An innovative public philosophy program exploring the role of art in our everyday lives. Featuring a unique blend of live music by local musicians, story, performance, art, and community conversation with guest artists and scholars, this immersive program invites people to experience the transformative power of art and reflect on its relationship to virtue and human flourishing.

FREE. $15 suggested donation. Open to all. 5pm-9pm at the Ming Opera House/Helena Temple. A NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT!!

Cash bar. You can bring your own snacks/food. (We're also working on bringing in a food truck).

WHAT TO ANTICIPATE

ACT 1: Kick up your feet, settle in, and get ready for a one-of-a-kind, interactive, and engaging live performance by local musicians and performance artists. 3 “mash-up” musical sets accompanied by visual imagery, dance, narration, and a mic…with brushstrokes of art, history, and philosophy throughout.

ACT 2: Be swept into a world of ideas with our toga-clad thespians. Is happiness & pleasure where it’s at? Meaning & purpose? Justice & Beauty? Explore artwork and see what glimpses of these look like through local artists’eyes.

ACT 3: Lean back and hear from some of our guest artists about what the arts have to do with good living. Facilitated conversation, inquiry, and audience Q & A.

PROGRAM SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS
-- Philosophy Learning & Teaching Organizaton
-- Doubletree By Hilton Helena Downtown
-- Lot 13 Productions
-- Holter Museum of Art
-- Helena Civic Television
-- Swing Out Helena
-- Cohesion Dance Project
-- REDS

Learn more here and check out the collage of awesome musicians, artists, thespians, and scholars that are part of this project:

-- Project Page: https://merlinccc.org/art-as-transformation-a-public.../

-- Event Calendar Page: https://merlinccc.org/calenda.../art-as-transformation-2026/