Sculpture in the Wild a finalist for tourism award

Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild has been chosen as one of three finalists up to receive a Montana Tourism Award in the category of Heritage and Cultural Tourism.

Nominated alongside Sculpture in the Wild are Helena’s Archie Bray Foundation and the Kootenai Country Montana Chainsaw Carving Championship.

Visitors and friends of Sculpture in the Wild nominated the park, and BPSW President Becky Garland said board members were notified of the park’s selection as a finalist last week. She said she hopes several board members and park enthusiasts will represent Sculpture in the Wild at the awards ceremony in April.

“It’s a nice pat on the back that we have friends and people who like Sculpture in the Wild. They took time enough to write these nominations, so I think it just really gives us more confidence to move forward with the programs that we havee been doing, with the artist residencies and education programs,” said Garland. “I’m hoping that it will bring more people in to see the Sculpture Park and bring more people in to town.”

Organized by the state Department of Commerce, The Montana Tourism Awards celebrate the work of communities, businesses, organizations and people who strengthen Montana’s tourism industry and contribute to its impact on the economy. Open online nominations for awards in five categories closed on February 28 and were reviewed by judges from across the state, who then selected up to four finalists per category.

Finalists in the categories of Heritage and Cultural Tourism, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Tourism Ambassador, Outstanding Tourism Volunteer and Private and Public Collaboration will be recognized, and winners announced, at the 2019 awards program and banquet to be held in conjunction with the Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Recreation on Monday, April 15. The event is slated to take place at the Copper King Hotel & Convention Center in Butte.

Montana Tourism Awards have been around since 1989, although the categories have been subject to change. Last year, Ovando was chosen as Community of the Year. Past winners in the category of Heritage and Cultural Tourism include Great Falls’ Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in 2018, and River and Plains Society, Fort Benton Museums in 2017.