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Weatherization Assistance Program
D i v i s i o n o f F i n e A r t
www.dced.state.ut.us/arts Bonnie Stephens, Director
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October 2000 marked my ninth year with the Utah Arts Council. In 1991, when I was appointed by then-Governor Norm Bangerter, I could not have imagined the great love and devotion I would come to feel for the Utah Arts Council. This last year clearly demonstrates the maturity and expertise of the Arts Council staff and board of directors. Our staff is peopled with the best and brightest in the field of arts administration, and we have a board of directors with great expertise in arts and community relations.
This year has become a time of bringing dreams to fruition. The Chase Home in Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, which houses our Folk Arts Program, and the Chase Home Gallery have been totally renovated and will be ready for occupancy in early Fall 2000. The Art’s Council’s new collection storage area for the state Fine Arts Collection (at the former Vegetable Express Building) was to be ready for occupancy in mid September 2000. The research and scholarship provided by the staff has created state-of-the-art space for these very valuable Utah arts treasures. We feel richly rewarded for our efforts to finally have our collections in risk-free environments.
Our outreach programs are doing self-assessment and community interviews to ascertain the value of our work to our constituents. One area of concern is the decreased funding level of our Grants Program budget. Since 1995, we have realized a seven percent decrease in this program. We impact every grantee in the state, citizens from northern to southern and from eastern to western borders. Without growth, some of these organizations will have a difficult time surviving.
The quality of presentation and performance in our state is stellar. Our state’s cultural offerings are no longer a best-kept secret but rather an enticement to travelers from around the world.
Special kudos to Fred Adams and the Utah Shakespearean Festival for receiving the Tony Award, a richly deserved honor.
