Wyoming Arts Council Artist Roster

The Wyoming Arts Council (WAC) Artist Roster seeks to identify and endorse skilled Wyoming artists who represent artistic excellence. Selected roster artists become ambassadors for the WAC and serve as a resource for Wyoming communities, libraries, art centers, museums, organizations, schools, and festival presenters seeking talented artists for festivals, performances, workshops, and programs. A new roster is developed annually through a rigorous panel review process that rates applicants on artistic criteria including artistic professionalism, presentation, expression, and subject matter. Once accepted, artists are carried forward for five years, after which they must reapply. The roster directory is printed annually and distributed statewide and online.

Artists in all disciplines are eligible to apply, including visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, craft, graphic design, printmaking, installation, media), literary arts (prose, poetry, theatrical scripts, screenplays), performing arts (music, theatre, dance), and folk and traditional arts. Applicants must be Wyoming residents and 18 years of age or older, with Wyoming as their permanent residence for at least ten months per year. Work samples must be submitted digitally through CaFE and should be current, no more than three years old. Visual artists submit up to 6 digital images; literary artists submit one file with appropriate page limits by genre; performing artists submit 2-4 performances with 3-5 minute segments; composers submit two scores with recordings; designers submit up to 6 images of no more than 3 productions; choreographers and theatrical directors submit two compositions or plays with 5-minute sections. Applicants who submit visual or audio work samples must also upload 2 recommendation letters addressing presentation and programming.

Applications are reviewed by a panel with representatives from Folk & Traditional Arts, Visual Arts, Literary Arts, and Performing Arts, which meets in January to score applicants 1-5. Panel recommendations are forwarded to the WAC Board for final approval in February, with all applicants notified in writing in March. The new roster is effective July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014. The Artists Across Wyoming grant program provides grants up to $750 per fiscal year to non-profit or government organizations and schools to hire roster artists for exhibits, workshops, readings, performances, and other artistic events. WAC programs are open and accessible to people of all abilities and are free of discrimination based on race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, or age.