The Zootown Arts Community Center, known throughout Missoula simply as the ZACC, is one of the city’s most joyful, inclusive, and community powered cultural spaces. Located in the heart of downtown, the ZACC offers art classes, youth camps, gallery exhibitions, live music, all abilities programming, and evening events that bring people together to make art, see art, and connect through creativity.

Part classroom, part performance space, and part community living room, the ZACC is designed to welcome beginners, hobbyists, working artists, families, and anyone who wants to experience the arts in a supportive, affordable, and energizing environment.

A Community Art Home

The ZACC’s mission centers on accessibility and inclusion. Its founders believed that art should be available to everyone, not just those with formal training or the ability to pay for structured classes. Today, the ZACC continues that mission through scholarships, youth programming, community partnerships, and easy entry points like drop in studios, one night workshops, and all abilities arts classes.

Visitors can explore gallery exhibitions, attend concerts in the Show Room, take a class, or simply enjoy the creative energy of the space. The ZACC is intentionally designed to feel warm and welcoming, more like a community gathering place than a traditional arts institution.

Adult Classes: Creative Nights Out

Adult programming at the ZACC is built around exploration, connection, and hands on art making. Workshops are social, beginner friendly, and accessible, with offerings in painting, ceramics, glass, printmaking, fiber arts, mixed media, and more. Many classes are one night “make and take” experiences that are perfect for date nights, friend outings, or anyone who wants to try something new without committing to a long series.

For participants hoping for deeper practice, the ZACC offers multi week courses and recurring workshops where students can focus on technique, explore different styles, and connect with a community of makers. These classes are known for being relaxed, supportive, and genuinely fun, making them ideal for adults who have not taken an art class since school.

Youth Classes, Afterschool Programs, and Camps

The ZACC is also a major hub for youth arts engagement in Missoula. Children and teens can participate in afterschool programs, homeschool art sessions, one day workshops, and a robust lineup of summer camps. Kids explore drawing, painting, sculpture, theatre, music, multimedia projects, and themed camp experiences that blend storytelling, movement, and visual art.

Youth programs are structured but playful, emphasizing experimentation, confidence building, and creative problem solving. Many families rely on the ZACC as a consistent, inspiring outlet for kids who love art, performance, and hands on learning.

Art, Performance, and Community in One Place

Alongside classes and camps, the ZACC hosts a full calendar of concerts, community performances, readings, and special events in the Show Room. Local artists exhibit their work in the galleries, emerging musicians take the stage for live shows, and community groups use the space to gather, celebrate, and collaborate.

This blend of education, performance, and creative expression makes the ZACC a central part of Missoula’s downtown arts identity. It supports working artists, offers kids and adults a place to create, and gives community choirs and youth ensembles a welcoming venue to perform.

Upcoming Holiday Events at the ZACC

This December, the ZACC will host two free concerts that highlight its commitment to inclusivity and community centered arts.

MPower Voices Holiday Choir Concert (All Ages)

Thursday, December 18
Doors at 6:30 PM // Show at 7:00 PM
Zootown Arts Community Center
216 W. Main St., Missoula, MT 59802

MPower Voices, an all abilities adult choir, will perform joyful holiday selections in an uplifting seasonal celebration. The concert is free and open to all, offering a warm and inclusive evening of music and community.

Holiday Groove with the Missoula All City Jazz Program

Monday, December 15
Doors at 7:30 PM // Show at 8:00 PM
Zootown Arts Community Center
216 W. Main St., Missoula, MT 59802

Middle and high school musicians from the All City Jazz Program will take the stage for their first concert of the 2025 to 26 year, joined by members of the University of Montana Jazz Program. They will perform a lively mix of classic and contemporary jazz standards in a free, all ages show.

An Accessible Creative Ecosystem

Across its classes, performances, exhibitions, and community partnerships, the ZACC creates a space where people can explore creativity, celebrate art, and connect with others. Its emphasis on affordability, access, and inclusion ensures that anyone who wants to participate in the arts can find a way in, whether through a one night workshop, a youth camp, a choir performance, or a free concert.

The Zootown Arts Community Center is not just an arts organization. It is a creative ecosystem, a gathering space, a teaching hub, a performance venue, and an essential piece of Missoula’s cultural landscape.

To learn more about classes, events, exhibitions, and opportunities to get involved, visit:
👉 https://www.zootownarts.org/