CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Arts Cheyenne’s 2024 Annual Report highlights a year of growth and new initiatives across its arts and culture programming. The nonprofit organization, which operates with three staff members and a board of 12, detailed progress in public art, community events and educational workshops.
The Cheyenne Creativity Center, now in its second year, hosted 59 workshops on topics like oil painting and printmaking. The center saw 3,554 visitors in 2024, with 91 local artists participating in gallery events. Arts Cheyenne reported a significant influx of new contributors, with 70 artists showing work for the first time.
In March 2024, Arts Cheyenne appointed Desirée Brothe as its new executive director, succeeding retiring leader Bill Lindstrom. Brothe, who had served as the organization’s public art coordinator and assistant director for five years, brings extensive experience in community development and the arts.
In February 2024, Arts Cheyenne celebrated the first anniversary of the Cheyenne Creativity Center with the “Whatever Art” gallery opening. The event featured over 50 artworks from 22 artists and coincided with the monthly First Friday Artwalk. Attendees enjoyed a variety of art forms, including ceramics, photography and digital illustrations.
The Cheyenne First Friday Artwalk expanded to four new venues, including the Civic Center and The Louise, bringing total attendance to 1,200 for the year. Two special events, including a fundraiser and a traveling exhibit, were added to the monthly event calendar. According to the report, the Artwalk remains a key driver of community engagement.
Public art also saw notable developments. Ten bronze sculptures were added to the city’s collection, and 30 murals were updated. Arts Cheyenne collaborated with local artists on projects like a mural at the Habitat for Humanity building downtown. A new maintenance schedule was also implemented to ensure the upkeep of existing installations.
The organization plans to expand its ArtHaus program and move forward with the Arts & Aviation Center project in 2025. The Aviation Center, which aims to repurpose the former airport terminal into a mixed-use facility, will continue to undergo environmental and historical assessments.
While Arts Cheyenne outlined ambitious goals for 2025, it also acknowledged challenges in meeting funding needs. The report emphasized a continued focus on securing financial resources to sustain and grow its programs.
The 2024 annual report can be found on the Arts Cheyenne website.
