Carter County Museum

Educational programming is a central tenant of our mission. In 2022 we held a number of educational events, including the annual Dino Shindig (601), the Junior Scientist Program (290), star parties and dark sky events (60), school tours (152), sewing soirees (26), yoga (28), and vaccine clinics in partnership with Carter County Public Health (82). Virtual programming engaged a total of 14121 people. On site programming served an additional 783 people, and off site programming served a total of 2235 people. For the 10th Annual Dino Shindig we returned to an in-person event and hosted 601 people over a three day period, as well as people for our Dinosaurs and Dark Skies program at Medicine Rocks State Park earlier in the week. Approximately 109271 people were reached through exhibits and programs on-site and virtual education and outreach. Since 2013, the Shindig has served 12868 people. The Shindig earned $12090.39 in program revenue, with expenses of $5231.50. A Recovery Destination Grant from the Montana Office of Tourism covered a total of $12,771 in additional advertising expenses for the event. The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (University of Montana) conducted an event survey for the 10th Annual Shindig, which found that the event generated significant income for the surrounding community and that all respondents want to return to the event in the next 1-5 years. Donor restricted income included the Junior Scientist Program ($932.80). Other program expenses included the Jr. Scientist Program ($850) and membership lectures ($326.14).

Outreach program services in 2022 include both virtual and in-person services. Participation by the Museum Director included involvement in the Museum Association of Montana, Visit Southeast Montana, the Montana Governor's Tourism Advisory Council, the MT Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association, and National Association for Interpretation. The museum director and curator attended the annual Montana Dinosaur Trail Meeting and Dinosaurs & MOR event at Museum of the Rockies (1924). The Montana Learning Center partnered with the museum for the second year of the Clades & Spades Fossil Camp program, which brought in $3800 in revenue, incurred $400 in expenses, and served 19 people over a one week period in August. The Museum received two grants for a total of $10,000 from the Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation and Carter County Community Foundation ($8,000) and Reimagining Rural ($2,000) that will be spent in 2023 on the Ekalaka Community Plan per grant agreements. Advertising and promotional expenses totaled $2786. In 2021, we received a Humanities Montana SHARPS project grant of $9,620 to create a second copy of the "Shots" exhibition and bring it to Montana communities in 2022. These funds were spent in 2022 per the grant application. The "Shots Felt 'Round Montana" Tour reached a total of 23536 people including visitors in Chinook, Miles City, Billings, Lewistown, Great Falls, and Hardin. The associated curriculum was taught to 184 students and 72 people attended the documentary film panel discussions. The exhibit won the Museums Association of Montana 2022 Exhibit of the Year award. Other income included registration for a virtual Rock Art workshop held in partnership with the American Rock Art Research Association (299.48). Additional expenses of 155.52 were incurred for virtual outreach in purchasing Zoom. A total of 17968 people were served through in-person and virtual outreach programming in 2022.

Museum Development - Exhibitions at the Carter County Museum follow the narrative of the landscape through the deep past and its evolving relationship between a diverse group of indigenous and ranching cultures. Our collections were amassed over an 80+ year period and represent 90 million years of history and prehistory of Southeastern Montana and Carter County. Contributions to this program service include the SCOPE volunteer program ($560), Carter County Heritage Orchard ($1555.89), and Feek's Vision fund ($5104). Through participation in the Measurement of Museum Social Impact study, the CCM had an income of $112.01. This program service incurs costs related to display materials, archival and conservation supplies and a volunteer program. Much of the funding comes from donor restricted funds and grants allocated for this purpose, including $113.72 for Field Expeditions. The remaining $237.88 amount of the 2021 SHARPS grant was spent in 2022 per the grant guidelines along with $132.61 in additional expenses for a total of $370.49. Donor restricted funds went toward the Feek's Vision Documentary Project ($4518) and display costs ($2254.32). Lab equipment expenses totaled $327.40, Shifting Scenes history project $104.55, Archival $1793.11, $768 professional development for museum staff and volunteers, $558.58 for information tech, and $5664.15 in office expenses, and $40 for the 3D printer project.

Endowment Fund Payment of Income In 2020, the Carter County Geological Society elected to open a Qualified Endowment Fund with the Montana Community Foundation. Each calendar year, a percentage of gains in the fund are paid out to the museum. In 2022, that revenue was 8,353.12 (reflected in investment income). In 2023, that revenue will be 13465.54. We also contributed 2032.55 to the account (reflected in the endowment).