CHEYENNE, Wyo. – May 18, 2026 – Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Arts Council are announcing the Wyoming artists and park and site locations selected for the 2026 Artist in Residence Program. This annual program will run throughout the summer and fall with an expanded statewide presence in recognition of America’s Semiquincentennial, supported in part by a grant from the Governor’s Semiquincentennial Task Force. 

The Artist in Residence Program places artists in state parks and historic sites to engage visitors, offer fresh perspectives, and create meaningful connections to place. It also provides a paid, professional opportunity for artists to develop and share original work inspired by Wyoming’s landscapes, history, and communities.

In conjunction with the 250th commemoration, the program has expanded to include 19 artists across nine parks and historic sites. This year’s cohort represents a diverse range of disciplines, including performance art, music, dance, visual art, and creative writing.

Each residency will run from Wednesday through Friday, culminating in a public program on Saturday. These public components may include performances, readings, demonstrations, or workshops, offering visitors a unique opportunity to engage directly with the artists and their work.

Through their time in residence, artists are asked to reflect on Wyoming’s history, culture, and future through original work inspired by the state’s official Semiquincentennial theme:

• Honoring our past: Commemorate Wyoming’s history, places, and people.
• Examining our present: Review Wyoming’s role in America today.
• Imagining our future: Plan for Wyoming’s leadership in America’s future.

The full schedule, locations, and artists are below. Those interested in visiting the parks to interact with artists, watch their creative process, or attend their public event on Saturday are encouraged to follow individual parks on Facebook for full event details: 

• June 3–6, 2026, Glendo State Park: Shawn Bush (Casper, visual art)
• June 3–6, 2026, Curt Gowdy State Park: John Wilhelm (Laramie, music)
• June 10–13, 2026, Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site: Aubrey Edwards (Laramie, visual art)
• June 17–20, 2026, Hot Springs State Park: Breanna Whitlock (Buffalo, visual art)
• June 24–27, 2026, Sinks Canyon State Park: Marge McCrea (Rawlins, visual art)
• July 8–11, 2026, Edness K. Wilkins State Park: Mattias Russell (Casper, music)
• July 8–11, 2026, Buffalo Bill State Park: Sarah Lass (Laramie, dance)
• July 22–25, 2026, Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site: Alexandra Hansen (Aladdin, visual art)
• July 29–August 1, 2026, Edness K Wilkins State Park: Nicholas Resch  (Cody, visual art)
• August 5–8, 2026, Guernsey State Park: Holly Balgalvis (Cheyenne, creative writing)
• August 12–15, 2026, Curt Gowdy State Park: Madeline Logan Davis (Cheyenne, visual art)
• August 19–22, 2026, Buffalo Bill State Park: Christopher Archuleta (Jackson, music)
• August 26–29, 2026, Glendo State Park: Phil Black (Casper, music)
• September 2–5, 2026, Keyhole State Park: Oakley Boycott (Lander, performance art)
• September 2–5, 2026, Guernsey State Park: Donna Buckley (Casper, visual art)
• September 2–5, 2026, Sinks Canyon State Park: Tara Pappas (Laramie, visual art)
• September 9–12, 2026, Hot Springs State Park: Sidney Woods (Afton, creative writing)
• September 16–19, 2026, Sinks Canyon State Park: Natalie Callum (Lander, creative writing)
• September 23–26, 2026, Keyhole State Park: Maddison Hodson (Cody, creative writing)

Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Arts Council are programs within the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, which provides recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities to improve communities and enrich lives. 

For more information, visit wyomingartscouncil.org or contact Rachel Clifton, executive director of the Wyoming Arts Council, at (307) 256-0500 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov or follow us on Facebook to learn more about upcoming events at Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites at @WyomingStateParks. 

Figure 1: Artist Georgia Rowswell works on a sketch on the side of a trail at Curt Gowdy State Park.

Contacts:

Rachel Clifton, (307) 256-0500; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Christina Bird, (307-631-1110); This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.