The Wyoming Arts Council partners with Wyoming State Parks to hold various arts activities in Parks across the state. Plein Air in the Parks is an annual event that pairs talented artists with beautiful locations. The event is open to artists of all ages and offers cash awards. This annual painting and drawing competition pairs talented artists with beautiful locations, and offers cash prizes to top participants.
Plein Air in the Parks will be held Sept. 13-17 at Curt Gowdy State Park. Full rules and guidelines are below.
Early Bird Registration is now open through August 31.
REGISTRATION Registration includes up to two entries in the judged competition. Mediums may include Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel, Graphite, or other medium. Registration includes a waived day use fee to access Curt Gowdy State Park for the participating artist and one guest. You will be given an ID Badge at stamp-in. ID badge must be worn for admission and access throughout the weekend. The general public will need to pay the daily access fee to the State Park. No admission will be charged to attend the show and sale at the visitor’s center on Sunday between 1 and 3 pm. VISITING CHEYENNE A select number of campsites have been set aside at Curt Gowdy State Park for registered artists. Sites must be reserved in advance by calling the Park at 307-632-7946 and mentioning the Plein Air in the Parks event. Overnight and day use fees apply. The deadline to reserve one of these sites is August 31. For information about Cheyenne, visit the Visit Cheyenne website. Visit the Curt Gowdy State Park website for information about things to do and see, amenities, and maps. ARTIST STAMP-IN Curt Gowdy State Park Visitor’s Center (1264 Granite Springs Rd. Cheyenne, WY 82009) ARTWORK DROP OFF Artwork to be included in the show and sale must be dropped off and checked in with completed information (see #7 below) between 3 and 5 pm on Saturday, September 16 or between 9 and 10 am on Sunday, September 17. Artwork not received by 10 am on Sunday will not be judged and will not be included in the sale. RULES AND GUIDELINES JUNIOR DIVISION EXCEPTIONS Youth and Teen Divisions can begin working September 1st and can drop off work to be included in the show and sale at the Visitor Center at any time throughout the month prior to the drop off deadline on September 17. Registration fees are due at sign up or drop off. All other rules and guidelines still apply. COMMISSION STRUCTURE Artwork entered into the competition may be listed for sale at the reception and award ceremony. During the reception, artists can sell up to 3 additional works created during the event but not entered in the competition. Artwork need not be framed. Sales are processed by the staff during the event. A 25% commission will be retained. This includes any sale of artwork generated during the plein air competition, including direct sales facilitated by artists. 15% of the commission will be donated to the Cheyenne Artist Guild. 10% of the commission will be put toward the Plein Air in the Parks program for future events. Cash prizes and checks for the sale of artwork are mailed after the event. JUDGING AND CASH PRIZES Judging will be done anonymously. During judging, participating artists and the public will not be permitted into the Visitor Center where work is displayed. The judging panel is comprised of artists or those with an arts background, representatives from the community, and individuals familiar with Curt Gowdy State Park. Checks for cash award prizes will be mailed after the event. The below cash awards will be given. Junior Division Awards
Rules and Guidelines
Rules and Guidelines
Contact: Kimberly Mittelstadt
The Wyoming Arts Council believes that experiencing the arts should be accessible for all, including people with mental and/or physical disabilities, older adults, military/veterans, people living in institutions and those who lack access to the arts due to geographic isolation, cultural difference and economic hardship.
