The Utah Division of Arts and Museums is pleased to inaugurate the Alice Merrill Horne Legislative Champion Award. This award acknowledges elected officials who initiate legislation to ensure Utah’s arts, culture, and heritage can thrive and grow. Alice Merrill Horne was our first legislative champion. In 1899, she sponsored the bill creating the first state arts agency in the nation.
This year, we’re honoring two individuals who have gone above and beyond to support arts and museums.
During the 2018 legislative session, Rep. Brad Wilson took the initiative to assist school districts across the state in caring for and providing a path to keep works of art purchased by the public in the public domain.
Also during the 2018 legislative session, Rep. Patrice Arent sponsored HB180 – Art Collection Committee Amendments, which fully acknowledged our first legislative champion, Alice Merrill Horne. Thanks to Rep. Arent, our state art collection is now officially known as the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection.