Selected recipients will be recognized in-person on February 26, 2027 in Cheyenne.

Established in 1982, the Governor's Arts Awards recognize excellence in the arts and outstanding service to the arts in Wyoming. The Governor's Arts Awards honor organizations, individual artists, benefactors and contributors, advocates, and/or educators who demonstrate a significant contribution to the arts in Wyoming through long-term dedication and service, and statewide community engagement.

Any Wyoming citizen, organization, business, or community is eligible to be nominated for a Governor's Arts Award (GAA). Nominations should highlight accomplishments that demonstrate a significant and lasting impact on the arts in Wyoming. Special consideration is given to nominees whose contributions have statewide reach.

Can I nominate myself? Yes.

Please note:

• Individuals who have previously received a Governor's Arts Award are not eligible for renomination.
• Past nominees who were not selected are encouraged to be nominated again.
• Current Wyoming Arts Council board members, staff, contractors, and their immediate family members are not eligible for nomination.

The Governor's Arts Awards are highly competitive, with many nominations submitted each year. Selection is based primarily on the criteria below, which focus on the nominee's background, impact, and scope of work. Nominators are strongly encouraged to thoughtfully address each applicable criterion in their nomination letters and to advise letter writers to do the same. Please adhere to all stated limits (such as number of letters and art samples), as materials beyond the requested amount will not be considered.

1. Background: Provide an overview of the nominee's background in the arts. For individual artists or arts organizations, highlight artistic excellence. For patrons, businesses, or communities, describe the level of support and standards upheld. Include how many years the nominee has been engaged in the arts, whether broadly or within a specific discipline.

2. Impact Describe the nominee's significant contributions to the arts in Wyoming. What has been the nature of their involvement, and what impact has it had? Nominees whose service has had a statewide influence will receive special consideration.

3. Scope: Explain the breadth of the nominee's support for the arts at the local and/or state level. Include examples of involvement in various arts activities or special initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to supporting and advancing the arts in Wyoming.

Nominations due Thursday, October 1, 2026 by 5:00 PM MST. Late submissions will not be accepted.

For individual artist nominees, upload digital samples of their work. This may include images, videos, music clips, or links to YouTube videos (each no longer than 3 minutes). For non-artist nominees, you may submit relevant materials that demonstrate their contributions to the arts such as event programs, news articles, promotional materials, or other documentation. A maximum of 10 total images and/or 10 work samples may be submitted for any nominee. Please ensure all materials are relevant and concise.