Arts Advocacy 2021: Looking Forward

April 7, 2021

1:30 – 2:30 pm

Rethinking How Wyoming State Government Funds the Arts

What happens when the CARES Act and other pandemic relief funding runs out?  With state budget cuts and the possibility of grant reductions from state arts/culture agencies, Wyoming artists and arts organizations will need to make up that funding shortfall.  Getting creative is what artists do.  Let’s put that creativity to work on funding models for the future.

SPEAKERS:
Samin Dadelahi, Wyoming Community Foundation, Laramie, WY
Susan Stubson, Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Cheyenne, WY

April 7, 2021

2:30 – 3:30 pm

ENGAGE-ing In the Tough Conversations

Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming (ENDOW) issued a massive plan for Wyoming’s future in 2018, including proposals to enhance arts and creativity.  The young-adult-oriented, sub-group Empower the Next Generations to Advance and Grow the Economy (ENGAGE) worked alongside ENDOW and continues to loft new ideas for Wyoming’s economic health.  How is this grassroots movement of next generation Wyomingites pushing for cultural change?

SPEAKERS:
Tyler Cessor, ART 321, Casper, WY
Bob Viola, Square One, Jackson, WY

April 8, 2021

1:30 – 3:00 pm

Arts and Culture Districts

Seventeen states have enabled local cultural districts.  Should Wyoming?  Arts and culture districts link local arts and businesses with state-level placemaking and development guidelines.  They attract tourism, enhance downtowns, and increase civic pride.  Some raise taxes for the arts.  Let’s talk about whether or not arts and culture districts are right for Wyoming.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Costello, Colorado Creative Industries, Denver, CO
Jenice Gharib, New Mexico Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Annette Roth, ArtsWA, Olympia, WA
Bruce Richardson, WyAA, Casper, WY

• View the Slides About Colorado’s Creative Districts
• View the Slides about New Mexico’s Cultural Districts
• View the Slides about Washington State’s Creative Districts