Find more about us online at heritage.utah.gov DHA’s mission is to enrich the quality of life for the people of Utah and nourish Utah’s economy. DHA creates, preserves, and promotes arts, heritage preservation and culture by offering a wide variety of programs through its six divisions: Utah State Library, Utah State History, Arts & Museums, Commission on Service and Volunteerism, Indian Affairs and Multicultural Affairs. By investing in Utah’s heritage, creative industries and diversity, DHA elevates Utah’s quality of life and contributes to Utah’s growing economy.

GARY R. HERBERT Governor

SPENCER J. COX

Lieutenant Governor

Julie Fisher Executive Director

For immediate release 01 Sept. 2015

The Department of Heritage & Arts Continues to Serve and Support the Arts and Humanities in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — A group of arts advocates held a press conference at the State Capitol this morning to highlight their concerns regarding the State of Utah’s support for the arts and humanities. The Department of Heritage & Arts, and its Division of Arts & Museums, welcome and rely upon input from the arts and all communities they serve. Unfortunately, a media advisory for the press conference presents inaccurate information and incorrect budget data which the Department seeks to correct. The group’s media advisory contains budget numbers for various divisions within the Department of Heritage & Arts which are incorrect. The table below shows the budgets for Fiscal Year 2016 for the Utah State Library Division, Utah Division of State History, and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (with separate line items for arts and museums), as well as legislative pass-through funds which benefit arts, cultural, and historical institutions, museums, and libraries throughout the State:

As the table illustrates, a significant amount of each division’s budget is reserved for grants which are awarded directly to individuals, groups, institutions, and local governments through a variety of competitive, peer-reviewed grant processes. Budget funds that are not awarded as grants are used to support the activities of professional staff in each of the divisions who provide services directly to members of the public, schools, local governments, arts organizations, cultural organizations, museums, historical institutions, libraries, and more. Annual reports which detail the programmatic activities and accomplishments of the Department of Heritage & Arts and its divisions are available at heritage.utah.gov.

FY 2016 Appropriation – Utah Department of Heritage & Arts (selected divisions) Total Budget Grants Budget Utah State Library Division $ 8,291,000 $ 2,330,700 Utah Division of State History $ 3,176,500 $ 732,000 Utah Division of Arts & Museums (arts funding) $ 3,978,900 $ 1,713,600 Utah Division of Arts & Museums (museums funding) $ 363,300 $ 363,300 Legislative pass-through $ 3,422,000 $ 3,422,000

Geoffrey Fattah, 801.245.7205 Communications Director, Utah Dept. of Heritage and Arts

April 19, 2012 Page 2 National comparisons of state arts agency funding can be found via the National Association of States Arts Agencies (NASAA): http://www.nasaaarts.org/Research/Funding/FY2016_SAA_Legislative_Appropriations_Preview.pdf Concerns have also been raised that the Department of Heritage & Arts requested the defunding of competitive arts grants programs during the August 2015 legislative interim meeting. No reduction in existing arts grants or other grants programs within the Department was proposed. Minutes and an audio recording of the interim meeting are available at le.utah.gov. The Department of Heritage & Arts has consistently advocated for increased funding for arts, museums, history, and library grants and other funding since state revenues have begun to recover following the economic downturn. Working closely with Governor Gary R. Herbert’s office and with the Legislature, the Department has secured both ongoing and onetime funding for museums grants, library grants, fine art acquisition and conservation (which had never been previously included in the Division of Arts & Museums’ base budget), and the National History Day program. The Department has utilized cost savings from operational efficiencies to internally fund the acquisition of upgraded folk art, 3D art, and large-scale art storage systems, an overhaul of the digital database of the state fine art, public art, and folk art collections, and improvements to the Rio Gallery. The Department facilitated the restoration of the Museums Specialist and Folk Arts Specialist positions at the Division of Arts & Museums by absorbing some internal IT functions that had previously resided within the Division, which made available 85% of the funds used to restore these two positions. The Department recognizes that there is always room for improvement in all aspects of its operations, customer service, and advocacy. The Department will continue to work with the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, its boards, its customers, and community groups to find better ways to serve the public and follow its statutory mandate the “advance the arts, in all their phases” (Utah Code, Title 9).

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