From March 30 – May 20, 2023, the Wyoming State Museum will showcase “GROUNDED,” a strategic and timely art exhibition organized by “ArtSpirit,” the arts initiative of Episcopal Church in Wyoming, and “CARAVAN,” a global arts non-profit.

The exhibit will open on March 30 at 6 p.m. with a special program and reception including speakers, participating artists, an Indigenous drum circle, and the cedaring of the artwork. 

“GROUNDED” brings together 15 premier and emerging contemporary artists from Indigenous American tribes traditionally based in and around the Great Plains. The exhibit is an artistic exploration that seeks to inspire our imaginations about our need to be "grounded" in our relationship with all of creation; the earth and its wildlife, each other and ourselves.

At this moment in time, our world is calling for restoration, from within and without, for a realignment of a sacred harmony and an awareness of a new balance between ourselves and the earth and all of life upon it. 

The creative work of this group of contemporary Native American artists will serve as a visual representation of the worldview, wisdom, and learnings of their ancestors as we reimagine how we live in order to heal our world.

Grounded in the interconnectedness of the sacred, the natural world, and one another, Native American traditional beliefs see everything on the earth as living in relationship. Their spiritual wisdom is therefore essential to developing a “sacred harmony” between all peoples and the earth. This unique contemporary art exhibition seeks to enable them to share their culture, heritage and sacred traditions to help us heal our world and foster wholeness among all peoples.

The 15 contemporary artists from 8 Indigenous tribes were invited to participate based on their previous work and their ability to express the exhibition’s theme through the lens of their heritage and cultural worldview.  The exhibition is curated by noted Northern Arapaho artist Robert Martinez. 

Ben Pease (Apsáalooke-Crow)
Brent Learned (Arapaho/Cheyenne)
Carlin Bear Don’t Walk (Apsáalooke-Crow/Northern Cheyenne)
Donald F. Montileaux (Oglala Sioux)
Henry Payer (Ho-Chunk)
Hillary Kempenich (Anishinaabe)
Jackie Larson Bread (Blackfeet)
Jackie Sevier (Northern Arapaho)
Jim Yellowhawk (Itazipco/Cheyenne River Sioux)
Joanne Brings Thunder (Eastern Shoshone)
John Pepion (Blackfeet)
Louis Still Smoking (Blackfeet
Robert Martinez (Northern Arapaho)
Talissa Abeyta (Eastern Shoshone)
Wade Patton (Oglala Lakota)

The exhibition is beginning its global tour in Wyoming, moving to other venues in the USA, including Washington, D.C., the United Kingdom, and ending in the Middle East. The organizing coordinator, The Rt. Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming, has extensive experience organizing large-scale exhibitions internationally.

At each venue, the exhibition serves as a catalyst for the development of events and programs to stimulate discussion, dialogue and education around the exhibition’s theme.  In Cheyenne, a special event on the morning of March 31, 2023 will focus on the Chief Washakie bronze sculpture created by award-winning Native American artist, Guadalupe Barajas. This piece was sponsored by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church as part of the City of Cheyenne’s “Capital Avenue Bronze Project.” 

Wyoming program partners include Wyoming Humanities Council, Wyoming Arts Council, six noted exhibition spaces, and Episcopal churches throughout Wyoming. 

For more information about the exhibition and associated programming, contact Genie Osburn, Communications Manager for The Episcopal Church in Wyoming: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Wyoming Arts Council to host two virtual Community Support Grant Workshops 

The Wyoming Arts Council will host a two-part virtual Guide to the Community Support Grant workshop on Thursday, March 23, and Thursday, March 30 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. MST.

The two-part workshop teaches grant writers of all skill levels how to prepare and submit an application for the Community Support Grant. The series is geared toward those who work or volunteer for nonprofit arts organizations, educational institutions, community clubs, or local government units and departments that offer arts programming. 

On March 23, participants will review eligibility criteria and application how-tos with Grants Manager Cashmere Balland. On March 30, participants will learn about project eligibility and application content with the Community Development and Arts Learning Specialist Amara Fehring. Participants are welcome to join one or both workshops.

Those interested in the March 23 workshop can join via  https://meet.google.com/tbs-iqnp-tdc Or dial: ‪(US) +1 405-433-4116 PIN: ‪317 723 021#

Those interested in the March 30 workshop can join via https://meet.google.com/dwm-otok-tay Or dial: ‪(US) +1 346-800-3887 PIN: ‪823 932 661#

>For more information, visit https://wyoarts.state.wy.us/wac-grant/community-support-grant-fy18/ or contact Amara Fehring at 307-630-3918 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Poetry Out Loud State Champion Announced 

Wyoming’s Annual Poetry Out Loud (POL) State Competition occurred on Monday, March 6 in the Laramie County Community College Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium.

High school students from across the state competed for a $200 prize, a $500 stipend for their school to purchase poetry books, and a place in the national competition.

Elora Umbach became Wyoming’s 2023 State Champion. Umbach is a senior at the Penn Foster High School program in Casper, and she will go on to represent Wyoming in the National Finals in Washington, D.C., in May. State Runner-up was: Briley Farris of Buffalo High School and Third Place: Josephine Haberkorn of Cheyenne East High School.

Judging criteria included physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance. Judges included Casper College Instructor and Award-Winning Poet Chad Hanson, Wyoming poet Matt Daly, slam poet and the Lander Literary Rug coordinator Annelise Wright, and Fine & Performing Arts Consultant for the Wyoming Department of Education Lori Pusateri-Lane.

This year, the POL state competition included an additional competition called Poetry Ourselves for students to recite their original work. The competition occurred on March 5, 2023 at the Hawthorn Tree in Cheyenne, WY.

First place was awarded to Elora Umbach from the Penn Foster High School program. Runner-up was Ireeann Anderson of Lovell  High School, and Third Place was Kearza Martinez of Moorcroft High School. 

POL is a program that encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. Developed by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, POL is a free contest for high-school students (grades 9-12) in both public and private schools. It serves every state and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

The Wyoming Arts Council is proud to support and administer this program in the Cowboy State. Participating schools included Lovell High School, Cheyenne East High School, Penn Foster High School program,  Buffalo High School, and Moorcroft High School.

Photo caption: 2023 POL Winner Elora Umbach with Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and Wyoming Arts Council Executive Director Michael Lange

Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund Grant Application Deadline Rapidly Approaching

The next Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund (WCTF) grant application deadline is Saturday, April 1, 2023 for projects/events/activities which begin after July 1, 2023.

WCTF grants are restricted to non-profit and governmental entity applicants based and Wyoming and do require a match (though that match can be cash or appropriate in-kind).

The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund grant application process is now electronic.

The Cultural Trust Fund has worked with Foundant Technologies to create a convenient online grant application process. All grant applications will now need to go through the online application process. To get complete information on the new grant application process and to review grant guidelines, visit the WCTF website, wyoculturaltrust.com.

The April 1 deadline is a hard deadline. All grant applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2023.

But, you ask, can I still submit a draft application for review prior to deadline? Of course, just through the grant portal! The Cultural Trust Fund Program Coordinator, Renée Bovée, is still available to review drafts and will provide comments through the grant portal.

Please feel free to contact Renée at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 307-777-6312 with any questions.

The Wyoming State Museum is inviting non-profits, community groups, and researchers that are environmentally focused to host information booths at their April 1st  “Earth Extravaganza” Family Day event from 10 am-2 pm. 

“Earth Extravaganza” is a free event designed for families with children aged 5-10 years old. Wyoming State Museum family events are often attended by 300-500 people each month, creating unique opportunities for organizations to share their message with a wide range of Cheyenne community members. 

Partner organizations will host their own booths where families can participate in activities, learn about the organization, and discover ways that they can contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet. There is no fee to participate, and the museum will provide a pizza lunch for all partners and volunteers.

Interested organizations can contact Melisa McChesney, Curator of Community Engagement,  at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 307-630-2573.

The Wyoming State Records Committee to Meet March 20th

The Wyoming State Records Committee will meet at 2 p.m., Monday, March 20, 2023, via Google Meet.

Meeting ID:  meet.google.com/dhp-gidn-ksp

Those wishing to listen in can do so by calling:  ‪(US) +1 567-231-5199‬ PIN: ‪128 575 217‬#

The Wyoming State Records Committee reviews, and considers for approval, retention schedules of public records. The State Records Committee is the final authority in determining whether state, county and local government records are retained permanently or disposed of after a designated period. Committee members include representatives from the State Archives, Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Audit.

The meeting agenda includes retention requests for State and local agencies, and accession and deaccession requests involving a variety of archival materials.

If you require special assistance, please contact the Wyoming State Archives at 307-777-7826.

Deadline Approaching for the Wyoming Arts Council 2023 Blanchan and Doubleday Memorial Writing Awards

The March 15, 2023 deadline is approaching for The Wyoming Arts Council’s 2023 Blanchan and Doubleday Memorial Writing Awards. The Frank Nelson Doubleday Award of $1,000 is given for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script written by a woman writer. The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award, also $1,000, is given annually for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script informed by a relationship with the natural world.

Both awards are designed to bring attention to writers in Wyoming who have not yet received wide recognition for their work, and to support emerging writers at crucial times in their careers. Poets, fiction writers, essayists, and script writers who have published no more than one book in each genre and who are not full-time students or faculty members are invited to apply by submitting manuscripts and an entry form by the deadline.

Applications are accepted online via Submittable. 

The juror for this year is Laura Pritchett. Pritchett is the author of five novels and has two forthcoming from Penguin/Random House and Torrey House Press. She’s also the author of two nonfiction books, and editor of three environmental anthologies, and her work has been the recipient of the PEN USA Award, the Milkweed National Fiction Prize, the WILLA, the High Plains Book Award, several Colorado Book Awards, and others. Her best-known novel, “Stars Go Blue,” has been optioned for TV rights. She’s published over 300 essays and short stories in national venues, most recently in “The Sun,” “Terrain,” “Camas,” “Orion,” “Creative Nonfiction,” and others.

She directs the MFA in Nature Writing at Western Colorado University and holds a PhD from Purdue University. When not writing or teaching, she can be found sauntering around the West, especially her home state of Colorado; she particularly likes looking at clouds.

The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award and the Frank Nelson Doubleday Award are made possible through the generosity of a private donor.

A complete list of eligibility requirements and additional information can be found at the application link above. For more information, contact Kimberly Mittelstadt at 307-274-6673 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Deadline Approaching for the Pattie Layser Greater Yellowstone Creative Writing and Journalism Fellowship

The deadline is approaching for The Wyoming Arts Council’s 2023 Pattie Layser Greater Yellowstone Creative Writing and Journalism Fellowship. The application deadline is March 15, 2023. Applications are accepted online via Submittable at https://wyomingartscouncil.submittable.com/submit. 

This annual prestigious fellowship of $3,500 is a national call open to creative writers (poetry, fiction, nonfiction) and journalists (writer, photojournalist, videographer, documentary filmmaker, online or print media) who demonstrate serious inquiry and dedication to the Greater Yellowstone region through their work. With generous funding from The Pattie and Earle Layser Memorial Fund, this fellowship seeks to intersect science, education, current events, and conservation to effectively communicate the Greater Yellowstone’s natural history and singular importance to society through creative and exceptional writing and subject communication. Established and recognized authors are being sought, but emerging and mid-career writers are also encouraged to apply.

The fellowship recipient will be expected to create or complete a relevant publishable or produced work and may be requested or encouraged to make public presentations. In addition to the financial award, the fellowship recipient may elect to also receive a one to two week housing residency at one of several prearranged different locations within the Greater Yellowstone region. Such residency will be based on availability and will be negotiated with the fellowship recipient. 

Susan Tweit will serve as a juror for the second year in a row. A plant ecologist by training, Susan began her career studying grizzly bear habitat—collecting and dissecting bear poop—mapping historic wildfires, and researching big sagebrush. She turned to writing after realizing that she loved the stories behind the data more than collecting those data. Tweit has written thirteen books on the nature of life and our place in it, along with hundreds of magazine articles, newspaper columns, and essays. Her latest book, “Bless the Birds: Living With Love in a Time of Dying,” won the Sarton Award for memoir and was a finalist for the Colorado Book Awards. Tweit has taught writing workshops around the country, coached writers, served as a juror for a variety of fellowships and awards, and reviewed manuscripts for publishers and agents. She feels fortunate to have been awarded fellowships and residencies at inspiring places, including The Mesa Refuge on the cliff above Tomales Bay in Point Reyes Station, California; a historic casita just off Canyon Road in Santa Fe thanks to Women’s International Study Center; and Carpenter Ranch in northwest Colorado with Colorado Art Ranch. Tweit’s work is driven by terraphilia, and her passion for healing and re-storying this earth, and we who share the planet. 

Bebe Crouse joins Susan as a juror this year. Crouse spent more than 25 years as a working journalist before taking her position as Associate Director of Communications for The Nature Conservancy and spent a decade as Environment and Western Editor for NPR. She has reported and produced award-winning radio and television news stories and documentaries for national media networks including NPR, CBS, NBC, Wall Street Journal, BBC, and PBS. Her work has taken her across the United States, Europe, Mexico, Cuba, Kenya and Central America. She also spent time as a mountain and river guide and an environmental planner in Oregon and California. Her experience combined with her education in Environmental Science positions her well for her job with The Nature Conservancy where she continues to write about the things she values. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking and floating in kayak or raft.

A complete list of eligibility requirements and additional information can be found on the Wyoming Arts Council website at www.wyomingartscouncil.org.  For more information, contact Kimberly Mittelstadt at 307-274-6673.

Image caption: 2023 Susan Tweit (left) and Bebe Crouse (right).

Buffalo Bill Reservoir and State Park Seeking Feedback and Suggestions

Wyoming State Parks, in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), has embarked on a resource management planning process for Buffalo Bill Reservoir and State Park near Cody, Wyoming.  Ayres Associates have been selected to facilitate the planning process.

Wyoming State Parks and Reclamation are interested in receiving feedback and suggestions from the public on what they enjoy about the Park and improvements or changes they desire.  The public is invited to complete a survey about the park and planning process by following this link, or using the attached QR code. 

Over the next year, the team will collect information, feedback, and ideas for ways to both enhance the visitor experience at the park and preserve its resources for future generations to enjoy. A final plan, which will be subject to a federal Environmental Assessment, will provide the foundation for decision-making to accommodate recreation and visitor amenities in balance with the preservation of setting and natural and cultural resources.  Those interested in receiving updates and additional information can register through the survey.

Buffalo Bill Dam, constructed on the Shoshone River six miles upstream from Cody, was completed in 1910, creating Buffalo Bill Reservoir.  Named for famous Wild West showman, promoter, and developer Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  Shoshone Power Plant is located near the base of Buffalo Bill Dam; the dam, power plant, and reservoir lands are owned by Reclamation, which maintains primary jurisdiction of the lands and associated resources within the reservoir area.  Much of the area was designated a State Park in 1957 with the last major overhaul of the park completed in the 1990s. 

The Park offers fishing, camping, picnicking, and a variety of water sports in settings which range from remote and primitive to moderately developed.  The park currently has three boat ramps, nine developed day-use areas, two group shelters and eleven picnic shelters, and one hundred and fifty-six campsites in three campgrounds which can be reserved through the State Parks Reservation System.  Shreve Lodge, which hosts up to 200 and has a large kitchen, is also available to rent for day use. 

For more information and to stay up to date with events and amenities at Buffalo Bill State Park, please visit the park's website or call Superintendent Dan Marty at 307-587-9227.