For the first time, Salt Lake City has been named one of the top 40 most arts-vibrant communities in the United States. SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research announced the seventh iteration of their Arts Vibrancy Index Report at the conclusion of 2022. Salt Lake City made the list for the first time.
Courtesy Utah Division of Arst & Museums:
“Last month, Congress unveiled its FY23 omnibus appropriations package to fund the federal government for next year. The recommendations include a 15% funding increase to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) of $27 million each, bringing them both up to an all-time budget high of $207 million. Equity and diversity grant-making recommendations are included in the language that accompanies this funding. Additionally, a $26.8 million increase to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was proposed. President Biden signed the FY23 omnibus appropriations bill on December 29.
Here in Utah, Governor Cox has proposed increased funding for Utah Arts & Museums. Thank you, Governor Cox! His budget includes: $75,000 for a new art transportation vehicle; $300,000 to help with acquisitions and management for the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection; $1M in ongoing grants; and $4M for a one-time increase in grants for museums and arts organizations.”
12/29 Springville Museum of Art Announces New Director
The Springville Museum of Art has announced that Emily Larsen will succeed Dr. Rita Wright as the museum’s director. Larsen has been with the museum since 2006, most recently as Associate Director. Larsen graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors of Arts and a Master of Arts in History from the University of Utah. In 2020 she was named Museum Educator of the Year by the Utah Art Education Association. She has written for 15 Bytes, The Utah Historical Quarterly and Century of Black Mormons.
12/22 SLTRIB: Make Salt Lake gives artists tools, a workspace and a supportive community, all for a subscription fee
It would be hard to come up with a project you couldn’t create at Make Salt Lake.
The “makerspace,” housed in the Salt Lake City Arts Hub at 663 W. 100 South (west of The Gateway), is meant to be a place where DIYers can make art and work on projects even if they lack the tools and space at home.
Instead of trying to cram a wood shop or a machine shop into their garage, tinkerers will find well-equipped spaces dedicated to both crafts at Make Salt Lake. Instead of fighting to keep their cats off the sewing pattern they’re trying to cut out, people who sew can take advantage of Make Salt Lake’s spacious textiles studio.
12/19 Micah Christensen discusses Rosa Bonheur on Jeff Hein’s podcast, The Undraped Artist
Christensen is a scholar of European, Asian, and American fine art, porcelain, and decorative objects. He earned his doctorate in the History of Art from University College London. He received his Masters in Fine Art from Sotheby’s Institute (London). He is currently a partner at Anthony’s Fine Art & Antiques (Salt Lake City) and a Board Member of the Springville Museum of Art. He regularly lectures on continues to lecture, write, and consult with public institutions and private collectors. He is a co-author of the Dictionary of Utah Fine Artists. Micah currently sits on the Advisory Board of PleinAir Magazine. In this podcast, Hein and Christensen discuss Rosa Bonheur, the first woman artist to receive France’s Légion d’honneur.
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: Mixed Media | News
I will miss Dr. Rita Wright at The Springville Museum — she has been a marvelous Director and wonderful resource — but the equally terrific Emily Larsen soon will be easing into her place, I just read here. Larsen has been with the museum since 2006, most recently as Associate Director, graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts and earned a Master of Arts in History from the University of Utah. In 2020 she was named Museum Educator of the Year by the Utah Art Education Association. She has written for 15 Bytes (that’s us), The Utah Historical Quarterly and Century of Black Mormons.