Wyoming Arts Council: Community Support Grant

Wyoming Arts Council: Community Support Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wyoming Arts Council
Amount: Up to US $15,000
Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Summary

The Wyoming Arts Council's Community Support Grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations and government entities to promote arts projects in Wyoming. Grants can reach up to $15,000, supporting operating and project costs along with arts learning initiatives. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and tribal governments, ensuring that funded projects are accessible to the public. This initiative enhances community engagement and nurtures the arts as a vital part of Wyoming's cultural landscape.

Overview

Wyoming Arts Council The Wyoming Arts Council is pleased to provide funding opportunities for the many worthwhile art projects that our nonprofit organizations, government entities, and individual artists are doing throughout the state of Wyoming. Mission The Wyoming Arts Council provides leadership and invests resources to sustain, promote and cultivate excellence in the arts. Vision WAC envisions a Wyoming where the arts are integrated into the economy, education and everyday life of its citizens. Philosophy The arts are a foundation for community development, education, economic development, health, and cultural vitality.The arts help us understand ourselves, our world and our cultural heritageThe arts preserve and protect our cultural history while opening a door to new cultural frontiersThe arts influence lifelong learning practices that allow innovative ideas to flourish in all sectors of economic development.The arts prepare children and adults to become creative, productive citizens of the state Community Support Grant The Community Support Grant offers operating and/or project support, as well as a portion dedicated to arts learning support for organizations that provide services to their community through the arts. All funded projects must be available to the general public. An organization is eligible to receive up to $10,000 in operating and/or project support and up to $5,000 in arts learning support for a total of up to $15,000 in grant funding. The amount of funding requested cannot exceed 50% of your total project/operating expenses and requires a 1:1 cash match. Arts Learning Component Funding that is available through the Community Support grant offers funding for projects that enliven or improve arts learning to increase knowledge, understanding of, and skills in one or more art forms. Arts Learning is offered to non-profit organizations, social service agencies, tribes, community centers, school districts and local art agencies. Funded activities can include year-long projects, a series of related or unrelated projects, a season of arts learning programs and technical assistance projects, such as curriculum development and planning for arts learning programs. This funding can support: Making interactive art opportunities a basic component of arts learning.Developing and strengthening arts learning in community and schools.Providing opportunities for professional artists to work in community settings, outreach organizations and schools.Providing arts learning opportunities for all ages and in myriad settings.Obtaining expertise from elders, artists, instructors and educators to help design new arts programming, strengthen current programs or grow a teacher’s personal growth in knowledge and skills in an art form.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Must either be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or a government agency to be eligible to receive Wyoming Arts Council funding. If your organization does not meet these eligibility requirements, you may still be able to apply using a Fiscal Sponsor that does meet the eligibility requirements.Churches that meet the Internal Revenue Service requirements of IRC section 501(c)(3) are considered tax exempt if they meet the five requirements listed in the “IRS Tax Guide for Churches and Other Religious Organizations.” Click here for the Tax Guide.Government Agency includes tribal government, municipal, county, state and federal government, higher education, and school districts.Tribal Government – Each Tribe may receive either one Community Support Grant per year, or up to two Professional Development/Career Advancement or Rural Arts Access Grants per year, per entity.City and County Government – Each entity may receive either one Community Support Grant per year or up to two Professional Development/Career Advancement or Rural Arts Access Grants per year.State Government – Each entity within each department may receive either one Community Support Grant per year, or up to two Professional Development/Career Advancement or Rural Arts Access Grants per year.School Districts – Each District may receive either one Community Support Grant per year. or up to two Professional Development/Career Advancement or Rural Arts Access Grants per year.University of Wyoming and Wyoming Community Colleges – Each department at these educational institutions may apply for a grant. Proposed projects must serve a broad audience, be artistically excellent, incorporate outreach, and are not designed to primarily serve only the student population. Each department may receive either one Community Support Grant or up to two Professional Development/Career Advancement or Rural Arts Access Grants per year.Applicants must be a Wyoming based organization or an organization in a bordering state that primarily serves the citizens of Wyoming.Applicants must be in compliance with all applicable Wyoming state laws.

Ineligibility

Below is a partial list of expenses that cannot be funded with Arts Council grants:New construction, renovation, remodeling or restoration of facilities. (However, planning grants or facility studies may be funded.)Capital expenditures for land or general purpose equipment or the purchase of any special purpose equipment with a cost of $5,000 or more and a normal useful life of more than one year.Bad Debts: any losses from previous years or from uncollectible accounts/claims.Projects completed prior to awarding of a grant.Replacement funds (to take the place of money normally budgeted for the project).Interest, fines or penalties and organizational indirect or overhead costs.Cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally financed program.Contributions, contingency funds, donations, prize money, scholarships, or any form of tuition assistance for college or university study.Goods or services for personal use.Goods for resale, which includes the sale of concessions, promotional merchandise or items purchases to sell, even if related to your programming, as well as any associated staffing or facilities costs. Costs for items that are required to be produced as part of the approved project activity (e.g. publications, such as journals or exhibit catalogs, or records, such as orchestra concert CDs) and that are incurred during the period of performance are allowable.Entertainment: receptions, food, alcohol, flowers, invitations, etc.Lobbying costs for activities such as federal, state or local electioneering and support of such entities as campaign organizations and political action committees; direct lobbying of Congress to influence legislation; lobbying of the Executive Branch in connection with decisions to sign or veto enrolled legislation; efforts to utilize state or local officials to lobby Congress or state legislatures; grassroots lobbying concerning either Federal or state legislation; legislative liaison activities in support of unallowable lobbying activities; or membership costs in organizations that lobby.Costs of advertising and public relations designed solely to promote the organization; costs of promotional items and memorabilia. (Costs for the purpose of communicating to the public specific activities related to sponsored programs are allowable, as are costs for recruitment of personnel.)Fundraising and investment management costs, including financial campaigns, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to raise capital or obtain contributions.Costs of defense or prosecution of criminal and civil proceedings, claims, appeals and patent infringements.Anything specifically forbidden by Wyoming state law or federal law.Food expenses may only be paid/included if they meet this criteria:Per diem for artists or others traveling in connection with the grant.Food supplies when they will be used for teaching/demonstrating and are not sold.Indirect costs should be excluded from the project budget.