Wyoming State Parks Artist in Residence
Application Window Opens: February 2, 2026
Application Window Closes: March 23, 2026
The Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources Artist in Residence program is a creative collaboration between Wyoming State Parks, the Wyoming Arts Council, and the Wyoming State Museum. Each summer, one visual artist embarks on a multi-day road trip through Wyoming’s parks, creating artwork inspired by the diverse landscapes and cultural landmarks they encounter along the way.
This immersive experience highlights the connection between art and place, offering both emerging and established artists the chance to explore and respond to the natural beauty of the state—all while engaging with the public and leaving a creative mark on Wyoming’s shared spaces.
Additional information can be found on the State Parks’ website.
About the 2026 Residencies
Selected artists will develop work inspired by their time in a Wyoming state park and create a public-facing program that engages park visitors and local communities. Public programs may include workshops, performances, exhibitions, readings, or other interactive experiences.
Artists will propose their public program as part of the application process and will work with park staff to determine appropriate locations within each park.
2026 Format
- Runs Wednesday through Saturday
- Includes lodging provided by the host park
- Concludes with a public program on Saturday
Lodging options vary by location and may include tent camping, RV sites, cabins, dormitories, or yurts.
2026 Residency Dates, Locations, and Disciplines
The full schedule, locations, and artists are below. Those interested in visiting the parks to interact with artists, watch their creative process, or attend their public event on Saturday are encouraged to follow individual parks on Facebook for full event details:
- June 3–6, 2026, Glendo State Park: Shawn Bush (Casper, visual art)
- June 3–6, 2026, Curt Gowdy State Park: Jess Bauer & John Wilhelm (Laramie, music)
- June 10–13, 2026, Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site: Aubrey Edwards (Laramie, visual art)
- June 17–20, 2026, Hot Springs State Park: Breanna Whitlock (Buffalo, visual art)
- June 24–27, 2026, Sinks Canyon State Park: Marge McCrea (Rawlins, visual art)
- July 8–11, 2026, Edness K. Wilkins State Park: Mattias Russell (Casper, music)
- July 8–11, 2026, Buffalo Bill State Park: Sarah Lass (Laramie, dance)
- July 22–25, 2026, Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site: Alexandra Hansen (Aladdin, visual art)
- July 29–August 1, 2026, Edness K Wilkins State Park: Nicholas Resch (Cody, visual art)
- August 5–8, 2026, Guernsey State Park: Holly Balgalvis (Cheyenne, creative writing)
- August 12–15, 2026, Curt Gowdy State Park: Madeline Logan Davis (Cheyenne, visual art)
- August 19–22, 2026, Buffalo Bill State Park: Christopher Archuleta (Jackson, music)
- August 26–29, 2026, Glendo State Park: Phil Black (Casper, music)
- September 2–5, 2026, Keyhole State Park: Oakley Boycott (Lander, performance art)
- September 2–5, 2026, Guernsey State Park: Donna Buckley (Casper, visual art)
- September 2–5, 2026, Sinks Canyon State Park: Tara Pappas (Laramie, visual art)
- September 9–12, 2026, Hot Springs State Park: Sid Sibo (Afton, creative writing)
- September 16–19, 2026, Sinks Canyon State Park: Natalie Callum (Lander, creative writing)
- September 23–26, 2026, Keyhole State Park: Maddison Hodson (Cody, creative writing)
2026 Artist in Residence Public Events
As part of Wyoming’s America 250 celebration, the Wyoming Arts Council and Wyoming State Parks are hosting free public events across Wyoming throughout the summer and fall as part of the 2026 Artist in Residence Program.
Artists representing music, visual arts, photography, creative writing, dance, performance art, and interdisciplinary practices will spend time in Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites creating new work inspired by Wyoming’s people, places, landscapes, and stories. Each residency concludes with a public event, workshop, performance, demonstration, or community conversation.
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
June Events
June 6 | Glendo State Park
Shawn Bush (Photography)
Reading the Landscape: Water, Infrastructure, and the North Platte River
10 a.m. | Two Moons Day Use Shelter
A guided photography walk exploring the relationships between water, landscape, and infrastructure while encouraging participants to observe Wyoming’s environment in new ways.
June 6 | Curt Gowdy State Park
John Wilhelm & Jessica Brauer (Sound Art & Creative Writing)
If You Could Ask a Park a Question
10:30 a.m. | Sherman Hills Day-Use Shelter
An interactive storytelling and listening workshop inviting participants to reflect on Wyoming’s past, present, and future through observation, sound, writing, and conversation.
June 13 | Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site
Aubrey Edwards (Visual Arts)
Reading the Land: Art, Archaeology, and Deep Time
10 a.m. | Petroglyph Cliff
A hands-on workshop combining art, archaeology, and observation to explore how landscapes preserve stories, memory, and human connection across generations.
June 20 | Hot Springs State Park
Breanna Whitlock (Visual Arts)
Chalk the Springs: A Family Art Day
2 p.m. | Pavilion
A family-friendly art experience featuring plein air painting, chalk art activities, and creative exploration inspired by Wyoming’s wildlife, landscapes, and natural beauty.
June 26–27 | Sinks Canyon State Park
Marge McCrae (Visual Arts)
Basketry and Weaving in Nature
June 26: 2–4 p.m.
June 27: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 2–4 p.m.
Visitor Center
Hands-on basketry workshops introducing participants to weaving techniques, natural materials, and one of humanity’s oldest artistic traditions. Suitable for ages 6 and up.
July Events
July 11 | Edness K. Wilkins State Park
Mattias Russell (Music)
America’s 250th Anniversary Wyoming Singer-Songwriter Showcase
6 p.m. | Centennial Shelter
A showcase of Wyoming songwriters, storytelling, and community participation exploring the connections between music, place, and Wyoming’s landscapes.
July 11 | Buffalo Bill State Park
Sarah Lass (Dance)
In the Midst
6–8 p.m. | Shreve Lodge
A site-responsive performance and participatory movement experience exploring connection, attention, and the relationship between body and landscape.
July 25 | Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site
Alexandra Hansen (Visual Arts)
Paint the Park: A Wyoming Celebration
10 a.m.
A family-friendly painting workshop celebrating Wyoming’s landscapes, history, and heritage. Materials provided; advance registration required.
August Events
August 1 | Edness K. Wilkins State Park
Nicholas Resch (Visual Arts)
The Sculpted Landscape: A Live-Cartography Workshop
10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Platte River Shelter
Observe the creation of hand-painted relief maps while exploring geography, digital design, and Wyoming’s evolving landscapes.
August 8 | Guernsey State Park
Holly Balgalvis (Creative Writing)
Writers Talk with Holly Balgalvis
Time TBD | Sitting Bull Shelter
A conversation exploring Wyoming’s people, places, and stories through interviews, writing, and personal reflection.
August 15 | Curt Gowdy State Park
Madeline Logan-Davis (Photography)
Waterfalls & Viewfinders: Capturing the Laramie Range
4–5:30 p.m. | Visitor Center Conference Room
Learn smartphone photography techniques while exploring Wyoming’s water heritage and the landscapes of the Laramie Range.
August 22 | Buffalo Bill State Park
Christopher Archuleta (Music)
Lost to Longing
6–8 p.m. | Sheep Mountain Day Use Area
An evening of original music and storytelling inspired by identity, creativity, and Wyoming’s landscapes.
August 29 | Glendo State Park
Phil Black (Music & Multimedia Arts)
Listening to Wyoming: Past • Present • Future
11 a.m. | Two Moons Day Shelter
An interactive listening experience, workshop, and live performance inspired by Wyoming’s landscapes, sounds, and stories.
September Events
September 5 | Keyhole State Park
Oakley Boycott (Performance Art)
SILENCE
9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Tatanka Campground Shelter
An immersive endurance art performance inviting visitors to reflect, create, and engage in quiet observation. Participants are welcome to sit with the artist and respond through visual art, writing, photography, or personal reflection.
September 5 | Guernsey State Park
Donna Buckley (Visual Arts)
Landscape as Legacy: Observing Wyoming’s Past, Present, and Future Through Art
Time TBD | Historic Museum Shelter
A plein air painting demonstration, observational sketch workshop, and community conversation exploring Wyoming’s landscapes through art, memory, and stewardship.
September 5 | Sinks Canyon State Park
Tara Pappas (Visual Arts)
Wonder in the Wild: A Family-Friendly Meet and Make Art Event
10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Visitor Center
Meet the artist, view residency-inspired artwork, contribute to a collaborative mixed-media painting, and create your own take-home art project inspired by Sinks Canyon’s natural beauty.
September 12 | Hot Springs State Park
Sid Sibo (Creative Writing)
Off Normal’s Edge
9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Lower Terrace Shelter
An imaginative storytelling workshop where participants use fiction, creativity, and collaboration to explore Wyoming’s past, present, and future through the lens of landscape and community.
September 19 | Sinks Canyon State Park
Natalie Callum (Creative Writing)
Wonder.
3–4:30 p.m. | Sawmill Campground
A poetry reading, community storytelling experience, and conversation exploring beauty, curiosity, and the natural wonder found throughout Wyoming’s landscapes.
September 26 | Keyhole State Park
M. L. Hodson (Creative Writing)
Where Land Meets Story: A Community Conversation on Frontier Storytelling
Time TBD | Tatanka Campground Shelter
An interactive discussion exploring how Wyoming’s landscapes shape storytelling, identity, and the stories future generations may carry forward.
Funding and Support
Funding for the 2026 Wyoming State Parks Artist-in-Residence Program is provided through the Wyoming Semiquincentennial Planning Task Force.
This grants program was launched in 2025 with a $2 million appropriation from the Wyoming Legislature to support projects that recognize Wyoming’s role in American history and explore the state’s cultural legacy and future potential.
How to Apply
The application period for this program will be open on February 2 – March 23, 2026.
Timeline
- Application Open: February 2, 2026
- Application Close: March 23, 2026
- Project Period: June 3 – September 26, 2026
Application Criteria
- Artists must be Wyoming residents over the age of 18.
- Each selected artist will receive a $1400.00 stipend and lodging provided by the host park (depending on location, tent camping, RV site, cabin, dorm, or yurt may be available).
- Each park has a specific medium they are seeking. Artists must indicate their medium and will be able to choose which location and dates they would like to be considered for.
- The following will be taken into consideration for selection: proposed public service component and how it relates to the themes of celebrating America’s 250th, Statement of Purpose, professionalism of materials submitted, and quality of materials submitted.
- Each residency will run from Wednesday through Saturday, culminating in a required public component on Saturday. Public programs may include educational workshops, performances, exhibitions, or readings, providing meaningful opportunities for community engagement. Artists will propose their public component as part of the application process, demonstrating how it reflects the 250th themes. Artists will work with park personnel on location of program in the park.
- Both emerging and established artists will be considered; Native and folk and traditional artists are strongly encouraged to apply.
Previous Wyoming State Parks and Culture Resources Artist in Residence
2025 Arts in Resident Highlights – Georgia and Dave Rowswell
- Artists: Georgia and Dave Rowswell, Cheyenne-based mixed-media and plein air artists known for their collaborative approach and mobile “Art Yurt” studio
- Focus: Exploring creative process “on the road” and capturing the textures, color, and spirit of Wyoming’s State Parks through mixed media and sketch-based works
- Residency Sites: Curt Gowdy, Guernsey, Glendo, and Seminoe State Parks
- Community Engagement:
2024 Artist in Residence Highlights – Bailey Russel
- Artist: Bailey Russel, photographer and UW professor known for tintypes, camera obscuras, and digital imagery
- Focus: Land use, environmental change, western history
- Residency Sites: Edness Kimball Wilkins, Medicine Lodge, Buffalo Bill, and Sinks Canyon State Parks with additional visits to Hot Springs, South Pass City, and Independence Rock
- Community Engagement: Led free cyanotype workshop at Sinks Canyon
2023 Artist in Residence Highlights – Bria Hammock
- Artist: Bria Hammock, painter based in Jackson, Wyoming
- Focus: Large-scale landscapes blending realism with abstract elements
- Residency Sites: Key stops included Curt Gowdy, Seminoe, and Guernsey State Parks with additional visits to Glendo and Bear River State Parks
- Community Engagement: Hosted plein air painting demos and artist talks during her residency
- Check out Bria’s blog on the State Parks’ here
