Community partnerships give Sheridan College art students a head start on creative careers

For students studying art at Sheridan College, the classroom extends well beyond campus.

Through partnerships with galleries, museums, theaters and nonprofit arts organizations across Sheridan County and the region, students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in the creative economy while building professional networks before graduation.

Students in Sheridan College’s visual arts programs study ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting, digital photography, printmaking and graphic design. Those interested in the business side of the arts can pursue the college’s arts administration program. Classes are housed in the Edward A. Whitney Center for the Arts, where students have 24-hour access to nearly 60,000 square feet of visual and performing arts space.

Outside the classroom, emphasis is placed on student opportunities to intern and work with organizations throughout the community, including the Ucross Foundation artist residency program, the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, SAGE Community Arts in downtown Sheridan, the WYO Theater in downtown Sheridan, the Jentel artist residency and the University of Wyoming Neltje Center for Excellence in Creativity and the Arts.

Every student begins by working as a gallery assistant in the Edward A. Whitney Gallery on campus, where they learn the fundamentals of exhibition installation, gallery operations and visitor engagement before moving into internships with community partners.

Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair Brittney Denham said the progression gives students the confidence and practical skills to succeed in professional settings.

“All of these students start as gallery assistants at Sheridan College, where they build a strong foundation before moving into internships throughout the community,” Denham said. “The opportunities they receive are priceless. They teach workshops, install exhibitions, learn specialized equipment and communicate with professional artists and arts administrators. Through those experiences, they discover where they want their future to be. It’s phenomenal.”

One of those students is multidisciplinary artist Tennyson Lewallen, who graduated from Sheridan College in 2026 with an Associate of Fine Arts. During her time at the college, she worked as a gallery assistant before completing an internship at the Brinton Museum and teaching children’s art classes at SAGE Community Arts. Along the way, she gained experience in daily gallery operations, exhibition installation and community programming while also exhibiting her own work and receiving feedback from artists, curators and other professionals. She currently works at University of Wyoming’s Neltje Center, where she is gaining additional experience in arts administration. Lewallen said that when she started classes at Sheridan College, she thought that teaching art education was the only viable career path for her, but she quickly discovered many other options. “Throughout my internships and other hands-on experiences, I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety of career paths available in creative fields. It has opened my eyes to the many ways I can build a career in the arts.”

She plans to transfer to the University of Wyoming and pursue a BFA in Studio Art with a minor in Museum Studies and credits her time with SAGE, the Brinton Museum and at Sheridan College with opening her eyes to opportunities beyond her expectations and providing her with the experience to pursue them.

“In just two years, I have gained hands-on experience in art education, museum and gallery work, and arts administration, all of which have helped me shape my educational and professional goals,” Lewallen said. “Sheridan College has provided me with an amazing foundation of skills and opportunities that I am eager to build on as I continue my education and pursue a career in the art industry.”

The internships reflect a communitywide commitment to mentoring emerging artists. Jill Benson, executive director of SAGE Community Arts, said students that work there are immersed in nearly every aspect of running a nonprofit arts organization.

“SAGE is a wonderful place to gain a broad range of experience,” Benson said. “Students help teach classes and workshops, install and curate exhibitions, build partnerships with other organizations, assist with gallery operations and even learn about art sales. They leave with a much better understanding of where their passion fits within the art world.”

Benson said SAGE Community Arts welcomes students interested in becoming practicing artists, teachers, arts administrators and other creative professionals. Several Sheridan College graduates have gone on to work for the organization after completing internships or seasonal positions.

“It has been an honor to be a place where the college sends its students,” Benson said. “We always look forward to welcoming new interns. While we’re excited to see them graduate and pursue careers in the arts, we’re always a little sad to see them leave the SAGE team.”

Sheridan College President Walt Tribley said experiences like this are rare for students in their first two years of study at most colleges and they challenge the misconception that an art degree leads to limited career opportunities. “People sometimes wonder what they can do with an art degree and Sheridan presents a range of options,” Tribley said. “Our students are entering a community where the creative economy is growing. Employers are looking for talent and arts organizations are eager to mentor the next generation, and the data reinforces that assessment.” According to a 2024 report by the University of Wyoming’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis, conducted in partnership with the Wyoming Art Alliance, Wyoming’s arts and culture sector contributes $1.3 billion annually to the state’s economy. Sheridan County has the state’s highest concentration of arts and culture employment, with 9.6% of its workforce employed in the creative economy, and arts employment in the county grew 46% between 2018 and 2022.

According to Denham, Sheridan’s collaborative arts community gives students opportunities that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. “Students here aren’t waiting until after graduation to begin building careers. They’re working alongside professional artists, nonprofit leaders and community organizations while they’re still in school. Those relationships often become the foundation for the next step in their careers.”

Tribley said the college’s partnerships demonstrate what can happen when an entire community invests in student success. “Our community has created something truly special,” Tribley said. “The willingness of local arts organizations to mentor our students, share their expertise and open their doors provides an educational experience that simply can’t be replicated in the classroom alone. Our graduates leave with technical skills, professional experience and a network of mentors that prepare them to thrive in the creative economy.”

To learn more about the arts at Sheridan College, visit Sheridan.edu/academics/art.