Phase 1: Economic Analysis of Creative Economy (Fall 2024)
The Wyoming Arts Alliance (WyAA) launched the Data Round Up project in Summer 2024. he Wyoming Arts Alliance contracted with the University of Wyoming’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis (CBEA) to produce a report quantifying the scope of the arts and culture economy in Wyoming at the state and county level.
With analysis focused on data from 2022, the CBEA used data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Lightcast, CVSuite, and the American Community Survey (ACS) to estimate several measures of the size of the arts and cultural economy. The final report was released in September 2024.
This project was made possible through a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund.
Phase 2: Community Listening Sessions (Spring/Summer 2025)
WyAA hosted community listening sessions around the state March – August 2025. In partnership with the Wyoming Arts Council, Wyoming Humanities Council and Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, we visited 13 communities throughout Wyoming. The focus of these sessions was sharing information gleaned from the economic impact report (Phase 1) and gathering feedback from our arts partners and other stakeholders about challenges and needs.
This project was made possible through funding support from Wyoming Community Foundation, Creative West and other local partners.
Phase 3: Focus Groups & Surveys (Summer 2025)
To continue our deep dive into the Wyoming arts and culture sector, WyAA conducted focus groups and administer targeted surveys.
Focus groups consisted of affinity groups that allow us to better understand the needs and opportunities with specific subsections of the arts and culture sector. For example, we spoke to representatives from arts educators, performance venue or festival directors and graphic designers.
Additionally, we surveyed a variety of artists and organizations to help gather basic demographic, funding and infrastructure information.
This phase of our project will be supported through grants from the Wyoming Community Foundation, Creative West and the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund.
Phase 4: Final Report & Action Planning (Fall 2025)
WyAA collated the data collected to share out in a final “State of the Sector” report. The report highlights the feedback from our conversations and work with our agency partners to identify action items focused on enhancing our support for artists, arts organizations and art educators around the state.
In the future, we are hopeful to convene stakeholders to begin work on a strategic plan for grow and strengthen the creative economy in Wyoming.
Thank you to our supporting partners who have helped to fund this statewide project.
