Idaho Commission on the Arts

06/12/2026

“The Idaho Cowgirl Congress is a program that happens every four years as part of the Idaho Commission on the Arts. The last one was at the art museum in Idaho Falls,” said Morgan Buckert, a Texas ranch girl who creates artistic but functional cowboy boots out of her studio in Hailey. “This our third official gathering. And, when we started working on this a couple years ago, we approached the Sun Valley Museum of Art to partner with us, knowing it was going to be America 250.” Sun Valley Museum of Art

Anna Severe started creating doing leatherwork she was 13 and now makes leather chinks and saddles. .... READ MORE

06/12/2026

A one-day makers’ exhibition that typically closes out the Cowgirl Congress has been expanded to five days and will be on view at the Sun Valley Museum of Art from June 17 to 21. The exhibition will include the work of 23 of the 25 women invited to attend the congress and showcase the range of disciplines they work in, from saddlemaking to silversmithing to boot and hat making, as well as painting and weaving. Admission to the museum is free.

A dozen years ago, Idaho State Folklorist Steven Hatcher set about bringing together the state’s saddlemakers.

06/09/2026

The Blackfoot Ranch Rodeo and Indian Relay Races is so much more than a rodeo!

As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we're partnering with to help tell the story of the people, traditions, and skills that continue to shape ranching culture today. From working cowboys and cowgirls to the artists and makers behind the gear they use every day, this event offers a rare opportunity to experience living traditions up close.

Join us June 25–27 at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds and discover the culture, craftsmanship, and community that have shaped the American West for generations.

05/07/2026

The history of cowboy boot making in the U.S. has been lost to time, but some women are still crafting the iconic Western gear. For this episode of Expressive Idaho, we go back to a 2022 gathering of artisans called the "Cowgirl Congress."

The Idaho Commission on the Arts and traditional artists will hold a Cowgirl Congress in June in Ketchum as part of an America 250 celebration. This episode of Expressive Idaho, produced by Arts Idaho, in collaboration with Arlie Sommer, Lauren Paterson and Boise State Public Radio, features interviews with boot makers Sorrell Custom Boots, Teichert Custom Boots, and Morgan R. Buckert.

04/21/2026

Big news!!

Please join us in celebrating Cary Schwarz of Salmon, Idaho, named a 2026 NEA National Heritage Fellow, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

An acclaimed saddlemaker and leather artist, Cary has spent nearly five decades preserving and advancing the traditional ranching arts of the American West. His custom saddles are known for their strength, balance, and unmistakable artistry. Each one is a reflection of deep skill, discipline, and respect for tradition.

Through mentorship, teaching, and leadership in the field, Cary continues to shape the next generation of makers and keep these traditions alive.

We’re proud to celebrate this incredible recognition of an Idaho artist whose work carries history forward.

👏 Congratulations, Cary!

04/20/2026

Cheer on Monroe as he prepares to head to the national finals of Poetry Out Loud in Washington DC next week!

Congratulations to 2026 Idaho Poetry Out Loud Champion Monroe Williams!

Monroe will join the other state & jurisdictional champions in Washington, DC, later this month for the National Semifinals on April 28! 9 finalists will then advance to the Finals on April 29, where they will compete for the title of national champion and a grand prize of $20,000.

More details available at arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud

04/03/2026

We’re hiring! 🎉

The Idaho Commission on the Arts is looking for a Communications Specialist to help tell the stories of Idaho’s artists, communities, and creative impact.

If you love:
✨ storytelling + content creation
✨ connecting with communities across Idaho
✨ strategy and creativity
✨ making meaningful work visible

…this might be your spot.

You’ll lead communications, shape our voice, and help bring arts and culture to more Idahoans.

📍 Boise-based
💻 State position + excellent benefits
📅 Applications open until April 19 (or until filled)

👉 Apply now: arts.idaho.gov/opportunities/

Know someone perfect? Tag them! 👇

03/30/2026

🎨 Calling Idaho artists!

The Idaho Conservation League is looking for its next Artist in Residence. Founded in 1973, ICL protects the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the lands and wildlife you love. For more than a decade, ICL has collaborated with one Idaho artist annually to explore the intersection of environmental advocacy and art through ICL’s Artist in Residence Program!

Whether you’re an emerging artist or an established name, ICL invites you to apply and help celebrate wild Idaho with us!.

🗓 Application close has been extended to April 3, 2026
To learn more and apply go to idahoconservation.org/artist-in-residence

03/27/2026

Big congratulations to Idaho’s 2026 Poetry Out Loud State Champion, Monroe Williams of Mountain Home High School! 🎉

After a powerful performance at the state finals in Garden City, Monroe is headed to Washington, D.C. to represent Idaho at the national semifinals this April.

This year, more than 1,200 Idaho students from across the state took part in Poetry Out Loud — celebrating poetry through memorization, performance, and voice.

We’re so proud of all our finalists and can’t wait to cheer Monroe on at nationals! 👏

03/25/2026

⏰ Final call, young artists—deadline approaching!

The Bookmark Design Challenge closes on March 31 at 5:00 p.m. ET. K–8 students are invited to submit a hand-drawn bookmark showing what America means to them as we celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

🏆 Prizes: 3 winning designs featured + winners invited to an event at the Great American State Fair
👉 Apply now: arts.gov/Bookmarks

Don’t miss your chance to share your creativity—get your designs in before time runs out!