Circular Introduces “Youth Arts Entrepreneurship in the Circular Economy” Program

Sheridan, Wyoming’s Circular showcases unique solutions to global problems through creative projects. These projects focus on sustainability, the circular economy, new community narratives, and visual arts entrepreneurship.

We’re very excited to introduce a new program - “Youth Arts Entrepreneurship in the Circular Economy” - beginning in October!

This program will introduce the circular economy and its relationship to visual arts; explores multiple unique art forms to be created through circular principles and methods; and provides an initial foundation to entrepreneurship in the arts.

This program will be offered in three different seven-week cycles, with start dates in October, January, and March. Each program will be limited to eight students and consist of four two-hour classes.

Multiple team and community members will facilitate specific aspects of the program. The program will begin with an introduction to principles of the circular economy. We will then explore various art forms that can be created based on those principles. We will have demonstrations pertaining to papermaking, pigment creation, unique and creative media, and planning of their pieces. The final class will focus on the marketability of each student's unique showcase piece and the potential sale of their created artwork. Additionally, we will explore methods they can incorporate to create more unique pieces and market them to a broader audience.

Classes will be led by Sheridan, WY’s Ashley Cooper

Each of the eight-week programs will be led by Sheridan artist Ashley Cooper. As an art teacher at Sheridan High School for the past six years, she is passionate about helping her students realize their own worth and value. During the 2020/21 school year, Ashley was awarded an ‘Outstanding Educator Award’. The following year, she was presented with the Wyoming Arts Council 2021 Arts Learning Innovation Award.

Program Benefits

There are no known Youth Arts Entrepreneurship programs in Wyoming and very few in the United States. The introduction of this program through Circular is unique given our vibrant Sheridan Arts community, our team and their network, and our new downtown studio location. This combination of factors drastically increases the probability of running successful programs in our county, while receiving statewide recognition for our work.

Wyoming business development entities and most economic development organizations in the U.S. measure small business impact through jobs created. This simple metric is easily documented and tracked. Our program necessitates different measures of success and impact. By May of 2023, we will have successfully graduated 24 students from our program, with at least 18 being female. Of the 24 graduates, our goal is that 8 of them start their own Sole Proprietorship or Limited Liability Company with our assistance. This business creation metric can be included in discussions with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership, the Wyoming Business Council, and multiple related entities across our state.

Our Location and Approach to Innovation

To further bolster the Sheridan visual arts community, Circular has leased 2,500 square feet of studio space at 15 W. Brundage, next to SAGE Community Arts and across from the Wyo Theater. Our space showcases our own artistic projects, visual arts pieces created by community and statewide artists, and will host several programs for youth community members.

Ellen Goode and students from WyldFlower Learning Community at Circular

With the new physical space, increased statewide exposure, acceptance of cryptocurrency as donations, and the new Entrepreneurship program launching in September, Circular is poised to help lead innovation efforts in the nonprofit sector across the state.

Circular Leadership

Logan Jenkins, Executive Director - Founder at Pheneovate & WY Ranch, Sheridan, WY

Ellen Goode, Board President - Founder at WyldFlower Learning, Sheridan, WY

Ashley Cooper, Board Secretary - Sheridan High School Art Teacher, Sheridan, WY

Dr. Matthew Henry, Board Treasurer - UW Teacher, Honors College, Laramie, WY