Boosting the Creative Economy

UW’s Neltje Center and partners offer training and startup funding for creative ventures across the state.

When we think of growing the economy in Wyoming, tech or energy or manufacturing usually come to mind. But many small businesses are part of the creative economy, ranging from film production and music to literary and visual arts.

The University of Wyoming Neltje Center for Excellence in Creativity and the Arts — along with community college partners Sheridan College and Northwest College — received $1.1 million to help grow the creative economy. The funding comes from the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) for “artsWork,” an innovative program focused on supporting artists and investing in Wyoming’s creative economy. 

Throughout the artsWork program, participants learned from arts and business experts. Webinars were held on topics including fundraising, choosing a business format, community outreach and community engagement. Participants especially benefited from one-on-one mentoring.

“We had 33 mentors in disciplines across art and business, and all participants had unfettered and free access to these specialists, which turned out to be invaluable,” says Neltje Center Executive Director Beth Venn.

Workshops — open to anyone in the state — were held in Laramie, Sheridan, Fort Washakie, Powell and Rock Springs. One hundred people participated in the workshops, and each was eligible to compete for the startup challenge funding. In July, 10 businesses were selected to receive $25,000 each.

“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,” UW President Ed Seidel says.

Meet two winners of the startup challenge.

Burning Torch Productions

Carrie McCarthy grew up in Rock Springs, earned her UW bachelor’s degree in chemistry (2012) and went on to earn her doctorate in materials chemistry from the University of Southern California. McCarthy combined her love of science and filmmaking, breaking into the industry as a scientific film consultant on documentaries.

Now, she runs Burning Torch Productions in Rock Springs with her partner, Mark Pedri. They produce character-driven nonfiction stories across different formats. Their films have appeared nationally on PBS stations, won awards at film festivals and earned regional Emmies.

McCarthy jumped at the chance to meet other creatives and to learn from experts in the workshops.

“The content was phenomenal,” she says. Many creatives start a business on the side or aren’t sure how to make a living from their art. The workshops taught them how to write business plans and create sustainable initiatives.

“This whole experience opened my eyes to how many creative people are in Wyoming,” McCarthy says. “We have animators, sound professionals, filmmakers, visual artists all right here in Wyoming.”

A new directory of project participants was created to foster connectivity and encourage future collaborations, and McCarthy plans to call on her fellow Wyomingites for future projects. With the startup funding, Burning Torch will hire additional help to grow its business. Currently, the company is working on two Wyoming-based films, including one about trona mining.

“I grew up here in Wyoming, and I didn’t know being an artist was an option as a career here,” McCarthy says. “The more we build the creative economy, the more it becomes an option, and those projects also foster close and connected communities.”

Chandlar and Company Art House

Korinne Ryan is an artist based in Thermopolis. She’s inspired by personal stories and loves to incorporate colors, textures and a variety of materials in her work. Already the sole proprietor of Chandlar and Company, she was inspired by the creative economy workshops to expand her offerings with the addition of Art House. The startup funding was key to launching the space.

“Art House will become a vibrant visual arts hub in downtown Thermopolis,” Ryan says. “It will offer art classes for all ages, as well as fellowships and skill-sharing sessions for artists. The space will feature a rotating selection of local artwork for sale and will be available for private events.”

Ryan believes art enhances life and community. “Art provides a vital outlet for balancing the demands of life and appreciating its beauty, making it as crucial as oil, minerals and a strong work ethic,” she says. “Currently, there is no central hub for visual arts in our area. My goal for Chandlar and Company Art House is to create a vibrant center for community creativity and artist networking, serving as a focal point for visual arts in Thermopolis and the surrounding region.”

Room to Grow

The remaining eight businesses funded include Lander-based SB Productions (film); Fort Washakie-based Creative Visionaries to help Native American artists advance their careers; Sheridan-based Big Horn Records LLC; and several Laramie-based businesses, including Ecosystem Films; Alces Community Works (ethnography nonprofit); Footnote Literary Consultancy; Anne C. Mason Creative Consultant (for theater); and Audio Library of the West.

“Creative practitioners in every discipline are at work all over the state of Wyoming,” Venn says. “This program helped identify them, assess their needs and provide necessary support to those eager to build their creative practices and reach their professional goals. Programs like this are critical to the development of a healthy, thriving, sustainable creative economy.”