CHEYENNE, Wyo. – June 5, 2026 – The Wyoming Arts Council is announcing the publication of Keeping Tradition: Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grants in Wyoming 2005–2025, a retrospective catalog celebrating the first 20 years of the Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant program. The Wyoming Arts Council is now accepting pre-orders for copies of the catalog.

The Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant supports mentor artists in folk and traditional art forms as they pass on knowledge and skills to apprentices in their communities through hands-on, in-person instruction. Since the program began in 2005, the grant has supported artists and traditions from communities across Wyoming.

The 72-page, full-color catalog features an introduction to folk and traditional arts in Wyoming, artist spotlights, historical context, and a complete list of former grant recipients. Featured art forms include old-time fiddle, rawhide braiding, beadwork, regalia making, western saddlemaking, and other traditions practiced throughout the state.

“We’re excited to offer this catalog celebrating the people who have dedicated significant time to teaching and learning traditional art forms in Wyoming through the Arts Council’s Mentoring Grant,” said Josh Chrysler of the Wyoming Arts Council. “Twenty years is a significant milestone, and we hope the catalog helps us collectively appreciate the ongoing practice of these traditions in our communities.”

The catalog is available free of charge by request. Pre-orders may be submitted online at https://forms.gle/R63Xe5PHWBmDCqjB6. Catalogs will be mailed in the coming weeks.

For more information, contact Josh Chrysler, folklorist and health and wellness specialist with the Wyoming Arts Council, at (307) 256-2010 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Additional information about the Wyoming Folkart Festival is available at wyoarts.state.wy.us/wyoming-folklife-festival.

Figure 1: John L. Blair, right, a 2024 Wyoming Arts Council Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant recipient from Greybull, teaches apprentice Matt Avery the traditional art of western saddlemaking. Their work is featured in Keeping Tradition: Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grants in Wyoming 2005–2025, a retrospective catalog celebrating 20 years of the mentoring grant program. Figure 2: Cover of Keeping Tradition: Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grants in Wyoming 2005–2025, a retrospective catalog published by the Wyoming Arts Council celebrating 20 years of the Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grant program.

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