Dear Colleagues,
I am so pleased to share that Mary Anne Carter has been confirmed as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Anne when I initially joined Utah Arts & Museums in 2017, when she was chair during President Trump's first term. Mary Anne is a true arts champion. I have found her to be strategic, warm, knowledgeable, and passionate in her service to advance arts and cultural initiatives. I look forward to her tenure and am so grateful for her service. Mary Anne is committed to advancing the vision that the arts belong to all Americans, no matter who they are or where they live. She has helped bring additional funding to support America 250 to every state and territory. Kudos, Mary Anne Carter!
I hope you'll join us at the Utah State Capitol on Feb. 5 for Cultural Industry Advocacy Day, as we celebrate the vibrant cultural industry that enriches the lives of all Utahns. This is an opportunity for everyone in the cultural sector to come together and showcase the incredible impact of our industry. You can choose a track that best fits your schedule and interests. Registration is required for the Rotunda Activity and Legislative Meeting tracks.
As we begin the new year, I am taking the words of Caitie Whelan ("Policy Is for Lovers" blog) to heart and working to be more curious and open to possibilities.
Wishing you curiosity and possibilities for 2026,
Victoria Panella Bourns
Director, Utah Division of Arts & Museums
P.S. As always, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook at @utahartsandmuseums. A list of our newsletters that you can subscribe to is on our Newsletters webpage.
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Creative West is offering a Capacity Building Webinar Series, a year-long lineup of free professional development workshops for artists and arts organizations. Join them the second Tuesday of each month from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
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Arts Midwest is currently accepting applications for the National Endowment for the Arts' annual Big Read program. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to support community-based reading programs designed around a single book. Submit an Intent to Apply by Jan. 15; the full application is due Jan. 29.
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The Levitt Foundation has an open call for grants of up to $5,000 to U.S.-based nonprofits presenting free outdoor music festivals in 2026. Applications are due by Jan. 30.
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Our colleagues at UServeUtah are offering Volunteer Management Training, an interactive, practical course for volunteer managers at any experience level. Feb. 11 - 12, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Mountainland Technical College in Lehi. Register by Jan. 31.
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Guidelines and application materials for the National Endowment for the Arts’ principal grants category, Grants for Arts Projects, are now available. Application deadlines are Feb. 12 and July 9 for projects taking place beginning in 2027.
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The National Endowment for the Arts has opened applications for a new funding opportunity: "Celebrating the Nation’s 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands." Eligible organizations may apply for a grant ranging from $10,000 up to $20,000 for arts projects that feature performances and/or educational programming with a U.S. military band. Apply by Feb. 23.
- The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Leadership in History Awards. Submissions are due March 1.
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The Vilcek Foundation will bestow a total of $200,000 in new grants to select mission-aligned nonprofits in the United States. The foundation awards operating and project support grants to a varied group of organizations across sectors, including arts, sciences, education, and direct services. Apply by April 30.
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Creative West's "Living Traditions: Folk Art and Beyond Grant" celebrates and invests in the cultural practices and art forms that connect and sustain communities. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 30 or until all available funds have been awarded.
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Farewell to Emily Johnson
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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.
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Book a Visit from the Utah Poet Laureate
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Are you interested in a reading or workshop with Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore for your school, nonprofit organization, writers' group, or community group? Learn more at the link about booking an appearance from Lisa.
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| Free Folk Arts Workshops Available
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Our Living Folk Arts Education workshop series is a free program that allows folk artists from the UA&M Teaching Artists roster to offer hands-on workshops to schools and community groups around the state. Groups can select from a wide range of traditional arts workshops. You can hold a workshop at the Chase Home Museum in Salt Lake City or arrange to have the artist come to your location.
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Utah Artist Fellowship Applications Open Jan. 26
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The Utah Artist Fellowships are $5,000 awards that recognize the careers of Utah artists demonstrating exceptional creativity in their fields. Fellows are chosen by out-of-state, nationally renowned arts professionals. Selections are based on evaluation of application narratives as well as work samples from the past five years. Fellowships will be awarded in each of these categories:
Literary Arts – Five fellowships
Performing Arts (Music 2026) – Five fellowships
Visual Arts & Design Arts – Eight fellowships
Application closes March 6 at 5 p.m.
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Poetry Ourselves Deadline Approaching
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The entry deadline is Jan. 30 for Poetry Ourselves, our statewide youth poetry competition. Utah 9th- through 12th-grade students may submit either one or two of their own original poems of any format. Submitted poems must be 25 lines or fewer. Works may be submitted in English or Spanish. Winners will receive a cash award and be invited to present their works on the evening of state finals for Poetry Out Loud on March 4.
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| New Exhibition at Chase Home Museum
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Join us Jan. 24 at Chase Home Museum for the opening reception of our new exhibition, "The ‘Ilisapesi Collection," to see the works of Polynesian fashion designer Denise Kaafi. The show honors Kaafi’s grandmother through one-of-a-kind gowns and traditional pieces that blend Tongan and Māori heritage with natural Pacific materials. Stop by the museum between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to view the exhibit and enjoy some light refreshments!
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Artwork Installed in New North Capitol Building
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In preparation for the opening of the North Capitol Building, our Collections team worked with the Capitol Preservation Board to install seven large artworks in public spaces. Five of these artworks were historic murals by Edna Merrill Van Frank, including a 6-by-27-foot painting of a Salt Lake City ward house celebration during the mid-19th century. These murals were originally commissioned for Auerbach's department store, located in downtown Salt Lake City, in celebration of Utah's 1947 centennial of the settlement of the Salt Lake Valley. The artist's daughter-in-law, Sheila M. Van Frank, donated the murals to our division in 2018, and we are thrilled to have them out on public display again.
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Get Involved with America250 Utah
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Our department's America250 Utah Commission is organizing events in the state to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Your organization can get involved by asking for a branding kit on the America250 Utah website. Fill out the form here.
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The views and opinions expressed in any content from outside partners do not necessarily reflect the views of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums.
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| Donna Law,
Executive Director
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| Victoria Panella Bourns,
Director
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