Members of the Collections Preservation Team ham it up at the recent joint Western Museums Association and Utah Museums Association Annual Conference in Salt Lake City.
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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Autumn is often conference season for our agency, and this year is no different. Many of us enjoyed learning and networking with museum professionals from across Utah and the west at the recent joint conference of the Western Museums Association and the Utah Museums Association, held in downtown Salt Lake City. Check out our blog post for more.
Also, a number of our staff and I recently returned from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies conference in Washington, D.C. It was a wonderful gathering of staff from state cultural agencies across the nation, and we returned feeling energized and full of ideas. Here’s hoping your October is going well, full of meaning and engagement — and also rest, as we gear up for the looming holiday season!
All my best,
Kirsten Darrington
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. Looking for a past newsletter? Check out our Past Newsletters webpage.
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- The Utah Nonprofits Association offers the Nonprofit Credential in areas such as fundraising, marketing, and volunteer management.
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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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The Institute of Museum and Library Services has published the results of its inaugural National Museum Survey (NMS). The NMS provides new insights into a field that generates billions of dollars in economic activity, provides nearly half a million jobs, and hosts over one billion visits per year.
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The DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management is offering “An AI Roadmap for Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations.”
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The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has free advocacy resources for nonprofit arts organizations.
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ArtsHub has resources, training, and support to help arts and culture organizations advance accessibility.
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Time-Sensitive Opportunities |
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services has opened applications for its FY2027 discretionary grant programs.
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Are you a Gen Z making a difference, or do you know someone who is? Spread the word about the upcoming Generation Volunteer Summit. Young changemakers ages 15 to 25 are invited to register and be part of this inspiring event. Registration closes Oct. 23.
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Salt Lake City Arts Council has opened their Project Support grants for arts-based projects happening in Salt Lake City between Feb. and Aug. 2027. Apply by Oct. 25.
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STEM Next Opportunity Fund is seeking Flight Crew youth ambassadors to represent their states, develop leadership and communication skills, share their stories, and advocate for after-school and summer STEM opportunities. Open to youth ages 13–18. Apply by Oct. 29.
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Art Preservation Fund provides grants for conservation and preservation projects at cultural organizations across the United States. They prioritize organizations with demonstrated need and limited access to existing resources. Apply by Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. EDT.
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Utah Humanities has opened a call for Oral History Grant applications. Receive up to $3,000 to support an oral history project. Draft applications are due Nov. 1.
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The Levitt Family Foundation has opened a call for grants of up to $5,000 to U.S.-based nonprofits presenting free outdoor festivals in 2027. Apply by Friday, Nov. 20.
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Thrill of the Chase at the Chase Home Museum |
Cozy up to our fireplace with some hot cocoa for Thrill of the Chase! Join us at the Chase Home Museum in Liberty Park on Friday, Oct. 23, 7 to 8 p.m. to hear spine-tingling Super Scary Stories from professional storytellers Danny B. Stewart and Mo Reynolds. This event is free, but please help us account for hot cocoa by submitting an RSVP. The stories are appropriate for teens and adults.
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Register for Poetry Out Loud |
Teachers can register now to hold a Poetry Out Loud competition in their school, classroom, or youth organization. This annual, nationwide poetry reciting competition gives 9th- through 12th-grade students the chance to dig deep into great works of poetry. Your school winner will go on to compete for cash prizes and the chance to represent our state at the national finals in Washington, D.C. next spring.
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Student Poetry Contest Opens |
Attention, high school poets! The entry period is open for Poetry Ourselves, our statewide 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 at the state finals for Poetry Out Loud, Mar. 3, 2027. Enter by Dec. 11.
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“Once Upon a Tree” at Chase Home Museum |
Curated from the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection, “Once Upon a Tree” showcases how Utah artists transform raw timber and paper into vibrant expressions of culture, memory, and heritage. Discover wood and paper through fine art and traditional craft at the Chase Home Museum in the middle of Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park. The show is on display through Jan. 9, 2027.
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Stitching Through the Past |
In this beginner-friendly workshop on Saturday, Oct. 24, you will learn how the past is woven into the present by stitching new life into vintage photographs. Our team will guide you through basic embroidery techniques to add pops of color and texture to black-and-white historic images while sharing the fascinating stories of the Utahns pictured in them. All supplies and materials are provided, and no prior stitching experience is necessary — you’ll leave with your own customized piece of photo art and the tools to keep exploring history from home. This event is co-presented by our agency and the Utah Historical Society.
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Swing by the Chase Home Museum as we continue our 40th-anniversary celebration with an October edition of Folk & Art in the Park. Visit us on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for art, crafts, and treats. Participate in seasonal activities, dabble in art challenges, or browse our folk art exhibitions. See you at the park!
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Utah Original Writing Competition Winners |
We are delighted to announce that 17 writers have been selected as winners in seven categories of the 66th annual Utah Original Writing Competition, a co-production by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums and Utah Humanities. Winners were selected from 266 entries submitted by Utah-based writers. Manuscripts were reviewed in an anonymous process by judges who reside outside of Utah. First- and second-place winners are awarded prize money ranging from $250 to $1,500, depending on the category. Our congratulations to these talented writers!
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Breaking Barriers Training |
Our Breaking Barriers program is accepting applications for our next cohort training, taking place virtually Jan. 13 through Feb. 17 on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. This free training is for cultural organizations to enhance their knowledge of disability accessibility. Participants receive 12 hours of instruction over six weeks, as well as a one-hour consultation provided by Art Access staff. Participants will develop plans to make their physical sites and organizations more accessible to everyone. Apply by Dec. 30.
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Book the Utah Poet Laureate |
Are you interested in a reading or workshop with Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore for your school or community group? Learn more at the link about booking an appearance. Requests are honored based on the nature of the request and the availability of the poet laureate.
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Professional Development Scholarships |
Our Community Programs team provides scholarships for arts and museums organization’s staff, board members, or volunteers to attend relevant trainings or conferences. These conferences and trainings provide opportunities for organizations to expand their skill sets and network with other organizations. The scholarships are intended to advance skills toward arts and museums best practices. Funding covers registration costs up to $500.
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We’re looking for 25 individuals who want to learn how to teach art-making to adults 55 and older. This Lifetime Arts course is recommended for anyone planning to run, teach, or sustain creative aging programs. The course will take place virtually over Zoom from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on the following dates:
Tuesday, Jan. 26; Tuesday, Feb. 2; and Tuesday, Feb. 9.
This activity is made possible by a grant provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy.
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Kirsten Darrington,
Division Director
Katherine Potter,
Commissioner
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