The Nicolaysen Art Museum
Our History
The Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center's history begins in 1967, when Casper's Mary Durham along with a group of friends hosted the first art show in a little white house that still stands at the corner of "A" and Park streets.
In 1972, the newly renamed Central Wyoming Art Museum found the room it needed in a former bus station on Rancho Road. This 7,000 square foot building provided more exhibit space as well as rooms for classes and other educational programs.
The Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center, known throughout the region as the NIC, has occupied its current 25,000 square foot location at 400 East Collins since 1990, when an extensive renovation of the 1924 Mountain States Power Company building was completed.
In July of 2009, the NIC was awarded accreditation by the American Association of Museums. The NIC, is only the sixth museum in Wyoming to receive this prestigious designation. Of the nation's estimated 17,500 museums, roughly 779 are currently accredited.
Values
We believe art is what makes us human. We believe contemporary art inspires important discussion about ourselves and the world in which we all live, building community through a greater understanding and appreciation of each other. We believe art stimulates the hearts and minds of everyone who comes in contact with it because creativity is an essential element of a joyful life.
Guided by these beliefs, the NIC provides every citizen in our community with the opportunity to participate in and experience the arts on a personal basis. While our primary purpose is to exhibit, collect, and conserve contemporary art, we are also a center for creativity, self-expression, and cultural dialogue, making the NIC a place where individuals can become connected to the larger community in which they live and work.
Vision
The NIC showcases and celebrates significant contemporary art through innovative art exhibitions, art education and art appreciation opportunities, helping everyone understand the role of art in our daily lives. Through these different experiences, we invite and encourage individuals to be creative and enjoy the art created by others.
By providing a place for citizens to gather together to explore, learn, create, and express themselves, we sustain an environment that encourages children, families, and community members to discover art, be creative, and interact with each other through their shared arts experience. Our success in fulfilling this vision makes us a cultural anchor for our community.
Mission
Our mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit the work of contemporary artists and present it to the community as a vital source of inspiration and education.
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