The Nicolaysen Art Museum and Doran & Nancy Boston Discovery Center (The NIC)

 The Nic is a 25,000 square foot contemporary art museum and discovery education center. We collect, preserve, and exhibit the work of contemporary artists and present it to the community as a vital source of inspiration and education.

The NIC began 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 today at the corner of “A” and Park streets. At this time the non-profit art gallery was named simply, “Gallery A.” 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. Meeting the mortgage payments of the Central Wyoming Art Museum became increasingly burdensome until 1977 when Gerald G. Nicolaysen, a Casper area rancher, paid the mortgage bill in full. In recognition of the benevolence, the Board of Trustees changed the institution’s name to the Nicolaysen Art Museum.

The Permanent Collection is estimated to contain 6,300 objects, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, decorative arts, drawings, photographs, prints, and other works on paper.  The core of the general permanent collection is contemporary art created by local and regional artists or artists with strong ties to the region.  Much of the artwork is greatly influenced by traditional western art while other works are more rooted in contemporary styles.  The permanent collection highlights the wide variety found in contemporary art of the Rocky Mountain Region.  Additionally, the collection also includes a number of works created in the early to mid-twentieth century and artists of national and international significance.

From its humble beginnings, The Nicolaysen is proud to call this Western Region home. 

The Nicolaysen is looking for volunteers to help with day to day operations of the museum and Discovery Center. General volunteers will be asked to help with museum upkeep and maintenance. This can include sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, wiping surfaces, and minor repairs. Gift shop volunteers assist staff by stocking shelves, cleaning surfaces, and completing customer transactions. During many events, the museum enlists volunteers as art docents. Docent volunteers receive training to stay knowledgeable about The Nic's current galleries and are able to provide this information to guests.

The Nic values creative minds who can help by providing input in terms of museum programming, events, children's activities, volunteer outreach, and grant writing. Suggestions can be made online by emailing kelby@thenic.org, or be made in-person during your volunteer time. 

The Nicolaysen Art Museum would like to thank its past and future volunteers for helping the museum reach its goal of enriching the community through engaging experiences in contemporary art.