You may have heard a little bit about Utah’s 15, our program designed to celebrate Utah artists and their impact on our community. For those of you waiting with bated breath, we’ll be announcing the recipients of the award at our 35×35 Gallery Stroll reception April 19 at 8 pm at Finch Lane Gallery.

We’re not the first, of course, to come up with the idea to recognize the state’s artists.

Karen Horne, recipient of the 2013 Salt Lake City Mayor’s Award for the Visual Arts.

SLC Mayor’s Awards
Since 1992, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office has recognized individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the artistic landscape of the community by awarding the Mayor’s Artists Awards at the Utah Arts Festival.

This year’s five recipients were announced last week — Karen Horne for the Visual Arts; Mary Ann Lee for Performing Arts; Bryan Young for Literary Arts; Frank McEntire for Service to the Arts by an Individual; and RadioWest for Service to the Arts by an Organization. The recipients will be recognized during the festival on Friday, June 21st on the Festival Stage at 8:15 pm (for a complete list of past recipients visit uaf.org/mayor.)

Governor’s Awards
The Governor’s Leadership in the Arts Awards have been around even longer — 33 years. The Governor’s Leadership in the Arts Awards recipients are honored at a luncheon during the Mountain West Arts Conference, May 2, 2013, at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City (luncheon reservations and conference registrations can be made online at artsandmuseums.utah.gov).

This year’s recipients are Wally Bloss, Executive Director, Cache Valley Center for the Arts for the Individual Leadership in the Arts Award; Patricia A. Richards of Utah Symphony|Utah Opera for the Volunteer Leadership in the Arts Award; Gunnison City, Mayor Lori Nay, Community Leadership in the Arts Award; and Kim Schaefer, Vice Principal, Whitehorse High School, for the Education Leadership in the Arts Award.

Utah’s 15
So, with these other awards happening (and the ones above aren’t the only ones in the state) why are we bothering to come up with yet another award? Well, more recognition for what artists do in our state never hurts, and we think we’re poised to celebrate their impact in a special way. We want not only to name names, but also tell stories. Utah’s 15 is our chance to delve into a print publication (out later this year) and see if we can match the success of our exhibition for younger artists (35×35) with an exhibition celebrating more established artists (a Utah’s 15 exhibit will be at the Rio Gallery in February 2014).

Our selections for Utah’s 15 are coming from a broad community. Nominations  — we received more than 80 — were open to the public, and the final 15 will be selected through a vote by the people who make 15 Bytes possible (our writers, photographers, volunteers, staff, board and financial contributors: that’s about 200 people). This process may not necessarily result in a different batch of recipients from other awards. But we hope it will give the recognition a little extra luster.

Join us on April 19th at 8 pm at Finch Lane Gallery to recognize both the winners of the 35×35 exhibition awards and the recipients of Artists of Utah’s first Utah’s 15 awards.

Requests for interviews with awardees should be directed to Alyssa Hickman Grove, 801.236.7548, agrove@utah.gov. Registration is $95 for the full conference, including the Governor’s Leadership in the Arts Awards luncheon, or $55 for the luncheon alone. Register online at artsandmuseums.utah.gov. Group and student rates are available. Educators can receive points toward Utah Educator’s License recertification. Table sponsorship opportunities are available; call Lynnette Hiskey at 801.236.7552 for details.

For more information, visit the Utah Arts & Museums Web site at artsandmuseums.utah.gov or phone 801.236.7555.

15 Bytes

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.