Utah Cultural Celebration Center West Valley City, UT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE
8:45 - 9:30 Registration
9:30 - 10:00
Opening Ceremony and Welcome
Isha Patel, Founder of House of Folk
Isha Patel is a distinguished choreographer and educator with more than 25 years dedicated to mastering and teaching Indian folk dance. Since moving to the USA in 2016, Isha has immersed herself in cultural projects and educational collaborations across New York, California, and now Utah. In Utah, she continues to educate and inspire, offering classes that delve into more than 30 Indian folk dance styles for both children and adults.
10:00 - 10:15 Participant Travel to Breakout Sessions
10:15 - 11:15 Breakout Sessions | BLOCK 1
11:15 - 11:30 BREAK - Catch up with your colleagues!
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch, Listen, and Learn
12:15 - 1:15 Breakout Sessions | BLOCK 2
1:15 - 1:30 BREAK
1:30 - 1:45 Utah Arts and Cultural Contribution Award
1:45 - 2:30 Ask Us Anything Panel
2:30 - 2:45 Closing Remarks
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEAR CULTURE CONNECT ATTENDEES,
Welcome to Culture Connect 2024: The conference YOU asked for! We are thrilled to have you join us in a day of experiential and practical learning, of networking, collaborating, connecting and cultivating opportunities.
While I was not involved with UCA in 2023, your feedback from last year was invaluable and heard. Inspired by your desires to have more actionable insights, in-depth discussions, and practical takeaways, we have structured this year’s conference to be centered around strategy, stewardship, and storytelling. I hope that you are inspired by the immense collective talent and skills represented by our breakout session presenters and by the discussions we will have today!
I would like to thank the many sponsors who have made this event possible, especially Rio Tinto Kennecott and the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. Thank you for your consistent support of our programs and the arts and cultural industry as a whole that enrich and heighten every Utahn’s quality of life.
Thank you to our incredible presenters and volunteers. And, thank you attendees, for being a part of the 2024 Culture Connect conference. I hope that after leaving today, you feel reinvigorated and empowered!
With heartfelt admiration,
Annie DiMartino UCA Executive Director
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
BREAKOUT SESSIONS BLOCK 1
Build-A-Brand Workshop
Alli VanKleeck (Hot Slice Design Studio)
Join branding expert Alli VanKleeck of Hot Slice Design Studio for a hands-on experience where you will build a brand pitch for a mock company. Attendees can expect to learn story-telling and strategic planning skills paramount to developing a good brand identity.
About Alli: Alli VanKleeck moved to Salt Lake City almost 10 years ago and has established two thriving businesses in the arts community: Hot Slice Design Studio and Smock and Roll Murals. Founded in 2018, Hot Slice Design Studio serves diverse clientele from local businesses to nationwide brands with a distinctive approach to branding and visual identities. Whether it’s crafting compelling logos, vibrant illustrations, eye-catching packaging, or cutting-edge websites, the fullservice studio delivers authentic, professional branding with a little special sauce.
Purposeful Partnerships: Cultivating
Win-Win
Corporate Sponsors
Cindy Kindred and Anna Habben (Mighty Penguin Consulting)
Join us for an interactive presentation designed to equip your nonprofit with the strategies and insights needed to build meaningful and mutually beneficial corporate sponsorships. In this session you will learn how to identify potential sponsors, craft a compelling proposal, and build long-term relationships with organizations that share your values.
About Cindy: Cindy Kindred (Mighty Penguin Consulting) has more than thirty years of experience in nonprofit and campaign management. Cindy has served on many community boards, including the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts National Leadership Board, State of Utah Museums Board, Water for People National Board, the Utah Symphony, the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Advisory Board, the YWCA, the Wasatch Homeless Health Clinic, the Salt Lake City Library Board, and is an active member and current president of the International Women’s Forum. She currently serves as vice chair of the KUER Advisory Board,
and serves on the boards of HawkWatch International and Red Butte Garden. Cindy has been honored for her community and business leadership by the YWCA, the Salt Lake Chamber, and Utah Business Magazine.
About Anna: Anna Habben (Mighty Penguin Consulting) has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has worked primarily as a researcher and fundraiser in both Washington D.C., and Utah where she has developed strong grant writing, fundraising campaign management, and board engagement skills. Anna earned her BA in American Studies (2005) and her MPA (2023) from Brigham Young University. While earning her MPA, Anna focused her studies and research on nonprofit management, strategic planning, and donoradvised funds. As a nonprofit consultant, Anna is passionate about helping organizations maximize their impact by identifying strategic approaches to achieving their mission. She loves to help nonprofits cultivate valuable partnerships and develop effective, purpose-driven business practices that will help to foster the greater good.
Shape YOUR tomorrow: Get a Head Start on your NEXT Strategic Plan
Julie DeLong (Pathway Group)
Join Pathway Group experts to think about and act on developing your next strategic plan. Start with big-picture overview of key strategic planning phases. Then, participate in small group breakouts with your colleagues to stretch your strategic thinking.
About Julie: Julie has spent 25 years in the nonprofit and government sector as staff, executive, fundraiser, board leader, volunteer, mentor, and consultant. She is grounded in ethical, efficient, and collaborative leadership using her years of management, leadership, program and fundraising expertise to achieve intended goals and objectives.
Lunch, Listen, & Learn
Enjoy a meal while thinking about and telling us your thoughts on bills (see bills on pages 8-11) from the past General Session of the Utah Legislature including: HB 257, HB261, HB335, your concerns with statewide arts education funding, and more.
Just Because You Said It Doesn’t Mean They Heard It: Master Your Messaging
Beth Mitchell, Strategist & Storyteller
In this interactive and practical workshop, we’ll cover everything in your communications toolkit. Whether you’re an Executive Director or just got your first gig in the industry, whether you have a 3M or $3500-dollar budget—we know you will leave this session inspired and prepared to harness the transformative power of strategic communications.
About Beth: Beth Mitchell has spent nearly 20 years in strategic communications, philanthropy, and community engagement across government and nonprofit roles. She was Director of External Relations at the Natural History Museum of Utah from 2019 to 2024 and was most recently Director of Communications and Engagement at Salt Lake City Corporation. An authentic leader and change agent, Beth connects to individuals and communities with candor, courage, and compassion, engaging new stakeholders and expanding the impact of messages, campaigns, and causes.
Not Another Boring Fundraising Session
Olivia Custodio, Director of Major Gifts, Sphinx Organization
In this interactive session, attendees will participate in live improvisation and a Q&A with Olivia Custodio to reinforce skills and language necessary to developing relationships and “making the ask” for individual donors.
About Olivia: Olivia Custodio serves as the Director of Major Gifts at the Sphinx Organization. Sphinx is focused on increasing representation in classical music and celebrating excellence, with programs serving beginner students, seasoned classical music professionals, cultural entrepreneurs, and administrators. At Sphinx, Olivia focuses on connecting individual donors with Sphinx’s initiatives and mission, and works closely with Sphinx’s Board of Directors. Olivia has built her career in development in the arts sector, holding positions of leadership at Salt Lake Acting Company, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Olivia holds a BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Utah. On top of her life as a development professional, Olivia is an opera singer, actor, and playwright, most recently writing Salt Lake Acting Company’s summer show, “Close Encounters in the Beehive.”
Activating Language in Your Strategic Plan
Annie DiMartino, UCA Executive Director
In this interactive workshop, participants will investigate ways to effectively collaborate on, cultivate and create a living real-time strategic plan.
About Annie: With over twenty years of experience as an actor, educator, administrator, and advocate, she is known for her warmth and wisdom, along with a proven track record of making a significant impact on arts and culture in the Pacific Northwest. She has earned acclaim for her performances in Los Angeles and Off-Broadway, directed educational programs at Long Wharf Theatre and Book-It Repertory Theatre, and produced award-winning festivals as Deputy Director at the Performing Arts Center Eastside. Her extensive career reflects a deep commitment to both performing and shaping the arts community.
Utah Arts and Cultural Contribution Award Recipient
Felicia M. Baca, Executive Director, Salt Lake City Arts Council
In the last three years, Felicia has significantly elevated the position of the Salt Lake City Arts Council as well as increasing the organization’s budget and funding sources with recent grant awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and more. Additionally, Felicia continues to serve historically resilient and under-served communities while also volunteering in her community. Felicia embodies the endearing and transformative qualities of the Utah Arts and Cultural Contribution Award in every facet of her work.
Ask Us Anything Panel
Susan Campbell, Community Investment and Development Manager, Salt Lake City Arts Council
Laura Hurtado, Executive Director, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
Mariah Mellus, Executive Director, Utah Film Center
Moderator—David Wicai, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
In this session, learn from a variety of arts and cultural professionals on any topic you desire. Come ask us anything!
2024 CULTURE CONNECT SPONSORS
WE THANK OUR SPONSORS OF THIS YEAR’S CULTURE CONNECT FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE!
BILL DESCRIPTIONS FOR LUNCH & LEARN ACTIVITY
HB 29 - SENSITIVE MATERIALS REVIEW AMENDMENTS
Sponsors
Representative Ivory, Senator Weiler
What is it?
In the 2024 General Session, the Utah Legislature passed HB 29, Sensitive Materials Review Amendments, in order to “provide further clarity and specificity” to “Sensitive Materials” in schools. As it relates to the arts and cultural industry, specifically, this bill:
1. Attempted to provide more detailed language on the distinction between “Objective” and “Subjective” sensitive materials and provided specificity in the process for reviewing a sensitive material
2. Mandated that if a teaching material or a book from a school library is removed and classified as a “Sensitive Material” by either 3 school districts or a combination of 2 school districts and 5 charter schools, then that book or material must be removed and banned from all school districts in Utah
3. Specified that sensitive material reviews could now only be initiated by
a. An employee of the relevant LEA
b. A student who is enrolled in the relevant LEA
c. A parent of a child who is enrolled in the relevant LEA
d. A member of the relevant LEA governing board
4. Allows the State Board of Education to vote on whether or not to remove a book or instructional material for all school districts in Utah if it is voted on within 60 days of the threshold in bullet point 2 (above) being met ***This was introduced as an amendment by Senator Weiler***
5. Mandates that the threshold established in bullet point 2 and all other effects of this bill apply retroactively.
This bill continues work by the Utah Legislature carried out in HB374, Sensitive Materials in Schools, passed in the 2022 General Session.
Who Does It Affect?
The effects of this bill affect all 3.28 million Utahns, especially the nearly 673,000 students enrolled in Utah’s public schools. As mentioned by our partners at Utah Library Association, the threshold established within this bill lessens “local control” of which books are available from the individuals residing in each LEA throughout the state. In addition, this bill, as evidenced by testimony from Michael Curtis, Legislative Counsel, has the possibility of causing librarians, teachers, and school administrators to be criminally charged. The bill also disproportionately targets the works of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant populations.
Why Should We Care?
As mentioned above, this bill clearly lessens the ability of each LEA to make decisions regarding instructional materials and books available to their respective students. In addition, according to Utah State Board of Education Assistant Superintendent testimony, the sensitive materials review process has already cost 500 hours of staff time and $20,000 to complete the process in just one school district. The process is extremely time consuming and expensive and takes school administrators, teachers, and librarians away from their relevant duties of supporting and teaching students. This bill will continue to have far-reaching consequences within the public school system.
HB 257 - SEX-BASED DESIGNATIONS FOR PRIVACY, ANTI-BULLYING, AND WOMEN’S OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsors
Representative Birkeland, Senator McCay
What is it?
In the 2024 General Session, the Utah Legislature passed HB 257, Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Antibullying, and Women’s Opportunities. Governor Cox signed the bill into passage on January 30 with the entirety of the bill going into effect on May 1. This bill predominantly enacts policies to restrict the usage of “privacy spaces” and other facilities in public schools and government owned or controlled spaces by transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people. Specifically, this bill:
• Restricts various forms of access to “privacy spaces” (bathrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms) in K-12 schools, such as:
° Disallowing students from accessing sex-designated “privacy spaces” that do not correspond with a person’s sex
° Requiring either “written documentation” or a “privacy plan” created in conjunction with a school administrator for students to access sex-based privacy spaces other than those that correspond with their “biological sex”
• Restricts various forms of access to changing rooms and locker rooms in Government-owned buildings, such as:
° Making it a crime for a person to enter a sex-designated “changing room” that does not correspond with that person’s “biological sex”
- A “changing room” does not include stand-alone restrooms and only includes spaces designated for multiple people to dress or undress
• In both K-12 schools and Government-owned buildings, HB 257 does not apply to stand-alone, single occupant, or unisex designated “privacy spaces”
Who Does It Affect?
This bill predominantly affects all LGBTQIA+ residents and visitors to the state of Utah as they visit K-12 public and government-owned facilities.
Why Should We Care?
Though this bill does not apply to privately-owned spaces, including Charter schools and private businesses, this bill does actively restrict the autonomy and self-care for all LGBTQIA+ citizens of Utah. As the LGBTQIA+ community makes up a significant portion of the arts and cultural industry, our arts and cultural businesses are now having to consider whether to use government-owned facilities or public K-12 facilities for performances, rehearsals, and other events. This significantly restricts the arts and cultural industry and continues to, as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Utah states, “challenge the dignity of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming Utahns.”
HB 261 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVES
Sponsors Representative Hall, Senator Grover
What is it?
In the 2024 General Session, the Utah Legislature passed HB 261, Equal Opportunity Initiatives, which went into effect on July 1, 2024. This bill predominantly sought to prohibit public institutions (institutions of higher education, public schools, and state government) from engaging in “prohibited discriminatory practices.” Though it is fairly broad this term encompasses “any policy, procedure, practice, initiative, or required training that, based on an individual’s personal identity characteristics, promotes differential treatment without an important government interest, influences employment decisions in a non-neutral manner regarding personal identity characteristics, influences educational admission and advancement decisions, or influences participation in public education system-sponsored programming.” Specifically, the bill:
• Prohibits relevant institutions from requiring statements or documents related to “anti-racism, bias, critical race theory, implicit bias, intersectionality, prohibited discriminatory practice, and racial privilege” before, during, or after the hiring process
• Prohibits relevant institutions from requiring information about an individual’s personal identity characteristics before acting regarding employment, advancement in an academic program, participating in an institution-sponsored program, or qualifying for financial aid
• Bars trainings that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in relevant institutions
• Requires relevant institutions to create “student success and support” offices that serve all students and replaces any DEI offices or offices that serve students based on personal identity characteristics
• Requires new reporting by relevant institutions and the Utah Board of Higher Education to ensure compliance
• Authorizes the withholding of appropriations to institutions that do not comply
Who Does It Affect?
This bill predominantly affects staff and various processes found within governmental agencies, higher education institutions, and the public education system. By extension this does affect many of the schools that arts and cultural businesses provide programming to, arts and cultural programs within higher education institutions, K-12 students in the public school system, and governmental agencies like the Utah Division of Arts & Museums and the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement.
Why Should We Care?
Already, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums is being required to place new language within their funding contracts for new grants, such as “Grantee understands that under Utah code 67-27, no portion of this grant may be used to promote activities that promote discriminatory practices as defined in UCA 53b-1-118.” This could disqualify certain relevant initiatives and organizations from receiving funding or using funding to support BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and more historically underrepresented groups. Additionally, this bill represents more restrictions on the implementation of DEI efforts that the arts and cultural industry has been making significant strides in recent years.
HB 335 - STATE GRANT PROCESS AMENDMENTS
Sponsors
Representative Peterson, Senator Stevenson
What is it?
In the 2024 General Session, the Utah Legislature passed HB335, State Grant Process Amendments. This bill, according to the bill sponsors, aimed to “provide more accountability and transparency within state grant processes.” Specifically, this bill:
• Enacts new eligibility requirements for a state grant recipient such as defining “nonprofit entity,” requiring various deliverables, reporting, audit, and clawback agreements before receiving funds
• Establishes a new default disbursement schedule for grant funds not already established in statute to be either:
° A two-part payment with final payment to be received only after a final report of grant completion is finalized
° A one-time full payment after a final report is provided (similar to a full reimbursement distribution)
• Allows the legislative fiscal analyst and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget to review selected awardees before awardees receive funding in a competitive grant
Who Does It Affect?
This bill directly affects all state governmental agencies that administer grant programs to the state of Utah. This includes the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) and the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement (CCE). By extension, this affects all arts and cultural businesses that apply for funding from either of these state agencies.
Why Should We Care?
With these changes, there are several items of concern:
• The disbursement of funds requirement disproportionately impacts small arts and cultural businesses who may not have the capital necessary to complete a project before receiving the second half of funding.
• While it is not new, the “clawback clause” could allow the State to take back awarded funding when shortfalls in revenues are experienced by the government. This could negatively impact all Utah arts and cultural organizations that apply for funding from UA&M and CCE.
• The new reporting requirements and funding distribution requirements also pose new strains and stretches of staff time at these agencies leading to an inefficiency of their work.
