A new report from the University of Wyoming underscores the strong impact of the arts and culture sector on Wyoming’s economy, revealing it as a significant contributor, Kiowa County Press reports.
The report shows that in 2022, the arts and culture sector added more than $1.3 billion to Wyoming’s economy, outpacing the combined economic contributions of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting by $350 million.
Employment within Wyoming’s arts sector also proved robust, with the industry employing over 4% of the state’s workforce. Workers in this field earned a median salary of nearly $46,000 per year, positioning Wyoming as a top performer among neighboring states for employment share in this sector. Counties like Sheridan led with the highest percentage of arts-related employment at 9.6%, followed by Teton, Johnson, and Park counties.
Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of the Wyoming Arts Alliance, emphasized that the arts complement Wyoming’s traditional industries rather than competing with them.
“It’s just as true to say that ‘Wyoming is an arts and culture state’ as it is to say ‘Wyoming is an agriculture state,’” Schneider explained.
He stressed that both sectors contribute to the state’s identity and economy.
According to Schneider, the report’s county-level analysis provides a snapshot of Wyoming’s creative economy and facilitates discussions among community leaders about the future of the arts in their areas. Arts advocates hope the data will encourage Wyomingites to recognize the importance of arts and culture in rural economies.
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