Tatiana Gant is the new executive director of the Montana Arts Council.

For the last four years, Gant has served as the executive director for the Illinois Arts Council.

Gant is a trained visual artist and for several years, maintained a studio practice. Her artistry includes ceramics, drawing, metals, printmaking, painting, photography, and sculpture. She also founded a community clay studio, and supported the management of a not-for-profit multi-arts community based organization.

Gant earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, and a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  She served on numerous arts leadership committees including the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Nominating Committee and Arts Education Working Group, the Illinois Arts Learning Standards Leadership Committee, and the Chicago Art Learning Initiative Advisory Committee. She served as project director on the National Endowment for the Arts Education Leaders Institute, as well as a review panelist for the NEA, Louisiana Arts Council, and Iowa Arts Council.

Gant will take the helm from Cinda Holt and Kristin Han Burgoyne who served as interim co-directors since the retirement of Arlynn Fishbaugh, who led the agency for 24 years.