We're partnering with LMNT to bring two sculptural art installations to Old Salt Festival this June, and we're looking for artists who want to make something meaningful in one of Montana's most iconic landscapes.
The Basics
- What: Two sculptural art installations
- Where: Old Salt Festival, Blackfoot Valley, Montana
- When: June 19–21, 2026 (installations complete by June 17)
- Budget: $10,000 total, split between two selected artists ($3,000–$8,000 each depending on scale)
- Deadline: February 28, 2026, 11:59 PM MST
- Submit to: festival@oldsaltco-op.com
What We're Looking For
Old Salt Festival is a three-day gathering celebrating regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, and community. Four thousand people come together in the Blackfoot Valley to eat, listen to music, and have real conversations about our relationship with the land. We want art that deepens that experience.
Your installation should feel authentic to both our mission and the landscape. We're not prescribing what that looks like—it could be a literal representation of agricultural heritage or an abstract exploration of what it means to see land as kin. The key is creating something that invites people to pause, think, and connect.
Themes Your Art Can Explore
These are starting points, not requirements:
- The working landscape of the Blackfoot Valley
- Regenerative agriculture and soil health
- Water, watershed, and landscape connectivity
- Indigenous land relationships and traditional ecological knowledge
- The intersection of ranching heritage and conservation
- Community and interconnection with place
- Cycles, seasons, and natural processes
- Living systems and biomimicry
Where Your Work Could Live
You can propose an installation for any location within the festival grounds:
Festival Entry Pathway — The 400-yard walk from parking to festival grounds. This is where attendees transition from vehicles to land. It sets the tone.
Check-In Area — The first point of contact where people arrive and get their credentials. We already have large "Land is Kin" letters and a '66 Chevy here for photos.
Land Talk Lounge — A dedicated space for conversations and presentations about land stewardship. Intimate, contemplative.
Culinary Cookfire Zone — Open-fire cooking, food demonstrations, communal meals. Smoke, fire, and gathering energy.
Mainstage Area — The primary performance venue. High visibility, large audience.
Somewhere Else — If you have a vision for a different spot, tell us.
What We Need From You
Design Submission
Concept Statement (500 words max)
Your interpretation of festival themes, how the installation enhances the experience, your rationale for location choice, and why you chose your materials.
Visual Materials
Concept sketches, 3D renderings, models, mockups—whatever shows us what you're envisioning.
Technical Approach
Materials specs, weatherproofing strategy, installation method, de-installation plan, and any special requirements (power, water, etc.).
Timeline
Proposed schedule from selection through de-installation. Installation window is June 14–18.
Budget Proposal
All-in cost covering artist fee, materials, transportation, installation, and de-installation.
Artist Information
- Portfolio with relevant work (especially outdoor or temporary installations)
- Project experience at similar scale
- Your fabrication approach
- Two recent project references
Technical Requirements
Your installation needs to:
- Withstand June mountain weather (rain, wind, full sun) without supervision
- Be temporary and fully removable with no lasting impact to the land
- Be stable and safe for public interaction
- Stay clear of vehicle and emergency access routes
What We Provide
- Site access June 14–18 for installation
- Basic infrastructure support
- Promotion through festival channels
- 2–3 weekend festival tickets per artist
- Camping accommodation on-site
What You Provide
- All design, materials, and fabrication
- Transportation to site
- Installation and de-installation labor
- Your own insurance ($1 million general liability minimum, with Old Salt Co-op named as additional insured)
How We'll Choose
We're evaluating proposals on:
- Alignment with festival mission and themes
- Thoughtful use of natural, regenerative, or locally-sourced materials
- Site selection and integration with your chosen zone
- Artistic merit and originality
- Feasibility and technical soundness
- Experience with similar projects
- Budget reasonableness
- Sensitivity to place and ecological context
Ready?
Send your proposal as a PDF (max 20MB) to festival@oldsaltco-op.com by February 28, 2026, 11:59 PM MST.
Subject line: "Old Salt Festival Art Installation – [Your Name]"
Questions? Email us at the same address.
We're excited to see how you might contribute to this gathering.
