Ucross Gala To Honor Outstanding Patron Naoma Tate

On July 7, Ucross Foundation announced its biennial Wyoming gala in support of its acclaimed artist residency program, art gallery, and 20,000-acre ranch, on Thursday, September 24. The festivities will feature an awards ceremony honoring Naoma Tate of Cody, Wyoming, with Ucross’s Outstanding Patron of the Arts Award.

The evening will include a cocktail reception, a seasonal dinner, performances by artist-alumni and a lively auction, all within a heated tent in Ucross’s historic Big Red Ranch Complex. The evening will conclude with the award ceremony honoring Tate for her lifelong commitment to supporting artists and the arts.

“Naoma inspires us all through her dedication to the arts in Wyoming and the West, as well as nationally and internationally,” said Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross President and Executive Director. “We look forward to honoring Naoma and celebrating the creative spirit this fall. The Ucross Gala promises to be a magical evening.”

The Outstanding Patron of the Arts is Ucross’s prestigious award that recognizes individuals for their generosity, leadership and unwavering commitment to the arts. Previous recipients have included Governor Mark and First Lady Jennie Gordon, Mike and Francesca Hammer and Jesse and Cathy Marion.

Tate serves on the Ucross Board of Trustees, as well as on the Board of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the National Board of the Smithsonian, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum Gemology Board, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA and the Leakey Foundation. She serves on the board of the Berkeley Geochronology Center and the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming. In addition, she served on the Advisory Board for the University of Utah World Leaders Lecture Forum and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. She is a proud member of the Utah and Wyoming Westerners, the Utah Daughters of the Pioneers, Daughters of the American Revolution and American Friends of the Louvre. Tate is an acknowledged silver historian and a certified gemologist. In 2009, she was awarded the Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award.

Earlier this year, Tate took the lead in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History’s celebration of the American bison. In March, three larger-than-life bronze bison statues undertook a weeklong, cross-country stampede from Colorado to the Smithsonian. A gift to the museum by Tate, the bronze bison now permanently flank the museum’s entrance on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

In addition to honoring Tate, the Ucross Gala will celebrate the Wyoming nonprofit organization’s mission and impact. Ucross is dedicated to fostering the creative spirit of working artists by providing uninterrupted time, studio space, living accommodations, staff support and the experience of the majestic High Plains, while serving as a responsible steward of its historic 20,000-acre ranch in northern Wyoming. Since the residency program began in 1983, Ucross has provided residencies to more than 3,000 writers, visual artists, composers, choreographers and interdisciplinary artists from across the world.

Further championing the work of artist-alumni, Ucross also provides world-class community programming through events, workshops, publications and exhibitions in the Ucross Art Gallery.

All funds raised before and during the Ucross Gala will support residency time for 150-plus artists each year, continued investment in community engagement activities and responsible stewardship of Ucross’s historic ranch. Each ticket and table will help Ucross remain a meaningful and relevant resource for artists, the community and the state of Wyoming.

Details for the Ucross Gala are available at ucross.org or by calling 307-737-2291.

Photos courtesy of Ucross