We’re all about bright ideas.

Like that first bright idea, almost 25 YEARS AGO: create an online platform to unite and strengthen Utah’s art community. And the even brighter one: in the face of dwindling coverage in traditional media, create an online magazine about the arts in Utah. Hello, 15 Bytes.

But we’ve had others.

Have we ever told you about the Artist Matchmaker app?

No, not a dating site for artists. Can you imagine? I mean, someone in the couple needs to have the health insurance.

No, a site where professionals who are into art could connect with artists in need of a trade. Plumbers, massage therapists, attorneys could all swipe right on the Utah artists they love. And those artists could connect their artwork with professional service. Maybe some day. Just seems like there might be a lot of legal work involved. Any lawyers want to swipe right on us?

Or the Utah Artists Union?

We fiddled with that one, but well, the phrase “herding cats” came to mind.

One idea we’ve been itching to realize, and just might be able to in 2026 is UAM!, the Utah Art Map app.

Imagine you have 20 minutes to wait for a table at a restaurant or for a performance to begin. You tap on the app and find there are 5 murals, two sculptures and a gallery all within a block or two. The app provides directions, images, a history of the work and even audio to listen to as you walk.

And imagine what we could do for tourism and the local art market when a visitor gets off the plane, to ski or hike or even conduct business, and they’re invited to download the app—a perfect way to discover the artistic side of the state.

Let’s not forget some other bright ideas we have achieved, like The 15 Bytes Book Awards.

This one was David Pace’s bright idea—one of the ones we’ve actually pulled off.
David started our entire literary program from scratch, building everything from book reviews and author profiles to the monthly publication of original work by Utah writers in our READ LOCAL First series on 15 Bytes, as well as a Utah-author reading series at Finch Lane Gallery called READ LOCAL.

When he learned that the Utah Book Award might be losing its longtime funder and disappear, he suggested we create our own award—and so, in 2013, the 15 Bytes Book Awards were launched.

Sure enough, after 2014 the Utah Book Awards went into a decade-long hiatus. It was revived in 2025 by Utah Humanities.

Throughout that decade, we continued to honor excellence in publishing by Utah authors or books with strong Utah connections, awarding prizes in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art books.

And we continue to do so. Utah is big enough for two book awards, right? Our 2025 winners will be announced later this month.

Some our projects are annual while others, like Utah’s 15, are intermittent.

This bright idea was Laura Durham’s, when she was working as visual arts program manager for Utah Arts & Museums.

Utah’s 15 set out to identify the state’s most influential artists—not simply the most famous, but those whose work, mentorship, leadership, and community building have had a lasting impact on Utah’s cultural ecosystem.

Selected from public nominations and a broad pool of artists, art lovers and arts professionals, the final fifteen were featured in an exhibition at the Rio Gallery and in a published book that included essays, portraits, and examples of their work.

The first iteration was launched in 2014. 

A second volume and exhibition followed in 2019.

Utah’s 15 (2014 Volume I): Paul Davis, Brian Kershisnik, Trent Alvey, Sandy Brunvand, Anna Campbell Bliss, Ruby Chacón, Anne Cullimore Decker, John Erickson, Stephen Goldsmith, Bonnie Phillips, Brad Slaugh, Terry Tempest Williams, Sam Wilson, Frank McEntire, Joan Woodbury

Utah’s 15 (2019 / Volume II ): Pat Bagley, Edward Bateman, Connie Borup, Geralyn Dreyfous, Stefanie Dykes, Jann Haworth, Amy Jorgensen, Beth Krensky, Kim Martinez, Joe Ostraff, Pilar Pobil, Jorge Rojas, Linda C. Smith, Tony Smith, Stephen Trimble

Is it time for volume 3?

This post was originally created for our #GIVINGTUESDAY 2025 Campaign. We also developed the ideas on our Instagram page, where Artist Matchmakers was a big hit.

Creating the campaing helped us think through some things so we thought we’d keep it here.
To remind us of where we’ve been and where we’d like to go.

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN HELP US GET THERE.
WAYS TO DONATE:

VENMO a contribution to @artistsofutah

DONATE with a CREDIT CARD or PAYPAL through our PAYPAL link:

Mail a check today, and let us know it’s coming (email us at editor@artistsofutah.org)
Artists of Utah
P.0. Box 526292
SLC, UT 84152

In addition to several other programs, Artists of Utah is the publisher of 15 Bytes.
Artists of Utah is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt nonprofit.

WE’VE RAISED $1,812 SO FAR
OUR THANKS TODAY TO:

Rosanne Lynne Welter
Hannah Elliott
Jo-Ann Wong
Tom Szalay
Winston Tite
Elodie Payne
Jacquelynn Sokol
David Ericson Fine Art
Emily Larsen and Eric Boothe
Nancy Vorm
Suzanne Ruplinger
Doyle Christensen
Jared Steffensen
Randall Lake
Chloe Henderson
Virginia McOmber

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.