The Utah Division of Arts & Museums was recently mentioned in a blog post from Lifetime Arts, a national leader in the movement to establish creative aging as an essential driver of health and well-being. From the blog post: “In Utah, creativity is bringing communities together through art and celebration. Five creative aging programs across small towns like Nephi, Kanab, …
Reflecting on 125 Years of Cultural Vibrancy in Utah
What a fantastic celebratory year 2024 was! As the first state arts agency in the nation, acknowledging and celebrating our 125th anniversary was a significant milestone and a key component of our strategic plan. The campaign highlighted our role in promoting the value and impact of Utah’s cultural community through increasing visibility, community awareness, and engagement, and our vital role …
Thank You to Our Retiring Board and Advisory Council Members
The Utah Division of Arts & Museums recently recognized seven departing members of its board and advisory council for a combined 44 years of dedicated service. Their invaluable contributions were celebrated by staff and fellow board members, who shared the following reflections on their impact:
The Power of Showing Up
Our agency’s administrative assistant, Emilie Starr, recently delivered the keynote speech at a Foster Grandparent volunteer event put on by our sister agency, UServe Utah. Here is the text of her heartfelt speech. Welcome, everyone. It is a profound honor to stand before you today and express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you, the Foster Grandparents …
Art is foundational to the health and well-being of society
From Utah Arts & Museums Director Victoria Panella Bourns: “Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Governor’s Mansion Artist Awards. I was deeply moved by the acceptance speech of one honoree, artist Emily Christensen McPhie. She articulated the role of the arts beautifully and granted me permission to reproduce her thoughts on our blog.” By Emily Christensen McPhie I …
FY25 Folk Arts Apprenticeships Announced
The UA&M Folk Arts Program is excited to announce the 13 recipients of the FY25 Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. Since its founding in 1989, the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program has supported the continuation of traditional artistic expression in the Beehive State through numerous apprenticeships in traditional dance, craft, music, and other art forms. Our FY25 Folk Arts Apprenticeship recipients are: …
Kudos to Utah TourWest Grantees
The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) recently announced the recipients of their TourWest Grant program. We are thrilled that Utah will receive the highest number of grants, as well as the largest amount of funding that the state has ever received. Twenty-nine performing arts presenters from across the state will share in the 100k+ amount that Utah is being awarded. …
125th Anniversary Art Reveal
On Thursday, Sept. 5, First Lady Abby Cox will unveil a new painting by Artist Ben Steele, of Helper, at the Governor’s Mansion. The acquisition, part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, will be featured in a live stream celebration. Steele’s piece, “For the Creation of a State Institute of Art,” is an …
Five for 125
We at the Utah Division of Arts & Museums are celebrating our agency’s 125th anniversary in 2024. The division has been acquiring art by Utah artists ever since its founding in 1899, and we’d like to share five highlights from the division’s collection, known as the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection. This collection now includes more than …
WORKING AT ALTITUDE
ALF ENGEN SKI MUSEUM GETS A LIFT FROM FIELD SERVICES, AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION Our Museum Field Services team works closely with Utah Humanities and the Utah Historical Society, regularly joining forces to work as partners. Together, we share staff to support statewide efforts to preserve and improve access to collections by lending technical assistance to Utah’s museums and collecting …
Our Thanks to Caitlin and Krista!
Eighteen years of cumulative service were recently celebrated as two members retired from the Utah Division of Arts & Museums board. Staff and board members honored them with the following thoughts: Caitlin Gochnour (2014-24, chair 2020-22)Caitlin has been the quintessential board member, committed to all Utahns. Caitlin’s broad range of experience, practicality, and the high level of dedication to board …
SAM.gov Registration
All organizations looking to apply for a grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums (UA&M) need a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov, the System for Award Management (SAM) administered by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). There is no cost to apply for a UEI on the government website, SAM.gov. Once registered, your UEI will act as …


















