Final Appropriations to the Cultural Industry // 2021 Accomplishments
Utah’s Arts and Culture Sector has exciting news! Just last week, the Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC) released and adopted a final budget for the 2021 General Session of the Utah Legislature. Within the final budget appropriations lies several key funding successes that will enable a thriving arts and culture scene in our community.
Read on for our take on the budget appropriations.
Of all of the states, Utah has provided nearly the highest fiscal support to the cultural industry throughout the pandemic. In the most recent appropriates, arts and museums were awarded $4 million in sustainability grants. Additionally, the Create in Utah initiative, which helps cultural, artistic, botanical, and zoological agencies in Utah promote community engagement and tourism, was budgeted $5 million in grants to stimulate economic recovery. These funds, in addition to the Impacted Business Covid Relief fund, are essential in bringing up events, programming, and exhibitions.
Additionally, The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP), which provides arts-integrated teaching to elementary school students in 300 Utah elementary schools, was budgeted $4 million ongoing. This initiative places dance, music, theatre, and visual arts specialists in schools and already impacts more than 200,000 young students in our state.
Other initiatives that we believe have far-reaching potential are investments of $69 million in State Parks Improvement and $39 million in trails, outdoor recreation, open spaces, and parks infrastructure. So many of the places that we love in Summit County are a testament to this money being put to good use. Most exciting, however, is a new initiative (with a $20 million one-time budget) to create the Utah Raptor State Park and Lost Creek State Park, helping to preserve the nature around us.
We’re also excited by budgeting for several new employment positions. A Women’s History Position will be established at the Utah Division of State History, and a Community Outreach Coordinator and Racial Equity and Inclusion Training Coordinator will be established at the Division of Multicultural Affairs.
Some favorites that are included in the budget appropriations also include the Sundance Institute, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Tuacahn Center for the Arts, and Harrington Center for the Arts.
We look forward to doing our part, alongside our robust network of arts and cultural organizations and initiatives, to ensure that we have a thriving community of creatives in Utah. We look forward to continued success!
More information about the appropriations can be found here: https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/accomplishments