Ucross Foundation facts for kids
| Nickname | Ucross |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1981 |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Purpose | Artist residencies in the High Plains, art gallery, land stewardship of historic 20,000-acre ranch |
| Location |
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| Website | https://www.ucrossfoundation.org |
The Ucross Foundation is a special place in Ucross, Wyoming. It's a non-profit group that helps artists, writers, musicians, and dancers. They offer a quiet retreat where creative people can work on their projects.
Contents
A Look Back: Ucross Foundation's Story
The Ucross Foundation started in 1981. It was founded by Raymond Plank. It's located on a huge 20,000-acre ranch in northeastern Wyoming. This ranch is still a working cattle ranch today.
The main buildings, called the Big Red Ranch Complex, are very old. They were built in 1882. This complex holds the Foundation's offices and an art gallery. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The name "Ucross" comes from a cattle brand. In the 1880s, the Pratt and Ferris Cattle Company used a brand with a "U" and a cross below it. This company ran a big ranch, and the Big Red Complex was their main office.
A Creative Home: Residencies and Art
The Ucross Foundation gives artists a special place to work. They offer living spaces and studios. Artists get quiet time in the beautiful High Plains landscape. They stay for two to six weeks.
About ten artists can be there at one time. Ucross has studios for writers, visual artists, and music composers. There's also the Lauren Anderson Dance Studio. It's named after the first Black principal dancer in a big ballet company.
Artists live in their studios or in renovated old buildings. These include the historic Ucross School House or the Clearmont Train Depot. Each has bedrooms, a dining area, and a kitchen. Over 2,600 artists from all over the world have stayed at Ucross.
Working with Other Art Groups
Ucross works with many other arts organizations. These include the Sundance Institute Theatre Program and the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts. They also partner with the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction.
Other partners include the Alley Theatre, the Whiting Foundation, and the Ford Family Foundation. They also work with universities like Yale University and Rice University.
The Ucross Art Gallery
The Ucross Art Gallery is in the historic Big Red Barn. It's open all year round and is free to visit. The gallery often shows art made by artists who have stayed at Ucross.
In 2005, the Foundation won the Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award. This award recognized their great work in the arts.
Amazing Artists: Ucross Fellows
Many famous artists have been Ucross Fellows. These include writers like Annie Proulx, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Tayari Jones. National Book Award winners Susan Choi, Sigrid Nunez, and Sarah M. Broom have also been residents.
Award-winning artists like Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Academy and Tony winners) have stayed here. Emmy Award winner Billy Porter and Pulitzer Prize winners Michael R. Jackson and Colson Whitehead are also Ucross alumni. Joy Harjo, a three-term United States Poet Laureate, has also been a fellow.
Caring for the Land: Conservation Efforts
Ucross also works to protect the land. They have planted thousands of trees on the ranch. They also set aside over 12,000 acres of the ranch for conservation. This was done with the Wyoming Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
In 2010, the Ucross Ranch was recognized for its conservation efforts. It was a finalist for the Leopold Conservation Award. This award is given by the Sand County Foundation.
The newest project is The Park at Ucross. This community park has a small chapel. It also has The Raymond Plank Center. This modern building hosts art shows, artists, and conferences.
