Yellowstone Art Museum
Billings, MT
The Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) in downtown Billings, Montana, focuses on the contemporary, avant-garde work of artists from the Northern Plains and Northern Rocky Mountains. Its current collection holds over 8,500 works of modern and historical art and archival items, and the museum hosts special workshops like FAM at the YAM, in which families gather on the first Friday of the month to make art with a professional artist.
The basics
The Yellowstone Art Museum is housed in the former Yellowstone County Jail. Head behind the museum to the Visible Vault to see where the YAM houses its permanent collection while not on exhibit. Also be sure to visit the Young Artists Gallery, where the work of local students from pre-kindergarten through high school is displayed on a rotating basis. Museum tours, and tours with an artmaking lesson, are available for groups.
The YAM’s annual fundraiser, the Yellowstone Art Auction, opens every February, and the gala and live auction follow in early March. In June, the museum hosts its annual SummerFest Arts & Crafts Festival, where artists show their work for sale, and visitors can participate in art-making activities.
Things to know before you go
- Admission is free.
- The on-site Raven’s Café d’Art offers sandwiches, salads, and vegetarian fare.
- The museum has a gift shop selling items such as art kits for kids, jewelry, and the work of local artists.
- The building is fully accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs are available at the admissions desk.
How to get there
The Yellowstone Art Museum is located in downtown Billings on North 27th Street at 4th Avenue North. Free visitor parking is available on the east side of the building, accessed via North 27th Street or North 26th Street. Parking for wheelchair-accessible and oversized vehicles like vans and RVs is available. No overnight parking is allowed. Bus stops for the Billings MET transit lines 1, 3, 5, and 16 are within a few blocks of the museum.
When to get there
The YAM is open every day except Monday. Weekends are the busiest time, so if you prefer a less crowded experience, your best bet is to visit on a weekday morning. Extended evening hours are offered on Thursdays; the museum also stays open later the first Friday of the month—a popular event when children's programming is available too, making it especially fun for families.
Other ways to experience art in Billings
If you can't get enough art after your visit to the YAM, Billings has many galleries where you can purchase art to take home, such as stained-glass pieces from Kennedy's Stained Glass and oil paintings from Harry Koyama Fine Art. Catch a performance at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts, or make your own art at the Crooked Line Studio.
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