Farewell to Emily Johnson!

Farewell to Emily Johnson

We're bidding a fond farewell to Emily Johnson, who joined UA&M in 2012 as the curator and registrar, and has been our museum field services manager since 2021. Last year, she was promoted to director of field services. In her role, she consulted with the state’s 250-plus museums and offered museum technical assistance, site visits, workshops, training, and grant funding. Emily was instrumental in accessing funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and shepherding UA&M's Utah Collections Preservation program and Social Impact Study. She also served on the Utah Museums Association’s board of directors and the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board. Emily may be leaving our agency, but she will still be serving the cultural community working for the Pacificorp Foundation. We are grateful for her service and wish her the best in all her endeavors!

In the meantime, if you need to speak to someone on our museums team, please contact our outreach conservator, Marie Desrochers, at mdesrochers@utah.gov.

Traveling Exhibitions for Museums

UA&M's Traveling Exhibitions Program offers exhibitions that travel around the state to various venues, including museums. Check out one of our traveling shows at the Old Dome in Riverton, which is hosting the "Topaz Stories" exhibition through Jan. 28.

While we're on the subject of our Traveling Exhibitions shows: From Jan. 20 through Dec. 31, 2026, the Utah State Capitol will host “The Pen Is Mightier: Writing a Revolution,” one of our Traveling Exhibitions displays that explores the power of communication in shaping history, civic life, and democratic change. A highlight of the exhibition is a rare 1776 copy of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” on loan from Special Collections at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah.

Coming Soon: Environmental Monitoring

Join us on Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. to learn about a new opportunity coming this spring: our Environmental Monitoring Program. We will provide a cohort of collecting institutions across Utah with the tools, training, and support they need to log and use environmental data for their collections spaces with Conserv sensors. Join us to learn more!

Last Call for Site Assessments

A Preservation Site Assessment is not just a visit from Museum Field Services. It is a comprehensive and in-depth examination of your museum's building, documents, and internal structures. This is a free service offered by Utah Field Services for public institutions. This form will be open and collecting responses until Jan. 25, at which time we will close it and review applications. Site assessments will be scheduled for the spring.

Request a Living Folk Arts Workshop

Our agency's Living Folk Arts Education Series is free and allows interested learners in community organizations and museums to actively learn and engage in a variety of folk arts found throughout Utah. Applicants may request a traditional arts workshop for their provided location. We are thrilled to offer these workshops and look forward to learning about and celebrating folk art with you!

Printable Map for Utah Museums and Public Art

Need plans this weekend? Don't know where to go for museums or public art? Your next Utah road trip just got a major upgrade! We've combined our museums directory and public art map into one handy, dandy map. It's designed to be printed, folded up, and tossed in your glove box for your next adventure. Discover 21 amazing museums and 16 stunning public artworks from across the state. Ready to start your journey?