Performing Arts Fellowships

• Must be at least 18 years of age at time of application.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or have legal resident status (evidence of U.S. citizenship, resident status and state residency may be required).

• Must not be a full-time student pursuing high school, college, or university art-related degrees.

• May not be affiliated with the Wyoming Arts Council either as a board member or staff member, including their families, whether full-time, part-time or contractual.

• May not be an employee of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.

• Must have been domiciled within the state borders for a total of 20 months in the previous two years.

• Must remain a Wyoming resident for at least one year after award, living in the state for at least 10 months of the year.

• Must not have received a Performing Arts fellowship within the last four years.

• May receive a total of two fellowship awards in your lifetime.

• You may enter the competition only once by the deadline.

• You may only enter the competition in one category (Music -or- Theatre and Dance).

• You’ll receive $5,000 up front.

• You’ll sign a contract that verifies you’re eligible to receive this award.

• You’ll need to supply a bio and a photograph for publicity.

• The Arts Council will work with you to find an appropriate venue or showcase to publicly share your work.

• You will retain all rights to this work and the work you produce during the grant period.

• You must create an impact statement, due August 31 of that year, sharing how this award helped you and what you accomplished during the year you received it.

Applicants may apply as either a creator or a performer. Dance or choreography (any style or genre), theatre or musical theatre works, technical theatre (lighting, set, or costume design), storytelling, and directing will be considered.

Applicants may apply as either a composer or a performer. Solo, chamber, or orchestra/large ensemble works for any combination of instruments and/or voice (including electronic and electro-acoustic works), and including independent musicians, singer-songwriters, Native American, folk, traditional, and world music will be considered.

• All applicants must register or update their information on the WY Arts Council’s Artists & Venues Directory.

• Jurying is done anonymously; application materials should not list your name.

• All applications must be submitted online through Submittable.

All submissions must include:

• If available, reviews of your work

• A maximum of 5 work samples that best demonstrate the applicant’s work must submitted in the correct format. Documents, images, audio, and video files will be accepted, or a combination thereof.

• Each work sample must include a written statement explaining your concept/choices/process for the works submitted as examples; This statement must also include context (i.e. did you compose/choreograph/direct the piece or are you performing the work?).

• Those applying as either a composer or creator must submit original work created within the past 5 years.

• Performances may be original works or performances of other works (not original) that were performed within the past 5 years.

• If performing in the work of another artist, you must credit the artist and indicate that permission has been granted.

• Fellowships are awarded to an individual; however works samples of group performances will be accepted for demonstrative purposes as long as the individual applicant is clearly identified.

2024: Music: Beth Denise Vanderborgh, Laramie; Dave Huebner, Sheridan; Theatre & Dance: William Conte, Casper; Jennifer Wilkins, Afton

2023: Music: Patrick Chadwick, Jackson; Kalyn Beasley, Cody; Theatre & Dance: Oakley Boycott, Lander; Scott Tedmon-Jones, Laramie

2022: Music: Julie Huebner, Sheridan; Ron Coulter, Casper; Theatre & Dance: Michaela Ellingson, Jackson; Francesca Romo, Jackson

2021: Music: Andrew Wheelock, Laramie; Tris Munsick, Sheridan; Theatre & Dance: Aaron Wood, Casper; Andrew Munz, Jackson

2020: Music: Aaron Davis, Jackson; Abby Webster, Wilson; Theatre and Dance: Anne Mason, Laramie; Luke Dakota Zender, Jackson

2019: Music: Michael Gould, Cody; Nicole Lamartine, Laramie; Theatre & Dance: Marsha Knight, Laramie; Kathleen Vreeland, Cheyenne

2018: Music Composition: Ben Markley, Laramie; Leif Routman, Jackson; Beth Vanderborgh, Laramie; Dr. Mark Elliot Bergman, Sheridan

2017: Music Composition: Ron Coulter, Casper; Theatre & Dance Performance: Rachel Holmes, Jackson

2014:  Music Performance: Madelaine German, Jackson; Miss “V” the Gypsy Cowbelle, Thermopolis

2013: Theatre & Dance Performance: Lawrence Jackson (dancer), Laramie; Natalia Duncan (actor), Jackson

2011: Music Composition: Anne Marie Guzzo (composer), Laramie; Jeff Troxel (singer/songwriter), Powell

2010: Theatre Direction, Dance Choreography and Stage Design: Larry Hazlett (lighting designer), Laramie; Carrie Noel Richer (film director & choreographer), Jackson; Babs Case (choreographer), Jackson

2009: Music Performance: Anne Sibley (singer/musician), Jackson; Theresa Bogard (pianist), Laramie

2008: Awards on one-year hiatus

2007: Theatre & Dance Performance: Kema Jamal (dancer), Cheyenne; Jodeen Tebay (dancer), Jackson

2006: Music Composition: Christian Erickson (composer), Gillette; Anne Guzzo (composer), Laramie

2005: Theatre Direction, Choreography & Stage Design: Barbara “Babs” Case (choreography), Jackson; Ken George (set design), Casper; Marsha Knight (choreography), Laramie

2004: Music Performance: Judd Grossman (singer/guitarist), Jackson; Scott Turpen (saxophonist), Laramie

2003: Theatre & Dance Performance: Bob Berky (theatrical clown/mime), Jackson; General McArthur Hambrick (dancer), Laramie

2002: Music Composition: Dave Brinkman (composer), Laramie; Jeff Troxel (composer), Powell

1996: Janet Griffith (musician); Jewel Dirks (composer); Patrick Brien (theatre director)

1995: Rebecca Hilliker (theatre director); Gary Smart (composer); Theodore Lapina (musician)

1994: Tom Empey (theatre director); Kevin S. Hart (musician); Larry Hazlett (light design); Ann Panalsek (choreographer)

1993: David Dundas (scenic designer); Pamela Glasser (musician); The Grizzlies – Bill Boycott and Diane Korsick (musicians); Terry Yazzolino (storyteller)

1992: Chris Kennedy (musician); Randy Milligan (actor); Margaret Stalder (choreographer); Lucy Woodman (composer)

1991: Jewel Dirks (composer); Gary Smart (musician); Britton Theurer (musician); Patricia Tate (choreographer)

1990: Beth McIntosh (musician); Lisa Morgan (choreographer); Ron Steger (scenic design); Eugene Zenzen (musician)