Utah Cultural Alliance

Join Annie DiMartino, UCA Executive Director, for "Activating Language in Your Strategic Plan" at Culture Connect on August 27! Register for the conference today.

In this interactive workshop, participants will investigate ways to effectively collaborate on, cultivate, and create a living real-time strategic plan.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect
NowPlayingUtah.com

Join Beth Mitchell, UCA Board Chair and Strategist & Storyteller for "Just because you said it doesn't mean they heard it: master your messaging" at Culture Connect on August 27! Register for the conference today.

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.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

🎉 We are thrilled to announce Felicia M. Baca as the Utah Arts and Cultural Contribution Award recipient for 2024! Join us on August 27 at Culture Connect to help celebrate Felicia's tremendous contributions to the arts and cultural industry.

Felicia, as the Executive Director of Salt Lake City Arts Council(SLCAC), has significantly increased the programming and budget capacity of SLCAC for the benefit of all Salt Lake City residents. Additionally, she prioritizes volunteer service as a Member of three Boards and continues to foster an understanding of the intersectionality of the Arts between all facets of life.

https://2024cultureconnect.rsvpify.com/

Join Cindy Kindred and Anna Habben for "Purposeful Partnerships: Cultivating Win-Win Corporate Sponsors" at Culture Connect on August 27! Register for the conference today.

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.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

Mighty Penguin

Join Julie DeLong of Pathway Group for "Shape YOUR tomorrow: Get a Head Start on your NEXT Strategic Plan" on August 27! Register for Culture Connect today.

Join Pathway Group experts to think about and act on developing your next strategic plan. Start with a big-picture overview of key strategic planning phases. Then, participate in small group breakouts with your colleagues to stretch your strategic thinking.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

Today is ! While we hope that each of you is settling in with a good book today, please take 5 minutes to use this tool prepared by Utah Library Association to send a message to your legislators and elected officials supporting legislation that would overturn parts of HB29 in Utah.

https://letutahread.org/stopbookbans

If you don't know, earlier this week, 13 books were permanently removed from Utah schools. You can read more about this development in this article by ABC4 Utah.

https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/list-13-books-officially-banned-from-utah-schools/

LIST: 13 books officially banned from Utah schools A list of books banned at all Utah schools was released on Friday.

Join Olivia Custodio of Sphinx Organization for "Not Another Boring Fundraising Session" during Culture Connect on August 27! Register today using the link below.

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.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

Join Alli VanKleeck of Hot Slice Design Studio for a "Build-A-Brand Workshop" during Culture Connect on August 27! Register today.

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, and how these skills can elevate a brand's visuals and marketing strategy.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

View the full schedule, online now, for the 2024 Culture Connect professional development conference. Register today and join us in West Valley City on August 27!

https://2024cultureconnect.rsvpify.com/

Last year, your feedback was harsh but correct. You wanted deep dives. You wanted accessible resources. You wanted actionable insights. This year, we listened and I'm sure you don't hear it enough, but: YOU DESERVE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT. Come join us and give Culture Connect another chance.

THE FINAL DAYS OF UTAH MUSEUM MONTH!

Nearly 300 museums. 31 days. Will you accept the challenge?
From history to botany, art movements to scientific methods, dinosaurs to flamingos - there is something for everyone! Grab your passport at utahmuseums.org/museummonth and visit 5 museums before August 1 to get a collectible sticker! Don’t forget to tag to be entered to win prizes.

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Utah Museums Association Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Nominate an outstanding individual in the arts and cultural industry for the Utah Arts and Cultural Contribution Award by August 5 at 5 PM!

The Utah Arts and Cultural Contribution Award aims to recognize an individual within the arts and cultural industry who has led, inspired, or contributed to significant and positive change within the industry during the past three years. The recipient will be honored during the 2024 Culture Connect conference.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

JULY IS UTAH MUSEUM MONTH! Join Utahns and visitors in the second week of Museum month. Participation is simple!

1) Download your Utah Museum Passport utahmuseums.org/museummonth.
2) Use the Utah Museum Directory and NowPlayingUtah.com to plan your visits.
3) Visit at least 5 museums during July to earn an exclusive collectible Utah Museum Month sticker!

Don’t forget to tag on social media to share your experiences and be eligible for prizes.

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Utah Museums Association Utah Division of Arts & Museums

We are pleased to announce that early-bird registration for the 2024 Culture Connect conference is now live until July 26! Head to our website today to learn more, read the full schedule, and register. We look forward to seeing you in West Valley City on August 27!

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/cultureconnect

JULY IS UTAH MUSEUM MONTH!

Download your passport at utahmuseums.org/museummonth and visit 5 museums to get a collectible sticker!

Engage your brain and learn something new at one of Utah’s museums this month - from history to botany, art movements to scientific methods, dinosaurs to flamingos - there is something for everyone!
Don’t forget to tag to be entered to win prizes.

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Utah Museums Association Utah Division of Arts & Museums

🎉 UCA Welcomes New Executive Director Annie DiMartino! 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.

“Annie is the person to lead the Utah Cultural Alliance into its next chapter,” said UCA Board Chair David Wicai. “She has experience in all areas of the arts and culture sector, and brings a unique perspective to collaborating and visioning with UCA’s diverse and invested stakeholder groups across the State.”

Read the full press release on our website today: https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/uca_welcomes_new_executive_director_annie_dimartino

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to those who showed up for our Springville UCA Listening Session! It has been a wonderful state-wide tour throughout May and I am excited to take these thoughts back to our UCA Board of Directors.

We heard things like:
- Continuing to focus on UA&M's General Operating Support grants in our advocacy
- Providing a more cohesive, statewide narrative of storytelling through our Data Impact program

If you haven't already, please be sure to check out Springville Museum of Art's "100th Annual Spring Salon" before July 6! You can find out more here: https://www.smofa.org/current-exhibitions.php

It is always a treat to visit Logan especially for this year’s Listening Session! Thank you Cache Valley Center for the Arts for hosting me.

Some key takeaways included:
- Seeing UCA develop more cross-sector partnerships, especially in advocacy
- A greater storytelling to legislators about the benefits of rural arts and cultural investment

Please join me for our last stop in Springville! You can find out how to RSVP on our website.

It was phenomenal to meet with so many cultural industry professionals at our Ogden Listening Session! Thank you Ogden Contemporary Arts for hosting me.

Some key things we heard were:
- Changes to our membership model
- Desire for more personalized storytelling in our Data Impact program and more

Thank you to those who came and we look forward to seeing you in Springville!

This week, we are heading to Ogden tomorrow, May 14 at 11 AM and Logan, Wednesday, May 15 at 11 AM for our 2024 Listening Tour! One last call to join Ernesto, Interim Executive Director, for:
- A wrap-up of cultural-industry affecting items from the 2024 General Session
- An opportunity to discuss what you would like to see as priorities for the upcoming 2025 General Session and beyond

Please RSVP below: https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/events

Ogden Contemporary Arts Cache Valley Center for the Arts

Learn about two new projects approved by the Utah Office of Tourism and Film Board. This includes "The Chosen" and "Take 21."

Today, the Utah Office of Tourism and Film Board approved two new productions to film in Utah, including season 5 of "The Chosen" and "Take 21", an episodic project produced by Marty Patch and Jerusha Hess about the joyous, creative world of artists with developmental disabilities.
Learn more about the Utah Motion Picture Incentive Program at film.utah.gov/production

To mark Paraguay's independence from Spain, Paraguayans in Utah are holding a public festival on Saturday, May 11 from 10:30 AM - 3 PM at City Center Park at Center Street and 300 East in Orem. Learn more using the link below.

'A minority among minorities': Utah's tiny Paraguayan community hosting independence festivities The Paraguayan community in Utah is hosting a celebration on Saturday to mark independence day in the small South American country.

"The vision for a revitalization project is in the earliest stages and no decisions on the future of Abravanel Hall have been made..."

ICYMI, Utah Symphony, Salt Lake County Government, Mayor Jenny Wilson, and Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) released a public joint statement Wednesday, May 8 regarding the future of Abravanel Hall. You can learn more using the link below:

https://usuo.org/news/press-releases/utah-symphony-smith-entertainment-group-and-salt-lake-county-mayor-jenny-wilson-confirm-symphonys-inclusion-in-plans-for-potential-sports-entertainment-culture-and-convention-district/

ICYMI, Smith Entertainment Group proposed plans for an upcoming Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention (SECC) District. Hear about concerns and hopes for the plan from UMOCA Executive Director Laura Hurtado and UMOCA Board of Trustees President Richard Walje.

https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2024/05/09/opinion-umoca-we-welcome-change-it/

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

I may be a terrible selfie-taker, but our St. George listening session was great! Thank you El Gunter, owner of ART Provides for hosting me. Be sure to check out the latest exhibit up until May 31.

We heard some great feedback in this session including:
- UCA being more prominent in city and county advocacy issues in Washington County
- Improvements to our Data Impact program like toolkits on how to utilize data
- and more

Thank you to all who attended and be sure to RSVP for our remaining sessions in Ogden, Logan, and Springville.
https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/events

Center for the Arts at Kayenta Southern Utah Art Guild St George Dinosaur Discovery Site /Washington County, UT (Natural History) St George Art Museum Sears Art Museum

Thank you to Southern Utah Museum of Art for hosting the first day of UCA’s May Listening Tour! Be sure to check out the 29th Annual Art Auction preview exhibit up now.

It was wonderful to hear from SUMA staff and Cedar City Arts Council and more. Some things we heard were:
- Improvements and feedback for NowPlayingUtah.com
- Desire for focus on Utah Division of Arts & Museums‘ grant programs in our advocacy work and more

If you haven’t already, RSVP for our St. George, Ogden, Logan, or Springville listening sessions to make sure I hear from you and your voice is considered in our priority setting for the 2025 General Session and beyond.

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/events

May is when UCA is on the road for our 2024 Listening Tour! Our first stop is in Cedar City at Southern Utah Museum of Art on Monday, May 6. Join Ernesto Balderas, UCA Interim Executive Director, for a recap of the 2024 General Session and a discussion on your desired policy changes, bills, or funding opportunities you would like to see in the future.

RSVP here - https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/2024_listening_tour_cedar_city

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! In Utah, there are fantastic organizations like Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources, Malialole Dance, Southern Utah Pacific Islander Coalition, and more that provide entertainment, resources, and community experiences representing the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the state.

To start off the month, take a look at this national resource by National Gallery of Art, The Library of Congress and others.

https://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/

📣 Announcement! Upcoming Events Statewide: UCA Listening Tour

May 7 in St. George, generously hosted and sponsored by ART Provides

May 14 in Ogden, generously hosted and sponsored by Ogden Contemporary Arts

May 15 in Logan, generously hosted and sponsored by Cache Valley Center for the Arts

Additional dates and locations are pending and will be announced soon. You can RSVP here: https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/events

Whether you are an arts and cultural administrator, practicing artist, creative worker, or supporter of the arts sector, join Utah Cultural Alliance for an hour-long listening session to discuss arts and cultural advocacy and lobbying work in the 2025 General Session and beyond.

Ernesto Balderas, UCA Interim Executive Director, will be in attendance to provide a 30-minute debrief of the 2024 General Session and things that may affect your work with an opportunity for clarifying questions. There will then be 30 minutes to discuss what you would like to see UCA advocate for the rest of the year and in future legislative sessions.

National Poetry Month continues! Today, we want to shout out the Utah State Poetry Society, and acknowledge their ongoing work to nurture poets, and a culture of poetry appreciation in Utah.

We invite you to learn more about their annual spring festival, and make plans to attend! Joining Utah State Poetry Society and attending this event is inexpensive, and a great way to start developing your skills and learning from others.

Find all the information on their website here: https://www.utahpoets.com/