Nature Songwriting Workshop: an evening of sharing and learning
Monday, April 14 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $5-$20 Sliding Scale Nature is an endless source of inspiration and reflection. For musicians and creative writers, experiences in nature can improve their art, while the act of creating can bring us closer to ourselves and our environment. Musicians and creative writers are encouraged to join Matthew-Jack for a one-off ‘meeting of minds’ on the topic of nature songwriting. All levels of skill and experience are welcome. We will workshop ideas together and perform at the end, so bring your songs and instruments! Our facilitator, Matthew-Jack, is an environmental philosopher and folk musician from the UK. Join us for a fun night of sharing and learning, alongside semi-structured discussion on the philosophies of nature and songwriting. Feel free to come along for the ride, even if you don’t feel like sharing your work.
Art Ball
Tuesday, April 22 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $20 // $15 Student The University of Montana’s Artist Collective is thrilled to announce the return of Art Ball! This year, the event is even more special as it falls on Earth Day, making it a celebration of both art and the planet. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with live music, a silent art auction, and our local community of artists and art supporters. It will be a great opportunity to appreciate creativity and the impact that art has on our world. Let’s get together and enjoy a night of creativity, connection, and celebration of all things art!
Americans With No Address Film Screening
Wednesday, March 25 // Door at 6 PM // Show at 6:30 PM // Free and Open to the Public! The Housing Advocate Network (HAN) invites you to an evening of conversation, storytelling, and learning about what everyday people can do to impact houselessness in Missoula. The event will feature locally produced short films that highlight the experiences of HAN participants and volunteers navigating housing challenges. It will also include an update from local leaders on Missoula’s recently completed housing strategy and practical ways for everyday citizens to get involved. The evening will conclude with a special screening of “Americans With No Address”, a powerful documentary exploring the systemic causes, lived experiences, and solutions to houselessness across the U.S.
Creatives Cocktail Hour & Open Mic
Wednesday, December 18 // Cocktail Hour 7-8PM // Open Mic from 8-9:30PM // $10 Happy Holidays to all Community Creatives! Come celebrate the season with other Missoula artists at a cocktail hour* and open mic hosted by Revival Comedy! The open mic is open to comedians as well as other mediums, so bring your acoustic guitar or latest poem and sign up for a slot. *the ZACC is restricted from selling spirits, but beer, wine, cider, seltzer and nonalcoholics will be available for purchase
Food Fighter!
Saturday, November 2 // $20 Entry Fee // Register in Advance Online, or at the Door // Doors Open at 11 AM // Tournament Begins at 12 PM (Noon) Gather around to throw down for a good cause! That’s right, Iris Von Moxxii and friends will be filling the ZACC with Playstations and PCs to engage in virtual combat in the world of Street Fighter 6 on November 2nd, competing for a beautiful and prestigious championship belt handcrafted by Montana Drag Wrestling belt maker Wilder Creations (@wildercreationsmt) in a traditional double elimination tournament bracket. There will be camaraderie, chaos, and a raffle curated with goods from many of Missoula’s finest local establishments with proceeds being split between the ZACC and the Missoula Food Bank. Tournament participation is not required for the raffle, so come on down and watch Missoula’s finest duke it out for pride, leather, and the benefit of two of Missoula’s finest nonprofits. Getting your ticket now will insure your spot in the tournament and some tickets for the raffle, so grab your controller of choice and get ready for the next battle! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Cowboy Andy & The Salamanders at the 10th Annual Missoula Monster Project!
Friday, October 4 // 5-7 PM (Gallery Opening from 5-8 PM) // Free & Open to All Head over to the ZACC at 216 W Main St on Friday, October 4, anytime between 5-8 PM for the 2024 Missoula Monster Project Gallery Opening! The ZACC bar will be open and folks will be able to purchase beverages for their enjoyment during the event. Monsters will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis – so arrive early to snag your favorite! The 10th Annual Missoula Monster Project Opening will also feature Cowboy Andy & The Salamanders from 5 to 7 PM in the ZACC Show Room – totally free and open to all ages! Bring your kids, check out all the monsters, and rock out with Cowboy Andy & the Salamanders! There will also be MONSTER CAKE. Did we mention this is all FREE?! To learn more about the Missoula Monster Project, visit: https://www.zootownarts.org/shows-events/annual-events/missoula-monster-project.html For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Singing for the Snowbird Fund
Wednesday, October 2 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // Free & Open to All // Donations to the Snowbird Fund Appreciated Join the Missoula Community and Hellgate High School students on October 2nd for a fundraising event: Singing for the Snowbird Fund! This student-led event is an open-mic style show, with performances from Hellgate High school students, U of M students, and Missoula community members. Admission for the event is completely free, however we are requesting donations for The Snowbird Fund – a Montana foundation that directly supports community searches for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Come enjoy a night of upbeat music for a good cause! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Disability Roots, Featuring Tom Olin
Wednesday, September 18 // Doors open at 5 PM // Event begins at 5:30 PM // Free Admission, All Are Welcome Join us for an evening with Tom Olin and his disability rights movement photographs. Tom is a world renown Photographer whose disability photographs have been displayed in the Smithsonian and the National Civil Rights Museum, and who has a PBS documentary to release next year. He’ll speak about the photographs, what was happening in them, and offer highlights of the disability rights movement along with Marsha Katz, ADAPT member and local disability rights historian. Explore the power of Disability with us. Free admission and light snacks. Cash bar available. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Stories of Home
Tuesday, September 17 // Doors open at 6 PM // Interactive Storytelling Session at 6:30 PM // Free Admission, All Are Welcome // Light Refreshments Join Soft Landing Missoula for an inspiring evening as refugees and immigrants in the Missoula community share what home means to them! For the fourth consecutive year, Soft Landing Missoula’s Stories of Home project invites us to explore the diverse and nuanced meanings of home. We delve into the homes left behind and the new ones forged; the homes we aspire to build and those that live on in our memories; the homes found in physical spaces and those discovered in the embrace of community. The highlight of our gathering will be a moderated panel session with project participants. This intimate dialogue, combined with powerful visual and written narratives, aims to amplify the voices of our new neighbors and illuminate the universal experiences that connect us all – regardless of where we call home. “What does home mean to you?” This simple question can spark a profound journey of reflection, especially for those who have experienced displacement or migration. Here in Missoula, the refugee and immigrant neighbors bring rich tapestries of experiences that redefine the concept of home. Join us for an immersive evening featuring a collection of multimedia narratives. Through a blend of photography and heartfelt written accounts, we’ll share the stories of individuals who have made Missoula their new home after journeying as refugees and immigrants. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Less Talk, More Rock / ALL MUSIC TRIVIA
Thursday, August 15 // Door at 7 PM // Trivia Begins at 7:30 PM // $10 Entry (Cash Prizes!) // 8 Per Team Max So this is how it began: We went to a Trivia Night, it was totally rad, and then we thought… What if there was a trivia night of ONLY MUSIC ROUNDS? Wouldn’t that be fun? Join us for what promises to be an electrifying evening of flexing that insane storehouse of musical knowledge of yours, hitherto known as useless, at the inaugural Less Talk More Rock Music Trivia, proudly presented by Marketplace Events and the ZACC! This will not be your average trivia night—it’ll be funny, fun, probably a bit challenging, and most definitely a great hang. That might sound like your average trivia night, but again, this one is all music. Top-scoring teams will win cash prizes, we’ll have some killer stuff from local businesses you might win and we might even get some trophies made. So gather your dream team of music-loving friends and prepare to test your knowledge across 10 themed rounds covering everything from iconic 80s tunes, obscure 70s deep cuts, artists Prince had beef with, bands that played the Warped Tour at least three times to current pop earworms like that one you thought was Mariah Carey but she hasn’t put out a record in six years. Teams are limited to 8 members. Seating and tables are limited and first-come first-served (there will be enough for all, though) – but might not be totally necessary as you’ll probably end up dancing the whole time anyway. For more info, email lesstalkmorerockmusictrivia@gmail.com For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
