Washington, DC—NEA Chairman Jane Chu will visit Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, May 7, 2015. In addition to giving a keynote address at the Mountain West Arts Conference, Chairman Chu will visit three NEA grantees: University of Utah’s Tanner Dance, Art Access, and the Utah Arts Festival. Follow @NEAJaneChu on Twitter for updates and photos on her trip to Salt Lake City.

On the morning of May 7 at 9:00am, Chairman Chu will give a keynote address at the Mountain West Arts Conference. Her remarks will address the way the arts foster value, connection, and creativity and innovation in our communities, our schools, and in our daily lives. Media who wish to attend this event should contact Laura Durham at ldurham@utah.gov, or 801-236-7553.

Following this event, she will visit Oakridge Elementary School to observe an in-school 4th grade dance class taking place through University of Utah Tanner Dance’s side-by-side training residency program. Chairman Chu will also join Tanner Dance representatives and Oakridge Elementary School staff for a discussion about Tanner Dance’s work in the schools. The NEA supports Tanner Dance’s side-by-side Dance program which provides students and general classroom teachers with knowledge and skills in dance. Chairman Chu will have a few minutes at the end of this site visit for questions from the media.

That afternoon, Chairman Chu will visit the NEA-supported Art Access to learn more about their visual and literary arts programs for veterans. In addition to touring the space, Chairman Chu will meet with veterans participating in the program.

Chairman Chu’s last site visit of the day is with the Utah Arts Festival, another NEA grantee, where she will be joined by Mayor Ralph Becker. Chairman Chu and Mayor Becker will meet with Utah Arts Festival artists, staff, and community partners to learn about the variety of festival programs and outreach activities, including new programs that look at the intersection of art and technology.

Chairman Chu will be available for short interviews following this site visit. Media wishing to request a short one-on-one interview should contact Liz Auclair at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744.

The following events are open to media. Media who wish to attend these events or request an interview with Chairman Chu should contact NEA Public Affairs at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

9:00–10:00am  Keynote address at the Mountain West Arts Conference. Media who wish to attend this event should contact Laura Durham at ldurham@utah.gov, or 801-236-7553.

Location: Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 W. 3100 S. West Valley City, Utah 84119

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Ken Verdoia, chair, Utah Arts Council Board of Directors

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11:00–12:00pm  Site visit with University of Utah’s Tanner Dance (11:00-11:20 classroom observation)

Location: Oakridge Elementary School, 4325 Jupiter Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84124

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Rachel Kimball, director, Arts-in-Education, University of Utah Tanner Dance

Diana Timothy, assistant director, Arts-in-Education, University of Utah Tanner Dance

Mary Ann Lee, director, University of Utah Tanner Dance

Lyndsi Pace, program manager, University of Utah Tanner Dance

Christine Drummond, principal, Oakridge Elementary School

Katie Story, classroom teacher, Oakridge Elementary School

JoAnn Meitler, music specialist, Oakridge Elementary School

Tamara Burnside, arts coordinator, Granite District

Sabrina Theodore, visual art specialist, Oakridge Elementary School

Wachira Waigwa-Stone, musician, University of Utah Tanner Dance

Virginia Gowski, chair, Western States Arts Federation Board of Trustees

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1:30–2:30pm Site visit at Art Access

Location: 230 S 500 W, #125, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Sheryl D. Gillilan, executive director, Art Access

Emily Potter, recreational therapist, VA Hospital

Virginia Gowski, chair, Western States Arts Federation Board of Trustees

Art Access executive committee members

Participants in Art Access programming

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2:30–3:15pm  Site visit at Utah Arts Festival

Location: 230 S 500 W #120, Salt Lake City, UT

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Ralph Becker, mayor, Salt Lake City

Lisa Sewell, executive director, Utah Arts Festival

Alecia Cenaruzabeitia & Adam Sherlock, Spy Hop Productions

Kasandra Verbrugghen, executive director, Spy Hop Productions

Laurel Hunter, marketing director, Spy Hop Productions

Provo High School student artists

James Rees, visual artist, art teacher, Utah Arts Festival Board Member.

Mason Fetzer, urban arts coordinator, visual artist, Utah Arts Festival

Virginia Gowski, chair, Western States Arts Federation Board of Trustees

Karen Krieger, executive director, Salt Lake City Arts Council

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3:30–4:00pm Media availability. Media who wish to request a short one-on-one interview with Chairman Chu should contact Liz Auclair at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744.

Location: Art Access, 230 S 500 W, #125, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

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