UW Announces WIP Creative Economy Start Up Challenge Winners

Ten creative startup efforts around Wyoming, ranging from film production and music to literary and visual arts, have been selected to receive $25,000 each in the inaugural Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP)-funded Creative Economy Start Up Challenge.

University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel announced the winners of the competition Thursday at UW's Neltje Center for Excellence in Creativity and the Arts near Sheridan. Through this program, the Neltje Center, Sheridan College and Northwest College have raised awareness about the deep enthusiasm and dedication Wyoming's creatives have for their communities.

"The 10 awardees and their enterprises will provide new opportunities for the arts and culture industries across the state and will be an emerging force in revitalizing our communities," Seidel says.

"The creative economy initiative reached artists across all disciplines and is proof that Wyoming contains a wealth of creative individuals eager to build on their artistic practices and reach their professional goals," says Beth Venn, executive director of the Neltje Center who led the project under the WIP creative economy grant.

The 10 people receiving funding are:

-- Sophie Barksdale, SB Productions: A Lander-based film production company from Emmy-nominated Barksdale, sharing fiction and nonfiction stories from remote and rural America using local talent. The company serves statewide.

-- Bruce Cook, Creative Visionaries: Based in Fort Washakie, Creative Visionaries plans to partner with the Creative Nations Indigenous Artists Collective and the Dairy Arts Center to support emerging Native American artists in advancing their careers and achieving their goals of becoming established creative professionals.

-- Shawn Day, Big Horn Records LLC: A Sheridan-based record label that focuses on supporting Wyoming artists by helping them build sustainable music careers in Wyoming. The company serves clients statewide.

-- Reilly Dibner, Ecosystem Films: Based in Laramie, Ecosystem Films distills the highest-quality science into engaging, educational and accessible films rooted in data, serving statewide.

-- Aubrey Edwards, Alces Community Works: Based in Laramie, Alces Community Works will be a collaborative ethnography 501(c)(3) organization that produces books, exhibits, events, workshops, public art, mentorship opportunities and curriculum that share the complex stories of Wyoming across the state and beyond.

-- Francesca King, Footnote Literary Consultancy: Based in Lander, the consultancy aims to elevate Wyoming's statewide literary community through manuscript services, workshops and networking, bridging gaps in resources and recognition for local writers.

-- Anne Mason, Anne C. Mason Creative Consultant: Based in Laramie, Mason mentors organizations statewide on improved practices in business and theater operation, applying cross-sector skills to strengthen empathy, efficiency and impact.

-- Carrie McCarthy, Burning Torch Productions: A Rock Springs-based independent documentary production company focused on telling and sharing the stories of Wyoming statewide.

-- Korrine Ryan, Chandlar and Co. LLC: Based in Thermopolis, an art-focused community space where people of all ages and backgrounds can take art classes and connect together over creativity.

-- John Wilhelm, Audio Library of the West: Based in Laramie, an online library of sound recordings and a community resource for audio media creatives, serving statewide.

Last year, the Neltje Center, along with community college partners Sheridan College and Northwest College, received $1.1 million from WIP for "artsWork," an innovative program focused on supporting artists and investing in Wyoming's creative economy. The program consisted of workshops, mentorship and professional development opportunities for those seeking to develop creative initiatives.

Workshops were held in Laramie, Sheridan, Fort Washakie, Powell and Rock Springs, and they were open to anyone in the state.

One hundred people participated in the workshops, and each was eligible to compete for the startup challenge funding. Sixty-two of the participants applied with letters of intent about their arts-focused enterprises, and 30 were selected by a panel to move to the next phases: a pitch presentation and development of an arts-focused enterprise plan. The goals of the WIP creative economy initiative are to support arts-related enterprises based in Wyoming, benefit local communities and contribute to the state's creative economy.

Throughout the artsWork program, opportunities were created for participants to learn from arts and business experts statewide and from across the country. Webinars were held on topics including fundraising, choosing a business format, community outreach and community engagement. A directory of project participants was created to foster connectivity and encourage future collaborations.

"This collaboration is a new way to boost an emerging sector of Wyoming's economy, and we're excited that UW's Neltje Center and our community college partners led a very successful program," says Scott Turpen, dean of UW's College of Arts and Sciences. "Beth and her team did a tremendous job, and the winners will have an impact around the state."

To learn more about the WIP creative economy initiative, visit www.uwyo.edu/as/wip.html.

To learn more about the Neltje Center, go to www.uwyo.edu/as/neltje-center/index.html.

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