"The sky's the limit if you have a roof over your head." - Sol Hurok
There is something that keeps our leadership awake at night and it is not the daily business of running a museum. It is the wild Montana weather on an aging roof, and the knowledge that without expedient action, every artwork in our care, every program we offer, and every inspiring moment we create for our community may be at risk.
The Situation: What Is At Stake?
Our building, originally built in 1896, has served Helena and the surrounding region for decades, housing rotating exhibitions, a permanent collection, educational programming, and countless community events. But aging infrastructure does not announce itself gracefully. Prior to December 14th, we had planned to spend a year and a half developing and implementing a capital campaign for our roof and two of our exterior walls. But since then, we have documented accelerating deterioration in the roof structure:
- compromised flashing exposing 30% of our original stone parapets
- failing membrane sections, especially on the western side, and
- evidence of moisture infiltration that, left unaddressed, threatens the very spaces where art lives.
The art we hold in trust is irreplaceable. A single leak event during a Montana blizzard could cause permanent damage to works that belong not just to us, but to the entire history of this region. Artwork, once damaged by water, is rarely fully restored. Exhibitions on loan could be endangered. The trust of artists and lending institutions, painstakingly built over decades, could be shaken.
Beyond the collection, our staff, our visitors, and the children who come through our doors for educational programs deserve a safe, sound building. A roof failure mid-winter does not just threaten art, it threatens our ability to open our doors at all.
Protecting Our Roof Means Protecting Our Mission
The Holter’s mission is to connect people to art, to each other, and to the world beyond Helena’s borders. We do that every day through exhibitions that challenge and inspire, education programs that reach thousands of students across our region, and events that make art accessible to everyone, regardless of background or income.
Every one of our programs depends on a building that is safe, welcoming, and watertight. A sound roof is not a luxury, nor is it merely a maintenance item to be deferred. It is the physical foundation beneath every one of our core values: stewardship of the art in our care, accessibility for our community, and the long-term sustainability of the Holter.
Why Now?
We need to raise $350,000 in less than six months. We have set an ambitious but necessary goal to complete the roof replacement before Thanksgiving. Construction windows in Montana are unforgiving. Every week of delay increases the risk of an emergency repair under difficult conditions. We must begin this work now.
Your gift creates the momentum that draws others forward. We also want you to know that we are being aggressive in seeking funding from multiple sources- grants, business sponsorship support, and we already have $70,000 in insurance claim funds in savings.
Whatever you are able to give, please know that every dollar goes directly to this critical infrastructure need, that 100% of campaign funds will be directed to roof replacement, and that your contribution will be recognized in permanent campaign donor recognition in the museum. IN addition, if we should happen to raise more capital funding for this roof project than it costs (we are dreaming optimistically!), leftover money from this campaign will be placed in a special deferred maintenance fund to be used for future maintenance and facilities needs.
Today, we ask you to stand with us one more time - not for a new program or a new exhibit, but for the very walls and roof that make all of it possible.
