Milward Simpson has been an unwavering advocate for the arts and humanities in Wyoming. His departure from the Wyoming Humanities board marks the end of an era characterized by his passion, vision, and commitment to enriching the state’s cultural landscape.
With a deep love for the arts and the people of Wyoming, Simpson has spent years championing initiatives that elevate creative expression, historical understanding, and community engagement.
As an accomplished leader and advocate, Milward has made an indelible mark on Wyoming’s cultural and educational institutions. He tirelessly advocates for funding, integrating arts and culture into education, and promoting the importance of art in fostering a sense of place, identity, and community.
In a 2020 Wyoming Humanities What’s Your Why podcast, Milward said, “I encourage everyone to go out of their way to discover the cultural resources in your area, not just in your town but your region. Find out who those folks are. Find out who’s doing arts and cultural work. Who are the small nonprofit arts organizations? Do you have a local chapter of the State Historical Society there? Do you spend any time in your local library? Do you have some historic buildings that you’re celebrating there? What are the opportunities around you to understand the culture of your area and its history?
Simpson’s advocacy extends far beyond policy. He builds partnerships, connects with local artists, and works alongside educators and historians to ensure that Wyoming’s rich heritage and creative spirit are preserved and celebrated. His work on behalf of the Wyoming Humanities Council, the Wyoming Arts Council, and other organizations brought vital resources and attention to artists and scholars, ensuring that rural and urban communities could benefit from cultural programming.
In an introduction to the Demorest Keynote Lecturer, Dr. Susan Rogers, at the 2024 Casper College Humanities Festival, Milward noted: “The humanities have been defined as those disciplines that study the expressions of human beings as a means of exploring and revealing what it means to be human. They challenge people to self-reflect, think abstractly, and create. In short, the humanities attempt to understand the human condition, including its mysteries and paradoxes. Why do we love the music that we love? What does that say about us and our sense of self, and why is our love of music a conduit to our creativity?”
Milward Simpson’s legacy as an advocate for the arts and humanities in Wyoming will endure for generations. Though his formal role as a board member is concluding, the positive impact of his work will continue to resonate in our cultural institutions, the creative lives he has nurtured, and the strong foundation he has helped build for future advocates. Wyoming is richer for his service, and we are all grateful for his dedication to fostering a vibrant cultural landscape in our state.