About Us
Born in Rural Montana.
Built for Every Student & Story.
Our Origin Story
In 2004, a retired Hollywood producer founded MAPS in Ravalli County, a small, rural corner of southwestern Montana. The idea was simple: professional media arts instruction shouldn’t be reserved for big cities or well-funded districts. It belongs in every classroom, every community, every ZIP code in this state. And it should be free. Two decades later, MAPS operates year-round studios in Ravalli County, Lewis & Clark County, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community – and sends its traveling MAPS Media Lab into Tribal Nations and rural communities across Montana.
Mission
Why we exist
We exist to connect young people and communities through story, professional media arts education, and place-based creative work.
Vision
Where we’re going
We envision a world where young people are equipped to navigate change and build lives of meaning, connection, and possibility.
