Park County Council for the Arts (PCCArts) proudly awards Parks Reece the distinction of Inaugural Artist Laureate for 2025. PCCArts also recognizes the late Russell Chatham as the 2025 Legacy Laureate. Parks and Russell’s daughter Lea received a beautiful leather award ribbon designed by Chase DeForest. Parks also received a $5,000 monetary award.

The Park County Council for the Arts (PCCArts) announces the opening of nominations for the inaugural PCCArts Artist Laureate on August 1. As one of the group’s first initiatives, this program celebrates the creative contributions of an individual artist from Park County. The program will provide a one-time stipend of $5,000 and a year of exposure for the selected artist to share their talent with the Park County community, and to encourage and nurture the arts and creative culture in the county. It will include an agreed upon community contribution for 2025-2026. Nominations close August 31.

To help realize a coordinated vision for the arts in Park County, the Park County Community Foundation is working to establish a Park County Arts Council. Comprised of Park County residents with a passion for the arts, the arts council will serve two important roles: (1) support the development of a broad strategic vision for the arts in park county, and (2) collaborate with the Park County Community Foundation staff and board members to allocate grants specific to the Park County arts community.