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Photos courtesy of Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery and Greys River Photography
Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery: Enriching the Community Through Art
The Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery (Guild) has been part of the Red Lodge community since 1973, created by residents who wanted to enrich local life through the arts. Those early years were filled with classes, equipment purchases, fundraisers, and a growing effort to help artists share their work. Everything shifted in the early 1980s when the historic Rocky Fork & Cooke City Railway Depot was donated to the Guild. That moment gave the organization a permanent home and helped shape it into the cultural resource it is today.
The Guild entered a new chapter in 2017 when Executive Director Kim Kapalka stepped into her role, bringing experience in art, museums, public programming, education, and nonprofit work. Her background, including time traveling the country with a museum on a train, made the transition a natural fit and helped continue the Guild’s legacy of creative community work.
Today, the Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery offers local and regional artists a space to display and sell their work. Monthly exhibitions, workshops, classes, and gallery talks keep art accessible for all ages. Their Art Education Outreach program, established in 2011, sends instructors to rural schools, to provide students with meaningful exposure to the arts. Major support from the Tippet Rise Fund of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation and other partners has kept the program going year after year. In 2025, the Guild expanded its reach even further by partnering with the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association to develop the Beartooth Artist-in-Residence program, continuing its mission to provide access to the arts and encourage creative experiences throughout the region.
The heart of the organization is rooted in access, expression, and creativity. Whether it’s a visitor stepping into the gallery for the first time or a student discovering a new spark during an art lesson, the goal is the same: help people leave inspired.
Their biggest annual celebration is the Labor Day Arts Fair, a long-running community favorite featuring 80 vendors, live entertainment, food trucks,and art demonstrations. Its reputation continues to grow, earning Best of Montana honors in both 2024 and 2025. The event has been a Red Lodge staple for 46 years and remains a highlight of the region’s creative calendar.
Meaningful moments happen often at the Guild. A recent email from a participant in an art quilt class described the experience as uplifting, inspiring, and far more impactful than expected, even prompting a renewed desire to create art. One story that continues to resonate came from a rural art teacher who shared how a student who had struggled after multiple surgeries found confidence and emotional relief through sculpture. His ribbon at the student art show made a lasting impact.
Collaboration is woven into the Guild’s approach. Over the decades, they’ve partnered with many local organizations and businesses to expand creative opportunities and support community arts. These relationships help the Guild broaden its reach and keep meaningful art experiences accessible throughout the region.
The Guild is currently in the midst of a match campaign, working to raise $25,000 with an anonymous donor matching up to $15,000. This opportunity helps sustain programs, exhibitions, and outreach that keep art alive and the community thriving. For information about exhibitions, events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities, visit carboncountydepotgallery.org.
