The Nicolaysen Art Museum, the NIC, collects, preserves, and exhibits the work of contemporary artists and presents it to the community as a vital source of inspiration and education. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and community events, The NIC creates opportunities for people to explore ideas, share stories, and engage with art in meaningful ways.
Over a thousand 1st graders and educators join us for WyoReads each year presented by the Jorgensen Library Foundation and The Natrona County Public Library, one of many community partnerships that connect art, education, and learning. Throughout the year, The NIC works closely with nonprofits, arts organizations, artists, and community groups to create meaningful experiences that serve people of all ages.
The NIC serves more than 750 participants annually through art classes, summer camps, workshops, and outreach programs for adults, veterans, residents in assisted living communities, and others. The Discovery Center further expands access to hands-on creative experiences through year-round activities and special events.
The NIC’s Board of Directors is made up of dedicated volunteers who bring a wide range of professional experience, perspectives, and expertise to the museum. Members of The Nicolaysen Art Museum’s Board, pictured below: Board Chair Dr. Geoff Hunt, Vice Chair Linda Ryan, Secretary Erin McNicoll, Treasurer Tiana Carlson, outgoing Treasurer Liz Bowers, LuDel Walter, Marci Hayward, and City Liaison Michael Bond. The Board of Directors works closely with museum staff to support governance, strategic planning, financial oversight, and long-term sustainability.
Through regular meetings, committee work, advocacy, fundraising, and strategic planning, the Board of Directors helps ensure that The NIC remains a vibrant cultural resource for Casper and Wyoming. This photograph recognizes the leadership, service, and dedication of those who generously contribute their time and talents in support of the museum and the communities it serves.
In 2026, The Nicolaysen Art Museum achieved reaccreditation through the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition available to museums in the United States. This distinction demonstrates The NIC’s continued commitment to professional excellence, public trust, and responsible stewardship of its collections, programs, and resources.
Reaccreditation is a years-long process that requires extensive planning, documentation, institutional review, and collaboration among staff, board members, and volunteers. Successfully completing the process reflects the dedication of many individuals working toward a common goal.
To recognize those efforts, The NIC commissioned Casper artist Jim Kopp to create portraits of the members of the museum’s Accreditation Committee, pictured below. The artwork honors the leadership, service, and countless hours contributed by committee members throughout the reaccreditation process, celebrating both a significant institutional achievement and the people who helped make it possible.
In a true union of arts and culture, the NIC hosts an annual Día de los Muertos celebration that brings families and community members together to explore the traditions, history, and cultural significance of the holiday through art and hands-on learning.
Visitors in the Discovery Center actively create art as part of the celebration. The event welcomed participants of all ages to engage with cultural traditions through creative expression, making Día de los Muertos one of The NIC’s most vibrant and well-attended community programs, pictured below. The strong participation reflects the museum’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for cultural learning, artistic exploration, and community connection.
Also this year, The Nicolaysen Art Museum celebrated the 20th Anniversary of NIC Fest, marking two decades of bringing art, music, culture, and community together in downtown Casper. What began as a local arts festival has grown into one of the museum’s and Casper’s most anticipated annual events, drawing visitors from across the region for performances, vendors, family activities, and creative experiences.
The 20th Anniversary June 4-7, 2026 was a major community celebration featuring regional musicians, artists, performers, vendors, and partner organizations. Throughout the four-day event, visitors experienced live entertainment, visual arts, hands-on activities, and opportunities to connect through shared cultural experiences.
While visitors experience only a small portion of The Nicolaysen Art Museum’s Permanent Collection, the museum is responsible for preserving over eight thousand artworks that reflect the artistic and cultural history of Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region.
In the photograph below, Will Davis works within the museum’s collections vault, located in an addition built as part of the museum’s transformation of the former Casper Lumber Company building. The historic site once housed Casper’s first electric company before being renovated into the museum’s permanent home in 1990. The original brick structure remains at the heart of the museum today, connecting the preservation of art with the preservation of local history. Artworks are carefully stored, documented, inventoried, and monitored to ensure they remain protected for future generations. By preserving these objects and the stories they carry, The NIC helps maintain a lasting record of Wyoming’s cultural heritage and artistic legacy.
The Nicolaysen Art Museum’s vision for the future includes building a stronger endowment to ensure that art, education, exhibitions, and community programming remain accessible for generations to come. A $10 million endowment would provide transformational support for the museum’s long-term sustainability and strengthen its ability to serve the community regardless of economic conditions. This would generate enough annual support to cover the majority of staff and utility costs in perpetuity. This level of financial stability would allow the museum to focus more resources on exhibitions, educational programs, collections stewardship, and community engagement while preserving the museum’s role as a cultural anchor for Wyoming.
The Mueller Sculpture Garden represents both what The NIC has built and what it hopes to sustain. As a year-round public space that welcomes visitors of all ages, the sculpture garden reflects the museum’s commitment to accessible arts experiences and serves as a reminder that investments made today can continue benefiting the community far into the future. You can support this commitment to accessibility.
The Nicolaysen Art Museum joins14 other organizations as a member of the first-ever Culture Grows Grantee Cohort, a grant line from Wyoming Humanities dedicated to growing connection and elevating Wyoming’s cultural network through regular convening of the cohort.
