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Missoula proclaims June 29 as "Laura Millen Day" to honor 35 years leading Missoula Art Museum
Summary
The City of Missoula and Missoula County issued a joint proclamation recognizing Laura Millen's 35 years as executive director of the Missoula Art Museum and marking June 29, 2025 as Laura Millen Day. Millen and councilors recounted the museum's growth, renovation and partnership with municipal government.
The City of Missoula and the Missoula County Commission on June 23 issued a joint proclamation recognizing Laura Millen's 35 years of leadership at the Missoula Art Museum and declaring June 29, 2025 as "Laura Millen Day." The council read a proclamation that traced the museum's history, including the city's conveyance of the Carnegie Library building to the museum in 1975, later renovations and a partnership that expanded the institution into a leading regional cultural venue.
Millen, present for the proclamation, thanked the city and recounted key milestones: private fundraising and partnerships that supported a $5.3 million renovation and a 50-year lease arrangement with the city, a $1 million city contribution toward development of an Art Park, recent energy-performance upgrades supported by city funds and forthcoming site improvements funded through historic-preservation grants. Millen also described plans for a sculpture by Salish artists Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and Veil Ambrose Smith to be installed in October.
Council and county representatives praised Millen for expanding free admission policies, strengthening regional exhibition programs and nurturing public partnerships with schools, tribal nations and nonprofit groups. The proclamation was read in chambers and councilors and the public applauded Millen's contributions to local arts and cultural life.
