Four women have a conversation in front of a museum display case.

Our Utah Collections Preservation Program Receives NEH Funding

We’re pleased to share that, in a competitive process, Utah Arts & Museums’ Utah Collections Preservation (UCP) program has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Preservation and Access Education and Training grant program. Our UCP program will receive $350,000 over three years, from March 2024 through February 2027. This is our agency’s second consecutive award for this …

A black-and-white photo of a woman smiling at the camera.

A Fond Farewell to Jill Remington Love

We are sad to say good-bye to Jill Remington Love, who will be leaving her post as executive director of our parent department, the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement, at the end of December 2023. Under Jill’s leadership, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums has thrived. She knew all the staff personally in the department and led …

A large group of people in an outdoor setting smiles for the camera.

UA&M Arts Education team hosts national arts education conference

UA&M’s Arts Education program hosted the annual gathering of the National Association of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) arts education managers from across the U.S. and territories, here in Salt Lake City, Nov. 7-9. The gathering was a resounding success, with some colleagues declaring, “We’re still walking on air!” The convening allowed our agency to share several arts organizations and stellar …

Arts and Economic Prosperity 6.

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) Data

The newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 provides detailed findings on 373 regions from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico — ranging in population from 4,000 …

An abstract copper sculpture in a marble hallway.

Artworks made of original Capitol dome copper installed back in the Capitol 

In 1980, a powerful windstorm with gusts of up to 70 mph caused segments of the Utah Capitol dome’s original copper cladding to fly off, and much of the copper that remained was damaged. The copper cover was then replaced. Seeing the recovered material as an opportunity, the state held an art competition to use the salvaged material. Governor Scott …

A woman smiles at the camera in a meeting in front of a large, colorful landscape mural.

Kudos to Marie Desrochers on Her Utah Museums Association Award

At this year’s Utah Museums Association (UMA) conference in Vernal, our own Marie Desrochers was recognized with the Public Service Award. Marie is the Outreach Preservation Coordinator for our agency and the keystone of our Utah Collections Preservation Program (UCP). UCP delivers training designed to elevate the preservation literacy of collections stewards across Utah. Marie developed and delivered broad curricula …

A group of people seated around a table smile for the camera.

Farewell to Our Outgoing Board Members

Thirty-six years of cumulative service were recently celebrated as five board members retired from Utah Division of Arts & Museums board service. Staff and board members honored them with the following thoughts. Utah Museums Advisory Board: Tim Glenn (2015-2023, chair 2022-2023)Tim led our board with humor and thoughtful questions. He brought great energy to our board and leaves a legacy …

A colorful tiger sculpture rests in a woven textile.

Announcing Our 2023-24 Folk Arts Apprenticeship Recipients

We’re excited to announce the eight apprenticeship pairs for the 2023-24 Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. Since 1989, our Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program has supported a rich multitude of traditional artistic expression in the Beehive State. For more than 30 years, we have supported numerous apprenticeships in traditional dance, craft, music, and other art forms. Over a period of several months, …

A headshot of a man with dark hair and a beard wearing glasses.

Hey, It’s Peter Hay!

We want to welcome our new Visual Arts Coordinator, Peter Hay. Peter has called Salt Lake City home for the past three years. His background is as a cultural programmer, educator, and artist. He grew up for the most part in Oklahoma and received an associate of arts degree from Northern Oklahoma College, a bachelor of arts degree from Northeastern …

A woman with salt-and-pepper hair and round glasses smiles at the camera in front of a painting of an old-fashioned typewriter.

Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore Receives $50,000 Grant from Academy of American Poets

We’re pleased to announce that Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore will be one of 23 poets laureate across the United States to receive an award of $50,000 for creative projects from the Academy of American Poets.  Bickmore will create and digitally archive micro-editions of chapbooks with writers throughout Utah. She will also work with youth and educators to publish broadsides …

Two adults and two children make a clay pot together.

The Arts and Healing

Our assistant director, Natalie Petersen, recently wrote a wonderful blog post for Get Healthy Utah about the connection between the arts and healing in the area of mental health. Give it a read at this link or by viewing this PDF.

A headshot of a woman with long auburn hair.

Staff Highlight: Jenna Ehlinger

Jenna Ehlinger is our new Chase Home Museum Administrator and Accessibility Coordinator for the division. She has a master’s degree in folklore and public culture from the University of Oregon, a B.S. in anthropology from Wisconsin Lutheran College, and is a certified archaeologist. She got her start in museums working for the Milwaukee Public Museum’s anthropology department as an intern …