LCCC event to celebrate local arts community

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – A celebration of Cheyenne’s thriving arts culture is coming to Laramie County Community College in September thanks to a collaboration between the college and local partners.

“For the Love of the Arts,” an evening of art, music and community, will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 in Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium Lobby and the Esther and John Clay Fine Arts Gallery at LCCC’s Cheyenne campus. The event aims to support LCCC’s Communication & Creative Arts Pathway students while celebrating the vibrant arts scene in Cheyenne.

The event is organized in collaboration with Arts Cheyenne, a nonprofit dedicated to investing in the community through the arts. The partnership reflects a commitment to fostering the arts in Cheyenne and highlights the collaborative spirit that drives the local arts community, said Desirée Brothe, Arts Cheyenne executive director.

"Local partnerships around the arts, especially in smaller and rural communities, are what makes an arts environment thrive," Brothe said. "Events like 'For the Love' ensure that we're working together, promoting one another, celebrating our successes, and creating a culture of liveliness, support and connectivity."

Guests will enjoy a silent auction, live jazz music and a special showcase of artwork, including a donated piece by artist Colette Smith, currently featured in the Ed and Caren Murray Art Series. The event will be curated by Honorary Curator Harvey Deselms of Deselms Fine Art.

Deselms owns Deselms Fine Art & Custom Framing on 17th Street in Cheyenne, featuring original artwork by local and regional artists. The "For the Love of the Arts" event is invaluable, Deselms said, because it supports local artists by providing a venue to showcase their work, enriches the community's cultural fabric and strengthens connections between artists and the community.

"Anytime we hold an art event, whether it's in a gallery, on the street, or through the college, it benefits everyone because it celebrates the creativity in our community," Deselms said. "For those of us who appreciate and collect art, it provides a valuable opportunity to connect with and support artists across all mediums."

Coinciding with the Cheyenne Art Walk, the event will be a part of a unique three-day celebration of art in the city, offering a glimpse into the collaborations that make these events possible. With numerous arts activities happening year-round, participants can experience the partnerships that enrich Cheyenne's cultural landscape, Brothe said.

“For the Love of Arts” embodies the values LCCC aims to instill in students, highlighting the importance of community collaboration in fostering a vibrant, diverse local culture, said J O’Brien, LCCC’s Communication & Creative Arts Pathway coordinator and Arts Cheyenne board member. Supporting local arts, he said, ensures rich experiences within Cheyenne and LCCC and provides young people with opportunities to study, grow and contribute to their community.

"Events like this highlight the best of what we hope to teach our students," O'Brien said. "As a college and community, if our mission is to continue to grow a vibrant, diverse community, connecting our students to the community and showing that the community and college partner and support each other demonstrates that we can do more together."

“For the Love of the Arts” tickets are available at aesbid.org/ELP/LOVE2024 or call the LCCC Foundation at 307.778.1285. Go to lccc.wy.edu/cca for more information about LCCC’s Communication & Creative Arts Pathway. Go to artscheyenne.com to learn more about Arts Cheyenne and the Cheyenne Art Walk.