Wyoming Arts Council

Wyoming Arts Council Helping Wyoming communities grow, connect and thrive through the arts. When creative activity is happening in Wyoming, it creates a significant ripple effect.

The economic vitality of an area is stimulated. Galleries, concerts and arts events mean more energy in a community, more tourists, more renovated buildings, and more new businesses. Through music, storytelling and visual art gatherings, people share experiences and ideas. They begin to understand each other in new ways. The arts have a profound effect on Wyoming communities and our state as a who

le. WY arts orgs and artists -- please feel free to post your own arts-related status updates on our page.

Meet the artists of the Wyoming Folklife Festival.Today's featured artist:David Osmundsen, of Buffalo, is a blacksmith. ...
06/23/2026

Meet the artists of the Wyoming Folklife Festival.

Today's featured artist:

David Osmundsen, of Buffalo, is a blacksmith. David operates the Arrowhead Forge School of Blacksmithing, and regularly demonstrates traditional blacksmithing at events across Wyoming.

Many of the artists you'll meet on July 4 are mentors and apprentices connected through the Wyoming Arts Council's Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant, which supports the passing of traditional knowledge and skills from one generation to the next through hands-on learning.

See this tradition demonstrated in person at the Wyoming Folklife Festival.

📅 July 4, 2026
🕛 Noon–4 p.m.
📍 South Lawn of the Barrett Building (Wyoming State Museum), Cheyenne

The festival is free and open to the public and is part of Cheyenne's Capital City Celebration commemorating America's 250th anniversary.

Learn more: wyoarts.state.wy.us/programs/wyoming-folklife-festival/

{2026 WYO ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST} Artist Feature: Dave Munsick | Trophy BuckleDave Munsick is a multi-talented western music...
06/23/2026

{2026 WYO ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST} Artist Feature: Dave Munsick | Trophy Buckle

Dave Munsick is a multi-talented western musician and storyteller who combines music and storytelling to share the people, places, and experiences that have shaped his life. A former New Mexico State Champion Fiddler, Munsick has performed alongside artists including Ian Tyson, Chris LeDoux, and Lyle Lovett. His work continues to celebrate the traditions, humor, and spirit of the American West through both story and song.

…

The creative talent of the Cowboy State provides the perfect soundtrack for any adventure across Wyoming’s beautiful landscape. The Wyoming Road Trip Playlist is an annual Spotify release featuring a collection of songs by Wyoming musicians and podcast episodes created by Wyoming creatives.

You can find the Road Trip Playlist on Spotify by searching “2026 Wyoming Road Trip Playlist” or using the link in our bio.

Meet the artists of the Wyoming Folklife Festival.Many of the artists you'll meet on July 4 are mentors and apprentices ...
06/22/2026

Meet the artists of the Wyoming Folklife Festival.

Many of the artists you'll meet on July 4 are mentors and apprentices connected through the Wyoming Arts Council's Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant, which supports the passing of traditional knowledge and skills from one generation to the next through hands-on learning.

Today's featured artists:

Alyssa Martinez and Idalis Higginbottom are members of the Mosaico Folklorico dance group in Cheyenne. They will be demonstrating making Trenzas and Tocados, braided hairpieces with ribbons used for folklórico dances.

See this tradition demonstrated in person at the Wyoming Folklife Festival.

📅 July 4, 2026
🕛 Noon–4 p.m.
📍 South Lawn of the Barrett Building (Wyoming State Museum), Cheyenne

The festival is free and open to the public and is part of Cheyenne's Capital City Celebration commemorating America's 250th anniversary.

Learn more: wyoarts.state.wy.us/programs/wyoming-folklife-festival/

🎉 More than $1 million is heading to communities across Wyoming to support the arts.The Wyoming Arts Council has awarded...
06/22/2026

🎉 More than $1 million is heading to communities across Wyoming to support the arts.

The Wyoming Arts Council has awarded $1,001,534 in Community Support Grant funding to 124 organizations for arts programs and projects taking place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.

As the Wyoming Arts Council's largest grant program, Community Support Grants provide operating, project, and arts learning support to organizations that strengthen their communities through the arts. This year's funding will support museums, community theaters, festivals, music organizations, arts education programs, and cultural institutions serving communities across the state.

Among the funded projects are Wyoming Humanities' Meadowlark Post reading initiative, Bodylines Dance Theatre's Ruby's BDT Adaptive Dance & Movement program, and the Weston County Arts Council's upcoming production of Western Nutcracker.

Applications were reviewed by a panel of arts professionals and community leaders from Wyoming and across the region before receiving final approval from the Wyoming Arts Council Board.

🔗 View the complete list of grant recipients: wyoarts.state.wy.us/grants/community-support-grant

📸: Pianist and composer Jiwon Han, left, and cellist Zlatomir Fung perform during the University of Wyoming Department of Music's 2026 Cello Festival. The Department of Music is among the organizations receiving Community Support Grant funding from the Wyoming Arts Council this year.

For thousands of years, people have transformed natural materials into useful and beautiful works of art.Join artist Mar...
06/22/2026

For thousands of years, people have transformed natural materials into useful and beautiful works of art.

Join artist Marge McCrae at Sinks Canyon State Park for Basketry and Weaving in Nature, a hands-on workshop exploring the timeless art of basketry through creativity, craftsmanship, and connection to place.

Participants will learn basic weaving techniques, discover how artists safely and responsibly gather natural materials, and create their own woven projects to take home. Instruction is tailored for a variety of ages and skill levels, making this a welcoming experience for beginners and experienced makers alike.

All supplies will be provided.

📅 Friday, June 26, 2026
⏰ 2–4 p.m.

📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
⏰ 2–4 p.m.

📍 Sinks Canyon State Park

Suitable for ages 6 and up.

…

As part of Wyoming’s America 250 celebration, artists are spending time in state parks and historic sites across Wyoming creating new work inspired by the people, places, and stories that shape our state. Through their residencies, artists explore the themes of honoring our past, examining our present, and imagining our future.

Learn more about the Wyoming State Parks Artist in Residence Program using the link in our bio or at wyoarts.state.wy.us/wyoming-state-parks-artist-in-residence.

🎬 Independent filmmakers from across the Rocky Mountain West are invited to submit their work to the Yellowstone Film Fe...
06/20/2026

🎬 Independent filmmakers from across the Rocky Mountain West are invited to submit their work to the Yellowstone Film Festival, taking place August 21–23, 2026, in Cody.

Presented by Big Horn Cinemas, the festival will showcase narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and student films while providing a platform for regional storytellers to connect with audiences and celebrate filmmaking in the American West.

📍 Cody, Wyoming
📅 August 21–23, 2026

The festival is currently accepting submissions in several local categories:

• Local Narrative Feature
• Local Documentary
• Local Shorts
• Local College & High School Student Shorts (under 10 minutes)

While submissions are welcome from across the United States, special emphasis is being placed on filmmakers from Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

🎥 Learn more about the festival and submission opportunities through the Yellowstone Film Festival website and FilmFreeway.

🎨 Calling artists! The Aspen Institute's Leadership Seminars program is seeking submissions for its 2026 Canvas of Leade...
06/19/2026

🎨 Calling artists! The Aspen Institute's Leadership Seminars program is seeking submissions for its 2026 Canvas of Leadership Cover Art Contest, inviting artists to explore themes of leadership, dialogue, and understanding through original visual artwork.

This year's contest theme encourages artists to reflect on:
• Dialogue Across Difference
• Understanding Over Agreement

Eligible submissions may include painting, drawing, graphic design, or photography that combines imagery and text to convey a message or idea. Selected artwork may be featured on the cover of the Aspen Executive Seminar book and in other Aspen Leadership Seminars materials.

Awards include:
🏆 Grand Prize: $5,000
🎖 Up to five Finalists: $1,000 each

⏰ Submission Deadline: August 16, 2026

Artists must be U.S. residents age 18 or older. AI-generated artwork is not eligible. Learn more and review the full guidelines through the Aspen Institute: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/aspen-leadership-seminars/cover-art-contest/

Congratulations to Wyoming PBS on earning 12 nominations for the 2026 Heartland Chapter Emmy® Awards!The nominations re...
06/18/2026

Congratulations to Wyoming PBS on earning 12 nominations for the 2026 Heartland Chapter Emmy® Awards!

The nominations recognize excellence in storytelling, directing, writing, photography, music composition, and original programming highlighting Wyoming stories and communities.

A special congratulations goes to Wyoming Arts Council board member Mark Pedri, who received multiple nominations for his work on Mountain Roots and Afar & Below as a writer, director, and photographer.

Other nominated Wyoming PBS productions include:
• Heritage Grains
• The Wild Horse Effect
• Headwinds: Bikepacking the Red Desert
• Snow Fences
• Leading the Pack
• Preserving Dark Skies

The Heartland Emmy® Awards ceremony will take place July 18.

Congratulations to all the nominees, filmmakers, crews, and storytellers helping share Wyoming stories with audiences across the region and beyond.

Only 7 Spots Remaining for the Cultural Heritage InstituteRegistration is filling quickly for Wyoming's first Cultural H...
06/17/2026

Only 7 Spots Remaining for the Cultural Heritage Institute

Registration is filling quickly for Wyoming's first Cultural Heritage Institute, a free professional development event designed for museum staff, historic site employees, archivists, volunteers, arts professionals, and others working in cultural heritage.

📅 September 17, 2026
📍 Laramie County Library System, Cheyenne

The one-day institute will feature practical learning opportunities, discussions, and networking focused on preservation, collections care, interpretation, and cultural programming.

Whether you're new to the field or have years of experience, the Cultural Heritage Institute offers a chance to connect with colleagues from across Wyoming while strengthening skills that support the state's shared history, arts, and culture.

Attendance is free, but only seven registration spots remain.

🔗 Register today: Bit.ly/WyoCulturalHeritageInstitute-Register

The Wyoming Arts Council has awarded funding to seven projects through the 2026 Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Projec...
06/17/2026

The Wyoming Arts Council has awarded funding to seven projects through the 2026 Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant program, supporting the continuation of traditional arts through hands-on learning between mentor artists and apprentices.

This year’s recipients include:

• Adrianna Hinds will teach Anabelle Hinds, both of Cheyenne, the art of basketry.

• Chris Amos will teach Jolene Velarde (Acoma Pueblo/Eastern Shoshone), both of Riverton, the art of bladesmithing.

• DaleRae Green (Eastern Shoshone/Gros Ventre) will teach Dionne Ferris (Eastern Shoshone/Yankton Sioux), both of Fort Washakie, the art of regalia beadwork.

• Jane Nordgren Hollon will teach Amy Hollon, both of Laramie, the art of Swedish nålbinding.

• Melissa L. Bautz will teach Elisabetha Olsson and Juliet Whitmore, all of Lander, the art of Scottish Highland bagpipes.

• Salem Ynostrosa (Northern Arapaho) of Arapahoe will teach Juwan Willow (Northern Arapaho) of Ethete the art of rawhide drum making.

• Vicki Giles (Eastern Shoshone) of Fort Washakie will teach Darcia Pingree (Eastern Shoshone) of Casper the art of beadwork.

The Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant supports the passing of knowledge, skills, and cultural traditions through direct mentorship between experienced artists and apprentices.

Address

Cheyenne, WY

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(307) 777-7742

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