The Montana Circle of American Masters is a celebration of our state’s cultural heritage and the incredible artists that keep our traditions alive. Honorees are not just masters of their craft; they are committed to teaching and sharing their artform in their own communities and beyond. So far 53 artists have been inducted into MCAM. These are artists are as unique as the Montana communities they call home, and include leatherworkers, beaders, quilters, instrument makers, woodworkers, blacksmiths, basket makers, and flyrod builders (to name a few).
For 2024-2025, the Montana Arts Council welcomes seven new artists into this illustrious group: Jeffrey Funk, Joanne Hall, Henry Real Bird, Tim Ryan, Ramey Growing Thunder, Mike Ryan, and Olivia “Rose” Williamson.
| Name | Community | Artistic Discipline | Date of Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread, Jackie Larson | Great Falls | Beadwork | 3/24/2008 |
| Caffrey, Ed | Great Falls | Metal | 3/24/2008 |
| Charlson, Rich | Carter | Wood | 3/24/2008 |
| Good Strike, Al Chandler | Hays | Leather | 3/24/2008 |
| Clemans, Jessie | Polson | Fiber | 6/9/2008 |
| Ericksen, Judy | Great Falls | Ceramics / Clay | 6/9/2008 |
| Overby, Sylvia | Plentywood | Textiles / Quilting | 6/9/2008 |
| Big Day, Mary Lou | Pryor | Dollmaking | 10/27/2008 |
| Goldthwait, Glen | Sheridan | Metal / Blacksmithing | 10/27/2008 |
| Holt, George | Dillon | Leather | 10/27/2008 |
| Snyder, Elaine | Kalispell | Leather | 10/27/2008 |
| Glick, Randy | Great Falls | Fiber/Felt | 6/22/2009 |
| Jensen, James | Kalispell | Wood/Carving | 6/22/2009 |
| Knudsen, Maude | Fort Shaw | Fiber/Weaving | 6/22/2009 |
| Miller, Wade | Ennis | Leather / Saddlery | 6/22/2009 |
| Popa, Jan | Great Falls | Textiles / Quilting | 6/22/2009 |
| Boyd, Eva | Ronan | Basketry | 1/22/2010 |
| Fast Buffalo Horse, Leonda | Browning | Quillwork | 1/22/2010 |
| Gano, Laurie | Melville | Tapestry | 1/22/2010 |
| Mundt, Randy | Belt | Metal / Blacksmithing | 1/22/2010 |
| Stefely, Steve | Helena | Leather / Saddlery | 1/22/2010 |
| Wald, Nate | Lodge Grass | Rawhide Braiding | 1/22/2010 |
| Norman, Darrell | Browning | Mixed Media | 6/11/2010 |
| Tinsky, Mark | Wolf Creek | Wood / Pipemaking | 6/11/2010 |
| Allison, Bill | Roundup | Leather / Saddlery | 10/1/2010 |
| Archambault, Sr. Donovan | Harlem | Wood / Pipemaking | 10/1/2010 |
| Beattie, Melvin | Helena | Tanning | 10/1/2010 |
| Essen, Deb | Victor | Fiber / Weaving | 10/1/2010 |
| Linder, Annette Archdale | Wolf Point | Textiles / Quilting | 10/1/2010 |
| Dean, Tom | Great Falls | Wood | 12/3/2011 |
| Houston, Cody | Ulm | Metal Sculpture / Bronze | 12/3/2011 |
| Light, Ken | Arlee | Wood / Traditional Flutes | 12/3/2011 |
| Scalese, Diane | Big Sandy | Hand-Engraving | 12/3/2011 |
| McMullen, Gordon | Bozeman | Wood / Turning | 6/1/2012 |
| Brackett, Glenn | Butte | Bamboo Flyrod Creation | 12/10/2012 |
| Knight, Howard | Stevensville | Leather | 12/10/2012 |
| Old Mouse, Jay D | Lame Deer | Wood / Traditional Flutes | 12/10/2012 |
| Real Bird, Birdie | Garryowen | Beadwork | 12/10/2012 |
| Rempp, Jim | Missoula | Bowmaking | 12/10/2012 |
| Enloe, Scott | Great Falls | Wood / Canoe Building | 6/8/2013 |
| Yirsa, Brenda | Big Sandy | Textiles / Quilting | 6/8/2013 |
| Dunkerley, Rick | Lincoln | Metal | 12/6/2013 |
| Stevens, Marilyn | Trego | Basketry | 12/6/2013 |
| Pilgrim, Sarah | Wilsall | Fiber/Weaving | 12/6/2014 |
| Polk, Beverly (Bev.) | Wilsall | Fiber/Weaving | 12/5/2015 |
| Roberts, Daniel E. | Belgrade | Luthier | 6/4/2016 |
| Brogger, Marc | Three Forks | Saddle Maker | 5/5/2023 |
| Gilmore, Glenn | Corvallis | Blacksmith | 5/5/2023 |
| Hill, Terry | Great Falls | Segmented Woodturner | 5/5/2023 |
| Funk, Jeffrey | Bigfork | Blacksmith | 5/5/2025 |
| Growing Thunder, Ramey | Poplar | Bead Artist and Star Quilter | 5/5/2025 |
| Hall, Joanne | Clancy | Weaver | 5/5/2025 |
| Real Bird, Henry | Garryowen | Cowboy Poet | 5/5/2025 |
| Ryan, Mike | Helena | Bootmaker | 5/5/2025 |
| Ryan, Tim | POlson | Traditional Lifeway and Indigenous Tools | 5/5/2025 |
| Williamson, Olivia "Rose" | Crow Agency | Bead Artist and Fashion Designer | 5/5/2025 |