A recent national survey suggests that Wyoming’s art scene is stronger than many might expect, ranking 19th overall among the 50 states and Washington, DC, County 10 reports.
The study, conducted by Smile Hub, evaluated various factors such as the number of artists per capita, access to arts funding, and the financial success of artists.
While Wyoming’s relatively small population might make it easy to overlook, the state proved to be a strong supporter of the arts. It tied for first place in “Most Federal Arts Funding per Capita,” alongside Vermont, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Additionally, Wyoming ranked 13th in “Access to Art” and 20th in “Artists’ Economy and Personal Finances,” indicating that artists in the state have a fair level of economic opportunity.
However, the study also highlighted areas for improvement. Wyoming ranked 47th in “Art Education,” suggesting that access to arts programs in schools may be lacking compared to other states.
The top states for the arts included New York, California, and Washington, all of which have large, well-established artistic communities. On the other end of the spectrum, states like Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia ranked lowest.
Some of the key national findings from the study include:
New York has the most art charities per capita—14.8 times higher than New Hampshire, which has the fewest.
Nevada offers the highest average salary for fine artists when adjusted for cost of living.
California has the most artists per capita—15.1 times more than Hawaii, which ranks last in that category.
