NEA Chairman Jane Chu to Visit Salt Lake City, Utah, May 7, 2015

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

# # #