CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Sept. 2, 2025 — The Wyoming Arts Council is pleased to announce the six recipients of the fiscal year 2026 Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grants. The recipients are: 

 

• Alyssa Martinez, teaching Idalis Ramirez Higginbottom, both of Cheyenne, the art of Mexican Ballet Folklorico.

• Charles Dewey (Northern Arapaho) of Arapahoe, teaching TayaAvy Dixey (Eastern Shoshone/Northern Arapaho/Shoshone-Bannock/Cree) of Fort Washakie, the art of Beadwork. 

• Dan Ames of Woodruff, Utah, teaching Jared Martin of Bear River, Wyoming the art of Rawhide Braiding.

• Joey Puettman of Sheridan, teaching Josh Lawrence of Buffalo, the art of Fly Rod Making.

• Rana Mandan (Northern Arapaho), teaching Jenea Mandan (Northern Arapaho), both of Riverton, the art of Traditional Regalia and Ceremonial Accessories Making. 

• Rosaura Barrera, teaching Maria Fernanda Barrera, both of Green River, the art of Mexican Ballet Folklorico.

 

Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grants are designed to support the continuation of Wyoming’s folk and traditional arts through the process of in-person, hands-on instruction. A mentor artist works with a dedicated apprentice from their community to mentor over the course of the project in order to advance the skills of the apprentice in their traditional art form. Projects will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. 

 

“The Folk and Traditional Arts Mentoring Grant helps facilitate informal learning processes like observation, imitation, and one-on-one apprenticeships, which is how these traditions are typically learned and passed down in communities,” said Josh Chrysler of the Wyoming Arts Council. “This grant category remains popular, because Wyomingites are enthusiastic about, and see the importance of, maintaining these traditional arts in our state.” 

 

Applications are made jointly between mentor and apprentice, and reviewed by a panel of experts. This year, the panelists were Alvonia McElroy (Deputy Director, Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office; Riverton); Amy Erickson (Bit and Spur maker, previous grant recipient; Evanston); Emma George (Heritage & Folk Arts Coordinator, Bear River Heritage Area; Logan, UT); and Trisha Martinez (Assistant Professor of American Studies American Studies, University of Wyoming; Laramie).

 

For more information, contact Josh Chrysler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 307-256-2010, or visit the grants tab at wyomingartscouncil.org.

 

Figure 1: Joey Puettman (right), of Sheridan, and Josh Lawrence (left), of Buffalo. Puettman is mentoring Lawrence in the art of Fly Rod Making.

 

Contact: Josh Chrysler, (307) 256-2010; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.