Utah Cultural Alliance

🎉 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://lnkd.in/gxAFJv_x #UTCulture #UtahArts

Utah's Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary are excited to co-host the Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation Conference from May 13 to May 17, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah 🏔 Join us for networking opportunities, presentations by wildlife conservationists, workshops, panels, field trips, and a movie night. Connect with field researchers and zoo & aquarium professionals dedicated to conservation at the biennial ZACC conference! REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/gKMRQ3Bj

Congratulations, Kathleen Bodenlos on this well-deserved recognition! We're rooting for you! 👏👏 We are honored to count Kathleen as a member of our board of directors, and are grateful for the work she does elevating the incredible cultural industry.

"Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right." --Dr. Jane Goodall (widely credited, specific source unknown) Dr. Goodall understands that there can be no progress without dialogue, and listening is an essential element of dialogue. At UCA, we consider constantly how we are engaging in the advocacy process. Are we listening? Are we giving space for everyone to be heard? Are we listening openly and honestly to those we disagree with, with the intent to understand? It is sometimes challenging to juggle this ideal with the emotions we may feel in the moment about any particular situation. We are so grateful to all of you for engaging so thoughtfully with the legislature and with each other these last two months. It's hard work (albeit important work) sometimes, but seeing positive change encourages us that we're on the right path (check out the Session Report at the link in bio to see some of those positive changes!). As an aside: one of our staff enjoyed taking his family to the exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Utah, Becoming Jane, which is currently running at the museum through May 27. We encourage you to visit and learn more about the influential and determined Dr. Jane Goodall, her scientific endeavors, and also her strong advocacy for the things she believes in. Here's the link for the exhibit: https://lnkd.in/gfycUz-5 #UtahCulture #UtahAdvocacy #UtahMuseums #UtahHumanities #utleg #utpol Photo of Dr. Goodall by Nick Stepowyj, provided via Flickr at the link listed below, and licensed under Creative Commons 2.0. Image was modified to better fit in the designed graphic with the included quote. Image Title: Jane Goodall Image Description: Jane Goodall attending the 18th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival at the Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton, New York. Image Date: October 10, 2010 https://lnkd.in/gcZGMZ-V

We'd love for you to join us at one of our upcoming events! Our Legislative Session Wrap-up is tomorrow (3/13) at 11 AM. For the first time, this event is open to ALL. Have a friend or colleague you'd like to bring? Invite them! We'll be in-person at Kiln in Salt Lake City (parking validation available), but if you can't make it, you can join us on Zoom! RSVP> https://lnkd.in/gmCBGXz4 Next week, as part of our monthly professional development series, we've invited UCA's lobbyist, Dan Hemmert, to share his key takeaways from the legislative session. Our professional development series is open to all UCA members, so please RSVP for that as well. This event will be online only. RSVP > https://lnkd.in/gRQskYMi Lastly, we'd love for you to review the Legislative Session Report, which we published last week, and bring your questions, concerns, and feedback with you to either or both of these events! Report >> https://lnkd.in/gCJZ5F9x We look forward to seeing you there! #UtahCulture #UtahArts #UtahHumanities #UtahMuseums #UtahFilm #UtahLibraries #UtahAdvocacy #utleg #utpol

This is a fantastic entry-level role and learning opportunity in the cultural and nonprofit sector. Share with recent college (or soon-to-be) college graduates you know!

Week 6 recap video is live! We're especially excited to share news regarding EAC funding priorities, released Friday night. Utah Division of Arts & Museums' General Operating Support grants are essential to bolstering our industry's capacity to serve residents throughout the entire state, and we're happy to see the Utah Legislature invested as well! As Representative Moss stated at our press conference a few weeks ago: "it's been a good investment for the State of Utah." Have a listen, and let us know what you think! #UtahCulture #UtahArts #UtahHumanities #UtahFilm #UtahMuseums #UtahLibraries #utpol #UtahAdvocacy #utleg

We were glad to be present at the Utah State Capitol building yesterday afternoon, as the Utah Senate formally recognized the 125th anniversary of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M). Thank you to Senator Kwan for sponsoring the resolution, SJR14! The oldest state-run arts agency in the nation, UA&M has been cultivating our thriving cultural industry for a long time, and we are grateful for their work! They are vital to the long-term success of this industry, and so many longstanding organizations in Utah, as well as newer organizations, all benefit from their incomparable work throughout the state. Pictured here are Utah Cultural Alliance Foundation board chair David Wicai, board member Emily Spencer, UA&M Executive Director Victoria Bourns, and visiting from Cedar City, Southern Utah Museum of Art Executive Director Jessica Kinsey. It was wonderful to see so many of you there in recognition of this milestone! #UtahCulture #UtahArts #UtahHumanities #UtahFilm #UtahMuseums #UtahLibraries #utpol #UtahAdvocacy #utleg

Week 4 recap video is live! Watch here on LinkedIn, or go to our YouTube channel to find it there as well. #UtahArts #UtahCulture #UtahHumanities #ArtsAdvocacy #utpol #utleg

The Brilliance of Black, Bold, & Brilliant: Since just June of 2023, Russell Roots, our director of film exhibition and Utah Film Center’s Black, Bold & Brilliant program, has won three awards from several esteemed community organizations! Russell leads BBB alongside teammates Aja Washington, MSW, CSW and risshan leak. The program focuses on authentic and nuanced representation through film critique and discussions led by Black Utahns. In June 2023, Roots was the recipient of a Utah Business Living Color award in the “community involvement” category, presented to “individuals and organizations who are working toward a more equitable and inclusive future for our state.” Shortly following this exciting and honorable distinction, our Black, Bold & Brilliant program received the designation of “Best Cultural Program” in Salt Lake City Weekly’s 2023 Best of Utah issue. Most recently, Roots was presented with the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award by the Utah Cultural Alliance. This award is “presented to an artist, creative worker, or humanities scholar for their significant achievement or milestone accomplishment in the past year.” At Utah Film Center, we are incredibly excited to have a team full of talented and passionate individuals such as Russell Roots, and programs that bring diverse fine arts, culture, and conversation to Utah like Black, Bold, & Brilliant does. We are thrilled that Russell is receiving recognition for their work that helps us all develop a richer understanding of our neighbors, fellow human beings, and the world around us. Learn more about Utah Film Center’s Black, Bold & Brilliant program and team at https://lnkd.in/eaVyNMwE #BlackBoldBrilliantSLC #UtahFilmCenter