WyAA Funding Story Toolkit

The WyAA Funding Story Toolkit is a specialized resource designed to empower Wyoming’s artists and cultural organizations to articulate their economic and social value. The toolkit provides a framework for storytelling with a purpose, combining the metrics of the State of the Creative Sector Report with personal, compelling narratives that resonate with decision-makers. It includes practical advocacy tools, such as communication templates and strategies for demonstrating how local art initiatives drive tourism and community revitalization.

Tell Your Story!

The Funding Story Toolkit provides local arts leaders with a unified voice when seeking financial support from municipal, county and state governments. This guide is designed to bridge the gap between the creative arts and culture work and the interests of stakeholders, such as city councils or corporate sponsors. By utilizing these resources, Wyoming’s creative sector unites to share our stories and works to secure the stable, long-term funding necessary to sustain our state’s creative economy.

the time and place by Katy Ann Fox

WyAA Funding Story Toolkit

Download the WyAA Funding Story Toolkit today to access the data-driven strategies and storytelling templates you need to secure long-term support for your local creative community.

Fueling Wyoming’s Future

Wyoming’s creative sector is a central pillar of our state’s economic resilience. As we look toward a diversified future, the arts serve as a high-growth industry that powers our local communities.

An Economic Powerhouse

The data is clear: our creative economy is thriving and outperforming expectations.

  • A Billion-Dollar Contributor: In 2022, the sector contributed $1.3 billion to Wyoming’s GDP, representing approximately 2.7% of the state’s total economic output.

  • Rapid Growth: The sector expanded by 8.9% between 2021 and 2022, marking it as one of Wyoming’s fastest-growing industries.

  • Fiscal Impact: Beyond industry earnings, the creative sector generates over $100 million in annual tax revenue, directly funding the roads, schools, and safety services all Wyomingites rely on.

The Workforce Advantage

The arts are a primary driver for job creation and talent retention.

  • 14,600+ Full-Time Jobs: From core artists to technical and administrative roles, the sector provides stable livelihoods for thousands of residents.

  • Attracting Talent: Beyond the numbers, the arts build the "sense of place" required to attract and retain young professionals and innovative businesses in Wyoming.

Bridging the Gap

Wyoming's artists, creative businesses, and cultural organizations are currently working to bridge four primary hurdles:

  • The Valuation Gap: The challenge of proving that the arts are a multi-million-dollar economic driver, rather than just a casual hobby.

  • The Capacity Gap: Strained, volunteer-led rural organizations lacking the bandwidth to pursue and manage complex state and federal grants.

  • The Infrastructure Gap: A lack of affordable downtown housing and a high youth "brain drain" make it difficult to attract and retain creative talent.

  • The Digital Divide: A rapid shift toward digital-only marketing isolates frontier counties due to unreliable internet and technology barriers.

Why Use the WyAA Funding Story Toolkit?

Data alone rarely changes minds, stories do. The Funding Story Toolkit is designed to turn statistics into local victories.

Storytelling with Purpose: Use our framework to combine Wyoming’s $1.3 billion success story with your organization’s unique impact on your specific town or county.

Streamlined Advocacy: Access ready-to-use templates for communicating effectively with city councils, county commissioners, and corporate sponsors.

Secure Sustainable Funding: Shift the conversation from "one-off" grants toward stable, long-term public and private support.

Build Community Hubs: Learn how to advocate for the infrastructure your community needs—such as centralized arts hubs—to provide shared resources and mentorship for the next generation of Wyoming creators.

Your Voice Matters: By utilizing the Funding Story Toolkit, you aren't just asking for support for a project; you are advocating for a $1.3 billion industry that keeps Wyoming vibrant, competitive, and growing.