Partnerships and investment are essential to ensuring a vibrant entertainment district.
(Rick Egan | Salt Lake Tribune) “Outloud: Banished and Masked” exhibition and Deanna and Ed Templeton’s contemporary suburban photography exhibition opens at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art on Thursday, June 27, 2019.
As you may know, exciting changes are coming to downtown Salt Lake City with the development of a new entertainment district. As Executive Director and Chair of the Board of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, we know that while change brings uncertainty, it also brings opportunity. However, this should not come at the expense of art and culture.
As we move forward, we must build on our history and proven capabilities to continue to serve as an integral part of the vibrant downtown experience.
In 1974, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) and the Utah Symphony Orchestra were selected to be part of the Bicentennial Arts Complex to be built downtown, funded by Salt Lake County and the Utah Legislature. Today, these buildings are known as Abravanel Hall and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
Legislators’ decision to centralize arts and culture in downtown Salt Lake is visionary and transformative for our city, which for decades has been home to musicians, artists, writers, thinkers, composers, And it led to so many students experiencing the state’s cultural richness.
Fifty years later, we face another historic, once-in-a-generation opportunity. As part of the revitalization of downtown Salt Lake City, questions are arising about the future of the Bicentennial Arts Complex and the organizations that call it home.
Like Abravanel Hall, UMOCA has been in master planning and renovation discussions for two years, and through these studies and close dialogue with the county, we have learned that renovating the 50-year-old building would be costly. I did. With this in mind, locating a new location in the downtown sports, entertainment, cultural and convention district presents a real opportunity.
As UMOCA leaders, we have received many questions from patrons, artists, students, residents, and community members. As plans for downtown move forward, he wants people to know three things:
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We will continue a long tradition of working with the symphony’s neighbors and Salt Lake County on a shared vision to advance Utah’s arts and culture. We are deeply passionate about the generational impact of our organization and are committed to serving Utahns for generations to come.
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We are optimistic about this opportunity to reimagine the downtown experience, and we are excited about this opportunity to reimagine the downtown experience, and we are excited to share this opportunity with Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, and Jazz and NHL team owner Ryan Smith. Inspired by the original vision set by Mr. We were encouraged by Mike Mohan’s statement that “popular institutions like Abravanel Hall and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art remain on site with better connection points.” And we wholeheartedly agree with the statement, “The downtown experience will be the state’s arts, culture, sports and entertainment hub.”
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We look forward to the opportunity to work with the Utah State Legislature, Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, and Smith Entertainment Group to explore possibilities for renovation and relocation within the new district.
It is clear that our future is based on two fundamental tenets. The arts belong to the core of our downtown. And investing in the arts is a common responsibility of all partners. We cannot lose sight of the fact that reimagining and shaping our cities for the next generation requires resources and investment explicitly earmarked for the future of the arts.
UMOCA is built on a community of innovative, forward-thinking artists with creativity and problem-solving in their blood, excited to bring new solutions and perspectives to the table as we shape the cities of the future together. I am.
(Photo courtesy of UMOCA) Laura Allred Hurtado
Laura Allred Hurtado He is the executive director of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
(Photo courtesy of UMOCA) Richard Wolje
Richard Wolje He serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
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