Wyoming Arts Council

Volunteers needed!

The Capital City Celebration commemorating America’s 250th anniversary is seeking additional volunteers to help with activities throughout the day on July 4 in Cheyenne.

Volunteer opportunities include:
• Assisting with kids' games and activities
• Supporting arts and crafts stations
• Crowd guidance and guest assistance
• Helping monitor restricted access areas

Volunteer shifts are just 2–2½ hours, making it easy to lend a hand and still enjoy the festivities.

🗓 Event: July 4, 2026
📍 Capitol Complex | Cheyenne

A mandatory volunteer meeting will be held:
🗓 June 24, 2026
🕔 5 p.m.
📍 Wyoming State Museum

Interested in helping make this historic celebration a success? Contact Renée Bovée at [email protected] or call (307) 777-6312 for more information.

Twelve artists have been selected as the inaugural recipients of the Native Arts + Heritage Fund, a new Creative West program supporting story, cultural knowledge, creativity, and community connection through a trust-based approach to artist support.

Among the inaugural recipients is Sarah Ortegon HighWalking of Fort Washakie, an Indigenous artist and jingle dress dancer whose work centers heritage, identity, and relationship to the land. Her artistic career includes collaborations with Native Pride Dance Troupe, artist Jeffrey Gibson, the Venice Biennale, and appearances in PBS’s The Art of Home: A Wind River Story and Paramount’s 1923.

The fund was created to uplift artists as cultural knowledge keepers, storytellers, and community builders while fostering reflection, relationship-building, and shared learning rooted in care and belonging.

🎶 Donkey Creek Festival returns to downtown Gillette on Saturday, June 20 for another year of live music, local art, food, and community celebration.

This free, family-friendly festival brings together Wyoming musicians, artists, makers, and food vendors for a full day of music and creativity at Big Lost Meadery.

🗓 Saturday, June 20, 2026
📍 Downtown Gillette | Big Lost Meadery
🎟 Free admission

2026 lineup includes:
• Jalan Crossland
• The Patti Fiasco
• Big Horn Big Band
• Lucas Olson Duo
• Rock Band Camp
• Brandon Anderson
• Practicing in Public
• Matthew Wilburn Skinner
• JB King

In addition to live music, festivalgoers can explore Artisan Alley featuring local and regional artists and makers.

Now in its 19th year, Donkey Creek Music Festival continues to celebrate Wyoming music, creativity, and community in the heart of Gillette.

Learn more: www.donkeycreekfestival.com

Applications are now open for the Ucross Spring 2027 artist residencies in Wyoming

The Ucross Foundation is accepting applications for its Spring 2027 residency programs, including the General Residency and the Ucross Fellowships for Native American Artists and Writers.

Open to artists across disciplines, including visual arts, writing, music, performance, and more, the residency offers dedicated time and space to focus on creative work in a rural setting.

Participants receive:
• Private studio space
• Living accommodations on a 20,000-acre ranch
• Meals and daily support
• A stipend and opportunities for connection with fellow artists

The Ucross Fellowships for Native American Artists include additional support, including a waived application fee and an award.

📅 Application deadline: July 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. MT)
Learn more and apply here: https://www.ucrossfoundation.org/residency-program.html

Artists and collaborative groups from a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Save the date! The Wyoming Archaeology Fair returns Sept. 12, 2026, at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie.

As part of Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month, this free, family-friendly event, hosted by the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist, invites visitors to explore Wyoming’s history, archaeology, and cultural heritage through hands-on activities and live demonstrations.

Activities include:
• Spear throwing (atlatl)
• Flintknapping
• Rock art activities
• Yucca processing
• Rabbit hide painting
• Special performance by the Wind River Dancers at 1 p.m.

🗓 Sept. 12, 2026
🕙 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
🎟 Free admission during the event

The Archaeology Fair is one of the largest cultural fairs in Wyoming and offers opportunities to meet archaeologists from across the state and learn more about preserving Wyoming’s cultural resources.

Learn more: wyoshpo.wyo.gov

✍️ Tune in virtually on June 6 as Wyoming Writers announces the winners of the America’s 250th Anniversary Writing Contest during its Annual Awards Luncheon in Casper.

The contest, coordinated in partnership with Wyoming Writers, the Wyoming Arts Council, and the American Heritage Center, celebrates Wyoming voices and storytelling as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial commemoration.

The luncheon will also feature presentation of the Western Horizon, Milestone, Arizola Magnenat, and Emmie Mygatt awards recognizing outstanding contributions to Wyoming’s literary community.

🗓 June 6, 2026
🕛 Noon MT
💻 Watch live via Zoom
Join the virtual event here: https://bit.ly/WyoWriters-2026-Lunch

Learn more at WyoWriters.org

Celebrate creativity, community, and the arts during the Fourth of July weekend in Saratoga!

The 11th Annual Festival of the Arts returns to the Platte Valley Community Center July 3–5, featuring 31 artists from across the western United States showcasing 2D art, 3D art, mixed media, photography, and more.

The weekend begins with an Opening Gala on Friday evening, followed by the full art show Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can explore original artwork, meet artists, and enjoy the creative spirit of the West alongside Saratoga’s holiday weekend festivities.

🗓 Opening Gala: Friday, July 3 | 6–8 p.m.
🖼 Art Show: July 4 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
🖼 Art Show: July 5 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 Platte Valley Community Center | Saratoga, Wyoming
🎟 Free admission (donations accepted)

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577312646590

Your library card can help you explore Wyoming this summer!

Wyoming State Parks and libraries across all 23 counties are continuing their popular State Parks Library Program, offering free day-use park passes and outdoor exploration backpacks available to check out through local libraries.

Each backpack includes tools to help individuals and families explore Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites, including:
• Maps and field guides
• Art and activity supplies
• Outdoor learning materials
• Recreation and exploration resources

Library cardholders can check out a pass and backpack for up to 14 days, with free day-use access for everyone in a single vehicle.

This year marks the program’s 10th anniversary and continues a statewide partnership focused on outdoor recreation, education, and connecting communities with Wyoming’s natural and cultural resources.

Your library backpack adventure could include a Tunes on the Trail concert, watching artists create during Plein Air in the Parks, or participating in one of the many Artist in Residence activities happening across Wyoming this summer.

Check with your local library for availability and checkout details. A list of Arts in the Parks activities can be found on our website at wyomingartscouncil.org

Wyoming artists, creatives, and cultural organizations… we are BIGGER than most people think.

Wyoming’s creative economy generates:
• $3.69 billion in total economic output
• Supports more than 14,600 jobs
• Generates $929 million in labor income
• Contributes $35 million in state and local taxes

The arts don’t just enrich our communities... they help fuel Wyoming’s economy.

From music venues and museums to festivals, designers, theaters, filmmakers, craftspeople, and cultural nonprofits, Wyoming’s creative sector supports tourism, entrepreneurship, vibrant downtowns, and community identity across the state.

Arts infrastructure matters. Creative work matters.
..
Thanks J Shogren for sharing this graphic with us and Wyoming Arts Alliance for leading the charge on Wyoming's Creative Economy Data Round-Up!

{2026 WYO ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST} Artist Feature: Bob Lefevre & The Already Gone | Bitter Days

Bob Lefevre & The Already Gone continue to gain national attention for their roots-driven sound. Their third full-length album, In Tongues, was named one of Bandcamp’s top country albums of 2025, praised for its emotional songwriting and melancholy edge. With longtime collaborators and a stripped-down lineup, the band continues crafting songs that leave a lasting impression long after the music ends.

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.