Wyoming: Health and Wellness through the Arts

Ark Regional Services in Laramie, Wyoming, facilitates opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to live, learn, work and play at their Cooper Center for Creative Arts. Back row from left: Steven Singleton, Molly Giehart, Daniel Pourkaldani, Eric Petersen, Carissa Isom, Jon Hunt Sell. Photo courtesy Ark Regional Services

The Wyoming Arts Council’s (WAC) Health and Wellness through the Arts program connects artists, arts organizations, and health service providers to deliver creative opportunities to constituents managing a decline in health, living with a temporary or permanent physical, emotional or cognitive disability, or seeking to improve overall well-being and quality of life. WAC conducted a statewide survey seeking to identify Wyoming’s existing assets and field needs. The survey was conducted among Wyoming artists, arts organizations and representatives from the health care, aging, military and disabilities sectors. The survey results outlined the three areas of highest interest among participants as early education, creative aging and military/veterans. WAC established a Health & Wellness Network that serves as a community offering a forum for sharing resources and opportunities to participate in the movement. To continue this important work, WAC formalized health and wellness as part of a staff specialist’s job portfolio. In addition, WAC encourages applications for the Community Support Grant from organizations working at the intersection of arts and health. To learn more or to join the Health & Wellness Network, contact WAC Folklorist and Health & Wellness Specialist Josh Chrysler at 307-256-2010 or joshua.chrysler@wyo.gov.