• Her mission is to assist other artists in growing their skills and business.
Aerial artist, Jennifer Wilkins, is the recipient of the Wyoming Arts Council’s 2024 Performing Arts in Theater & Dance Fellowship, awarding her with a $5,000 unrestricted grant to advance her professional work and support her personal artistic goals. Wilkins lives in Afton, teaching aerial arts and advocating for art and artists throughout the community.
Having coached circus arts for 20 years, Wilkins is a seasoned professional in education and in her field of expertise. She owned and operated a circus training business in Utah for 16 years, where she successfully trained hundreds of students and dozens of instructors in the circus arts before coming to Afton.
In The Wyoming Arts Council’s social media post announcing Wilkins as this year’s fellowship recipient, she is described as someone who advocates passionately for all forms of art and for all artists working to develop and share their gifts. “Her commitment to excellence extends be- yond the studio” into leadership service opportunities in her communities, which have included working with the Star Valley Arts Council and the Wyoming Art Alliance. Wilkins is the founder and Executive Director of the Wyoming Arts Development Institute “with a mission dedicated to assisting artists in their career development, providing continued education, and connecting the community with educational opportunities in the arts.”
She and her partner, Jay Banbury, offer custom art services through their shop, Banbury Customs, which is a “reflection of their combined artistic talents and pas- sion for craftsmanship.”
Created in 1990, The Wyoming Arts Council’s Performing Arts Fellowships are “given to honor excellence in the artists’ field” and are selected by a panel of professionals from outside Wyoming through a rigorous review of the candidates artistic samples and credentials.
In an interview with SVI Media last week, Wilkins shared her experience and gratitude. She has used the money she received through the fellowship award to purchase and retrofit a trailer, which she affectionately named “The Gypsy Wagon,” that now hauls her equipment and aerial apparatus, and serves as home away from home when she is on the road for performances. She has also purchased some costuming and a pulley system that aids in safer assembly of her mobile apparatus and various extensions to the apparatus that she and her students use in their performances.
Wilkins has also introduced the Star Valley community to Circus Art Education. Tyson and Sara Tipton of Bedford have studied aerial artistry with Wilkins for several years. Sara plans to apply for a fellowship next year as she pursues the development of her skills. Tyson has al- ready received a grant for $1000 which is supporting him as he uses his extensive welding skills to create aerial equipment that supports local artists in their performance opportunities. “Hopefully, I’ll get to perform more and get more experience, and eventually maybe teach,” said Sara.
As the Executive Director of the Wyoming Arts Development Institute, Wilkins hopes to help other artists who are seeking support and opportunities for grow their influence and their business. I would be so happy to help anybody through the process of application. We know art is not a very easy industry to break into, and pursue as a profession. A lot of us have to work two or three or four more jobs just to be able to do our art work. There’s so much help available.”
This is what Wilkins considers her mis- sion right now. She wants to help “artists build their careers and get grants and understand what’s available to them so we can have a better thriving Arts Community here in the Valley.”
Wilkins is grateful for the opportunity and value that the fellowship has provided to her. “The Wyoming Arts Council is wonderful. They are easy to work with and easy to communicate with. They will guide you in the direction that you need to go for whatever project or questions that you have. I have been nothing with but pleased with how well I’ve been treated and how quickly they respond and how thorough they are with answering questions and getting you what you need.”
All 2024 fellowship recipients have been invited to present a showcase of their craft at a performance in Casper in October 2025. Wilkins is thrilled to share her unique skills and passion with the entire state of Wyoming.
