2008 CAP Grant Recipients ($10,000.00 awards)

Cheyenne Arts Council: Cheyenne, WY

With the assistance of the Peer Assistance Network the Cheyenne Arts Council will create a strategic action plan that will bring together area artists and representatives from area arts groups, local government, schools, business, civic and service organizations to lay out future cooperation, joint efforts and the role of the Cheyenne Arts Council to:

• Define Cheyenne Arts Council’s role in increasing marketing for the arts, such as community arts calendar and an arts web site
• Identify and prioritize future performance and programming opportunities
• Provide greater financial cooperation among arts groups
• Increase the number of arts residency activities in area schools
• Increase the number of arts performances, exhibitions, classes, etc. in Laramie County
• To purchase a facility adequate to be transformed into a Cheyenne Arts Center for hosting performances, workshops, classes and art exhibitions year-round

Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation: Thermopolis, WY

This project is designed to determine the best ways to develop the arts program (training, demonstrations, discussions, coalition and artist support, exhibitions, sales and technology) to make a major economic difference in 1.) the community and region in general; and for 2.) artisans in the region.

This portion of the project is designed to identify arts leaders to survey and identify ways in which artists can become more visible to tourists while the Interpretation center is being built and to determine the most viable way of structuring the arts components for the good of Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis and the Big Horn Basin region.

The following will be accomplished:

• Identify arts leaders in the community and Basin region
• Identify artists/artisans/skilled craftsmen in the Big Horn region and the Wind River Reservation
• Determine appropriate classes
• Determine need and interest in other artisan skills; set a timetable for classes through Central Wyoming College and Northwest Community College for teaching those skills
• Set a timetable for incorporating the arts into the downtown region and the park by the spring of 2009
• Work with the schools to provide hands-on learning experiences related to the arts as a business
• Work with Wyoming Travel & Tourism to determine appropriate methodology for identifying types of goods and services that will best serve the community and aid in developing a stronger tourism base
• Determine appropriate value-added products from regional products

“Nicefest” Nicolaysen Art Museum: Casper, WY

This project ties in the support and participation of over 40 local and regional business partners to provide a festival for over 70 juried artists to sell their work while promoting downtown Casper. The event includes live entertainment, City Art, Quilt Show, Car Show and a downtown market all free to the public that will serve more than 20,000 people throughout the event.

The goals of this event are:

• To expose Casper residents to the various art disciplines by highlighting each discipline within the festival
• To attract cultural tourism to the NIC and to Casper by marketing the festival throughout the state and region and by continuing a partnership with the College Final Rodeos
• To support the community’s effort in business and services by providing an outlet for business, organizations, and non-profits to highlight their products and missions
• To attract and track economic development within Casper especially within the Downtown and newly designated Yellowstone Development District

Nothern Wyoming Community College District: Sheridan, WY

This project exists to provide a programmed educational format for artists to learn the business of art. In addition, websites featuring local artists will be created to encourage tourists to the downtown community with a plan to assist artists in relocating to Sheridan and particularly to the downtown of Sheridan.

Through this project the value of the arts will be increased in the following areas:

• The public will have a greater exposure to artists and the downtown area through a “downtown artists walk” on the webpage of the Downtown Sheridan Assoc. website
• Artists will have entrepreneurial curriculum and training devoted to increasing their knowledge so that they can more effectively promote and sell their art
• Short courses and “best practices” will be presented at the Downtown Sheridan Campus by known artists; and gallery owners, as well as bringing in WAC experts
• Plans will be developed to assist artists in leasing or purchasing homes in the downtown area so that more artists will relocate to Sheridan and begin selling their art
• A website for all artists including visual, graphic, photography, performing, film, etc. will be created. www.Sheridanpublicarts.org

“Sculpture, A Wyoming Invitational” UW Art Museum: Laramie, WY

The University of Wyoming Art Museum will be working in cooperation with various agencies and organizations in Laramie to expand a planned exhibition of contemporary public art for one full year to include as many as five (5) off-campus locations for sculpture. A Wyoming Invitational will bring twelve (12) large-scale outdoor works of art to the UW campus and four (4) community works will be created on-site

This project will accomplish the following:

• Provide a high quality sculpture exhibition that is a year-long commitment of new art in our community, creating the opportunity for dialogue and exchange through experience about what kind(s) of public art programs UW and Laramie might consider in the future
• Support our community’s interest in advancing the establishment of Laramie as a cultural destination
• Bridge the “town” and “gown” divide by establishing partnerships between UW and Laramie that achieve common goals and outcomes
• Increase promotional efforts to bring visitors to UW and Laramie, resulting in positive economic impact while advancing appreciation and understanding of contemporary art, and enhancing the cultural life of our community and campus
• Provide opportunities for students and the public to connect with artists and the exhibition through creative and educational activities
• Provide mentoring opportunities for university students who are pursuing a career in the arts