 Whether you are an artist-alum, you have attended our community events, or you simply value the arts and connect with our mission, you are a part of the Ucross story. During this liminal week, we would like to thank you for engaging with Ucross throughout the past year — and it has been an extraordinary year. In 2025, we welcomed a grand total of 155 artists from across the U.S., as well as Austria, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Belgium, and Canada. Ten at a time, we provided each of these writers, visual artists, composers, choreographers, and interdisciplinary artists with a private studio, living accommodations, chef-prepared meals, staff support, optional community activities, and the experience of the majestic High Plains of northern Wyoming. We heard from many artists this year that Ucross's uninterrupted time and space was transformative for their creative process — fueling their work, inspiring audiences worldwide, and fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and their impact on our global community. We know that this would not be possible without you, our artists, our community, our supporters. Watch a video created this year about our shared impact on the creative spirit. Then, please, take time for yourself to scroll down and remember some of the top moments that we achieved together in service to artists, the arts, and community this year.  1. INNOVATIVE ART EXHIBITIONS In 2025, the Ucross Art Gallery exhibited three remarkable shows featuring alumni artists and guest curators: We Have All the Time in the World, curated by Josh Kun; Language of the Land, curated by Sean Chandler (Aniih); and Luminous Forms, curated by Emily McElwreath, currently on view through January 10. These exhibitions explored sound, identity, and light. Explore the current and past shows.  . INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS We continued to cultivate cultural connections across the world through new artist-centric partnerships with the European Union, McKnight Foundation, and Rhode Island Foundation's MacColl Johnson Fellowship. Closer to home, we also hosted the inaugural Wyoming Resources Policy Forum on our ranch with University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. See all of our partnerships.  3. DEEPER LAND CONNECTION This spring, we welcomed our first-ever farmer to our staff. Working directly with our chef and her team, Esper's harvests were at the heart of our artists’ table all year long, fueling creative work with home-grown greens, fruits, and vegetables. Our new farm-focused efforts have helped us to responsibly steward and connect more holistically to our 20,000-acre ranch. And we’re just getting started.  4. ULTIMATE OPEN HOUSE During Ucross Founder's Day on May 31, all 10 artists-in-residence welcomed the community into their studios. Visitors enjoyed picnics on the lawn, listened to music by the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, and enjoyed performances by Sarah Ortegon Highwalking (Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho), the inaugural recipient of the new Ucross Fellowship for Native American Performers. Watch the video.  5. SOUND INSTALLATION Also on Founder's Day, we launched Confluences, an emplaced sound experience created by Ucross Fellows Teri Rueb and Laurids Sonne. Using a free app and headphones, visitors wandered our grounds and ranch as sounds played, revealing a sonic landscape of voices of resident artists, stories of local residents, field recordings taken in different seasons, and more. Tune into Confluences, running in perpetuity.  6. FOLDING IN THE CULINARY ARTS Brendan Basham (Diné) was the inaugural recipient of a Ucross culinary residency. This new program provides chefly artists or artistic chefs with the time and space to experiment, learn, and collaborate with the Ucross artists, farmer, and community. As a Ucross alum and former chef, Brendan was the ideal first recipient; he spent his six-week residency writing, experimenting, and cooking for his fellow artists.  7. DOWN TO THE STUDS This summer, we began a much-needed renovation of the Big Red Ranch House, the home of our offices. Built in 1882, the house was last updated in 1982. Thanks to generous support from Armand and Mary Brachman, we are restoring the structural integrity of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring the sustainability of our artist residency program. Stay tuned for more in 2026!  8. RETURN OF UCROSS ARTS FESTIVAL On August 17, hundreds turned out for the Ucross Arts Festival, which featured former artists-in-residence through performances, poetry, and printmaking in The Park at Ucross. Avant-garde musician and performance artist Hayden Pedigo headlined the festivities, with poetry readings by M.L. Smoker and David Romtvedt and printmaking demonstrations and artwork designed by Tawni Shuler. Watch the video.  9. LAUNCH OF BIG RED SHOWCASE With the goal of championing former artists-in-residence and further infusing our spaces with their artwork, we created the Big Red Showcase, a seasonal artist spotlight throughout the Big Red Barn, in June. The inaugural showcase artist was Roxanne Everett, who joined us for a public reception and artist talk on September 23. Explore her landscape paintings, on view through February 19.  10. ALUMNI ACROSS DECADES Tearjerker: Brokeback Mountain opened in the Raymond Plank Center with an artist talk and film screening on October 2. This special exhibition features prints by Ucross Fellow Natalie Woodlock illustrating scenes from Ang Lee's 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, adapted from the 1997 short story by Ucross Fellow — and former Trustee — Annie Proulx. Explore the exhibition, which is on view by appointment.  11. INCREDIBLE SUPPORT On November 6, the Ucross Gala & Benefit in Houston raised more than $1.4 million for our artist residency program. The evening featured music by our partners at Shepherd School of Music at Rice, performances choreographed by Ucross Fellow Jack Wolff of Houston Ballet, and live painting by Ucross Fellow Don Stinson, concluding with an awards ceremony honoring Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. Read the PaperCity Magazine feature.  12. CELEBRATING THE SEASON Earlier this month, we welcomed more than 300 people to the Raymond Plank Center and The Park at Ucross for the annual Ucross Community Christmas Celebration. The program featured festive caroling by the Buffalo Balladiers, an extra-special Longmire reading by Craig Johnson, a performance by the Fireants, housemade refreshments, and cannon fire. Dig into the Sheridan Media article. We accomplished the above — while supporting our artists and our land — with you. Your engagement makes our work possible. Thank you for cheering on our artists, attending our events, and including us in your year-end charitable giving. Thanks for being a part of our story in 2025. Now, we invite you to become a part of our story in 2026. If you haven't yet had the opportunity this year, please consider making a tax-deductible gift before New Year's Day. As a nonprofit organization, we depend on individual donations to fund each artist's residency, which costs approximately $12,500. Your contribution also helps us serve as a vital cultural resource for our community, supporting free access to art exhibitions, events, and other programming, as well as a responsible steward of our land. Every donation — no matter the amount — makes a difference. If you have already donated, thank you. We also invite you to apply for an artist residency in Fall 2026. We support artists across disciplines and at all stages of their careers. We are accepting applications through January 15 at 11:59 p.m. MT. POSTSCRIPT POSTCARD FROM THE UCROSS TEAM We wish you a happy end of 2025!
Our staff has also grown this year. On January 1, Caitlin Addlesperger took the helm as President and Executive Director. Throughout 2025, each team member has deepened their role and their commitment to the creative spirit. From left: Scott Foundation Student Intern from Sheridan College Tate Bateman, Business Director Heather Heath, Maintenance and Grounds Manager Fritz Bateman, Communications Associate Emi Whiting, School House Assistant Katrina Conner, President and Executive Director Caitlin Addlesperger, Program Director Tawni Shuler, Residency Associate Carl Largent, Gallery Associate Lacasa Michelena, Maintenance Technician Gage Rathcamp, Advancement Associate Shelly Stoner, Maintenance Technician Zach Fischer, Housekeeping Assistant Sue Albright, and Chef Jackie Vitale. Not pictured: Farmer Esper Gaspardi, on break after her fruitful first season. And we're hiring! Please send this link to an appreciator of the arts who could be a good fit for the new Administrative Coordinator role. We have big plans for 2026. See you next year! Comments are closed.
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