through expanded education/exhibition programming at the Arts Chateau Museum and Butte Silver Bow Arts Center

• to stimulate economic growth and cultural development through arts and humanities programs via collaborations with local, regional,and national organizations.

The Butte Silver Bow Arts Foundation provides the following services:


• continuation of the restoration of the Arts Chateau Museum

• expansion of the Butte Silver Bow Arts Center for cultural arts education and exhibitions

• future project for building a quality Art Museum for exhibitions and national, regional, and local exhibition tours

• future project for establishing art immersion programs as an Art School in collaboration with national, regional, and local universities

• future project for re-creating historical industrial heritage by restoring regional and local Manufacturing Companies.

Annually, BSBAF receives support from the City of Butte, as well as other regional community and private funding sources. Our arts and humanities programs rely primarily on volunteers and local donations. The BSBAF Board of Directors is the governing body that administers and coordinates our business matters of our non-profit tax-exempt status 501 (c) 3 under the Internal Revenue Service code established in October 1977.

During the past 28 years, the Butte-Silver Bow Arts Foundation(BSBAF)Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and members have worked to care for the Arts Chateau Museum(ACM)which is now the Clark Chateau, and the BSB Art Center(BSBAC); providing art, culture, heritage, and historic opportunities to an international audience.

In 1997, Glenn Bodish assumed responsibility as the Executive Director of the BSBAF. Under Glenn’s leadership, the BSBAF has demonstrated its ability to accomplish its mission and achieve its goals through a plethora of programs and projects.