What We Do
Our Vision
Explore and give voice to traditional and dynamic cultures of the American West.
Our Mission
Use story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
Our Work
The Western Folklife Center provides a platform for rural and urban communities to communicate and exchange new ideas and avenues of expression.
We produced the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985. Our National Cowboy Poetry Gathering continues to celebrate and promote the artistry and ingenuity of life in the American West. It remains our signature event, with programming changing to reflect contemporary realities and issues of the American West.
Throughout the year, our fieldwork, research, exhibits, website, and archives preserve, document, and share the heritage of the West.
Our media and educational programs entertain and engage, deepening the understanding of the vitality and challenges of western communities.
How We Do It
We are a local and a regional nonprofit cultural center with an exhibition gallery, 300-seat theater, 20-seat black box theater, historic saloon, and gift shop. Founded in 1980, we are governed by a board of trustees along with a national advisory council made up of leaders in western cultural life. In addition to staff, a cadre of members, donors, and volunteers help us succeed in our mission. Operating support comes from a combination of earned and contributed income from ticketed events, public sources, private foundations, individual donors, and businesses.
Right click to download .jpg for business use.
Our Donation Privacy Policy:
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties any personally identifiable information - received online or offline - unless we provide you with advance notice; however, we may release information when we believe such release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others' rights, property, or safety.
We will also, unless you request otherwise, add your contact information to our database; whereafter you will receive occasional emails, invitations, and other mail/email from us. You can opt out at any time, simply let us know by providing us your contact information with a formal request.
If you have any questions at any time about donating to the Western Folklife Center, we welcome your call or visit. Please contact our Development offices at 775-738-7508 (toll free 880-888-5885), Pacific time zone.
Click to review Charity Navigator rating.
