Ongoing Grant Categories

The following grant programs are available on an ongoing basis – no set deadlines. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. Each category requires a minimum match of 1:1. Several allow up to 50 percent of the match to be inkind – donated items or time. Funding may be received through each grant category once per fiscal year for arts projects between July 1-June 30. Applications are accepted online only, unless special arrangements are made.

American Masterpieces
Offers grants for arts projects that celebrate works by American Masters. Project emphasis changes annually – check WAC website for current information. Requires cash match; inkind match not allowed.

2009-2010 Choral commission projects
2009-2010 Choral performance projects
Contact: Randy Oestman (307) 777-7109

Arts Access
Communities that lack access to the arts due to geographic or cultural isolation, limited opportunity as participant and/or audience, economics, disability, age, confinement, or no arts venues, may apply for an Arts Access grant. The program supports arts in rural and other underserved communities and encourages outreach to underserved populations like disadvantaged youth, people with disabilities, and older adults. Project grants – maximum request is $1,500. Festival grants – maximum request is $2,500. Contact program specialist before making application. Apply at least six weeks before the project or festival date.

Contact: Marirose Morris (307) 777-7723

Arts Education
This grant supports projects that focus on learning in and through the arts. Participants may be of any age. Maximum request is $2,000. Arts Education – Biennial awardees may not apply in this category. Submit application at least six weeks before the project date.

Contact: Camellia El-Antably, (307) 777-5305

Arts Across Wyoming
Bring a WAC roster artist into your community for a performance, reading or workshop. Check the web site for roster artist information or call for a paper copy. Maximum request is $600. Submit applications a minimum of two weeks before the project date.

Contact: Karen Merklin, (307) 777-7743

Folk Arts
The program supports arts activities that feature folk and traditional arts, which express a community/group’s shared artistic heritage passed down through generations. Examples include Scottish bagpipes, Western saddlemaking, Mexican dances, Native American beadwork and Japanese koto music. Project grants – maximum request is $1,500. Festival grants – maximum request is $2,500. Contact program specialist before making application. Apply at least six weeks before the project or festival date.

Contact: Annie Hatch, (307) 777-7721

Open Door
Funding for unexpected arts opportunities or for first-time applicants! Maximum request is $1,000. Contact program specialist before making application. Apply at least two weeks before the project date.

Contact: Marirose Morris, (307) 777-7723

Technology in the Arts
Apply for up to $3,000 for new or upgraded technology to facilitate the making or presenting of art with equipment new to the organization and/ or to develop technical capacity. Technology is broadly defined to include low- to high-tech equipment, tools and expertise. Apply at least six weeks before the project date. Requires cash match; inkind match not allowed.

Contact: Camellia El-Antably, (307) 777-5305

Annual/Biennial Grant Categories

Applications will be accepted online only.

Community Arts Partners - Annual
Deadline: October 31

CAP encourages the creation of innovative collaborations anchored by the arts. Partnerships are urged for community building, civic engagement, community planning and use of public spaces for the enhancement of economic opportunities and quality of life. Project must begin before December 31 and be completed by November 1 of following year. Draft applications are accepted up through October 14. Request – $10,000.

Contact: Randy Oestman, (307)777-7109

Grants To Organizations - Annual
Deadline: March 15,

GTO supports the production of arts programs, projects and events in local communities. Proposals may include performing, visual, literary, media, folk, or multi-disciplinary arts, or technical assistance projects. One request may be submitted each year for projects between July 1-June 30.

Maximum requests are: $2,000 for single, short-term project with cash expense of more than $3,000, or 30% of budget; $1,500 for project or series of projects with cash expense of less than $3,000, or 50% or budget; $7,000 for series of projects, multiple unrelated projects or yearlong programs or festivals with cash expense of more than $3,000 or 30% of budget. Draft applications are accepted up through March 1.

Contact: Randy Oestman, (307) 777-7109

Arts Education - Biennial
Deadline: March 1

This category supports two years of arts programming with a focus on learning in and through the arts for participants of any age. Programs should teach to specific arts learning goals and include evaluation methods that measure those goals. Applicants will describe activities from the previous year, emphasizing the evaluation results of past accomplishments and the planning for future activities. Applicants must have successfully completed at least five WAC grants, two of which must be AE. Requests must be for multiple or year-long projects.

Maximum request is limited to $7,000 per year. Second-year funding is contingent upon the WAC budget for this program. Applications may be submitted in even, not odd, years; draft applications are accepted up through February 15.

Contact: Camellia El-Antably, (307) 777-5305

Other Programs

Poetry Out Loud
By encouraging high school students to memorize and perform great poems, this national recitation contest invites the dynamic aspects of the spoken word and theater into the classroom. Participating schools receive curriculum materials at no cost. Local competitions are conducted during fall semester, followed by state finals in Cheyenne. The state champion attends the national competition in Washington D.C. in late April.

Contact: Linda Coatney, (307) 777-6393,

Wyoming Arts Council Gallery and Meeting Space
The Gallery features selections from the Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition Collection, providing a perfect showcase for Wyoming artists. Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed holidays.

Contact: Evangeline Bratton, (307) 777-7742,

Wyoming Arts Council Programs

Governor’s Arts Awards
Established in 1982, the Governor’s Arts Awards recognize organizations and individuals who have made substantial long-term contributions to the arts in Wyoming. Nominations are accepted in the early fall of each year.

Contact: Wyoming Arts Council staff (307) 777-7742

Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition
Established in 2000 as a joint project with the Governor and First Lady, other elected officials, the Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming Travel and Tourism, and the Wyoming Arts Council to recognize and promote Wyoming artists, the annual exhibit is held at the State Museum in Cheyenne. Purchase awards are made annually to enhance the Capitol Art Collection.

Contact: State Museum Staff, (307) 777-7022

Art in Public Buildings
Established in 1991, one percent of funds for newly built public state-funded buildings is designated for public art.

Contact: Wyoming Arts Council staff (307) 777-7742

Biennial Fellowship Art Exhibition An exhibit every two years of art work by visual arts fellowship recipients, hosted by a Wyoming exhibiting institution.

Contact: Mike Shay, (307) 777-5234

Opportunities for Individual Artists

Contact program specialist for deadlines.

Individual Artist Professional Development Grants
Individual artists in the folk, literary, performing, and visual arts categories may apply for up to $500 to support professional development activities.

Contact: Annie Hatch, (307) 777-7721 or Mike Shay, (307) 777-5234

Folk and Traditional Mentorship
Up to four awards of $3,000 are granted to master traditional artists to teach their art form to qualified apprentices during an 8-10 month period. Application deadline is November 2, 2009. Contact the program specialist before applying. Contact: Annie Hatch, (307) 777-7721

Fellowships
Literary/Creative Writing: Open to Wyoming literary artists. Categories change annually, based on a three-year rotation among poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. Up to three $3,000 awards are given annually.

Performing Arts: Open to Wyoming performing artists who are not full-time students. Categories for awards are based on a four-year rotation sequence among composers; theatre and dance performance; music performance; and theatre direction, dance choreography and design (stage, lighting, costume). Two $3,000 awards may be given in years 1-3. Three $3,000 awards may be given in year four.

Visual Arts: Open to Wyoming visual artists in any category. Juried by out-ofstate panelists in a blind process; up to three $3,000 awards are given annually

Contact: Mike Shay, (307) 777-5234

Blanchan/Doubleday Memorial Awards
Open to Wyoming literary artists in the categories of Writing by Women and Nature Writing. Two awards of $1,000 are given annually.

Contact: Mike Shay, (307) 777-5234

Individual Artist Professional Development Grants
Individual artists in the folk, literary, performing, and visual arts categories may apply for up to $500 to support professional development activities.

Contact: Mike Shay, (307) 777-5234

Artist Image Registry (AIR)
The AIR is open to all Wyoming artists. It is an informational resource of visual artists working in the state and is used as a referral tool to organizations.

Contact: Mike Shay, (307) 777-5234

Wyoming Arts Council Artist Roster
Open to all Wyoming artists, this juried roster recognizes and promotes the artists for artistic merit and programming quality, and is a resource to local communities.

Contact: Karen Merklin, (307) 777-7743

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