Applications are now open to anyone wishing to apply
Application requirements:
There is no official application form
Application consists of an in-depth biography detailing your professional work, history, goals, and aspirations as it pertains to the discipline for which you are applying. Please be detailed so that reviewing members have a thorough understanding of you as an individual and a craftsperson.
High-quality, high-resolution photographs that fully represent your work and abilities. Please supply multiple examples so that the active members who will be evaluating your work may form an accurate and informed opinion.
Applicant must be present for a personal interview at the venue of the applicable spring or fall meeting when their application is being considered
Applicant must provide
(1) If applying as a saddle maker…one saddle.
(2) The other disciplines must provide a minimum of 3 pieces of work.
(Note, if applicant is elected as a member they may not use their application piece(s) for the TCAA exhibit and sale)
Applications will be accepted at either the spring or fall member meetings.
Application deadline is 30 days prior to the first day of the TCAA spring or fall meeting. A hard copy application must be received by Cary Schwarz TCAA Secretary 30 days prior to the applicable meeting date in order to be considered.
BEAU COMPTON
Box 221
4156 E Davis Ranch Rd
Tombstone AZ 85638
Phone: 719-661-4959
Email: beaucompton@hotmail.com
* A 75% majority vote is required for membership. The vote is a secret ballot.
The world's best artisans. Pushing the craft forward.
Showcasing each year's finest work.
27th Annual Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) Exhibition & Sale
September 26–27
The event celebrated the extraordinary craftsmanship and enduring traditions of the American West. It concluded with an exciting announcement: a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association will open at the Museum in spring 2027!
On September 26–27, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosted the 27th Annual Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA) Exhibition & Sale, celebrating the extraordinary craftsmanship and enduring traditions of the American West.
Preview night welcomed approximately 150 guests, who gathered to meet the artists and admire 68 exceptional works representing bit and spur making, saddle making, Western silversmithing, and rawhide braiding. What an exciting evening!
Saturday morning, the Museum hosted a seminar featuring a panel moderated by Jared Swanson, owner and publisher of Western Art & Architecture magazine. TCAA artists, interior designers, and collectors explored how these remarkable works tell a unique story of the West and how they can be incorporated into both homes and offices.
The seminar was followed by a screening of California Rose, a documentary chronicling the creation of the TCAA’s 25th-anniversary saddle. Made collectively by every member of the Association, the film follows the saddle’s journey from its original design and creation through its purpose and eventual sale at auction during the TCAA banquet. Documentarian Craig Rullman was on hand to answer questions following the screening.
Then came opening night—and the excitement was palpable! When the final horn sounded, the exhibition had achieved an impressive 68% sell-through rate. Among the extraordinary works finding new homes were Johnn Willemsma’s saddle, celebrating his 50 years as a saddle maker, and Scott Hardy’s Cowboy Scepter, purchased by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for its permanent collection.
The evening continued with an equally memorable banquet, featuring several important milestones for the Association. Beau Compton passed the reins of the presidency to Nate Wald, while Amy Erickson (bit and spur making) and Marco Breitenbach (saddle making) celebrated the completion of their fellowship requirements.
Documentarian and Western storyteller Craig Rullman delivered an inspiring keynote address reflecting on the making of California Rose, the richness of cowboy culture, and the mission of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association.
The evening concluded with an exciting announcement from Museum board member Mike Nicola: a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association will open at the Museum in spring 2027!
What a fantastic event celebrating the artistry, skill, and enduring spirit of this extraordinary cowboy culture.
Please join us the last weekend of September 2027 as we continue to celebrate the remarkable artists and traditions that keep the spirit of the American West alive!
Cowboy Renaissance
Cowboy Renaissance tells the story of the TCAA—its origins, its evolution,
and its impact on the contemporary West, featuring a fine collection of artists’
works in beautifully printed quality.
