Western Montana College

Now (checked 2026)

Status
Merged / renamed

Now known as
University of Montana Western (Department of Fine Arts)

What happened
Renamed/absorbed into the Montana University System. The archived faculty record (Barney Brienza, 1971-present) is now historical: Brienza, who under his own initiative introduced and built the jewelry, stained glass, glass blowing, and artist-blacksmithing offerings (building many tools himself), retired around 2006-2007 after ~35-36 years. A retrospective exhibit honored his retirement at the Montana Western Art Gallery/Museum. After his departure the metals/jewelry teaching was not carried forward as a named program; the art unit consolidated as the Department of Fine Arts, with glass (Ruth King) emerging as the flagship studio specialty and broader Visual Arts BA/AA degrees. Since ~2014 the program has continued under this Fine Arts structure with no metals/jewelry degree.

Link
www.umwestern.edu/department/fine-arts/