Daniel Friend // Democrat // Utah House of Representatives District 64 (A)

1. Should government invest in funding the arts and humanities at fiscally responsible levels?

Answer: Yes

2. Do you support investing money into K-12 arts and humanities education at fiscally responsible levels?

Answer: Yes

3. Do you believe that arts and humanities education should be required in the k-12 curriculum?

Answer: Yes

4. Do you consider the arts and culture sector to be an economic driver in Utah?

Answer: Yes

5. Do you support Utah's Percent-for-Art Act, which designates 1% of public building costs for public art?

Answer: Yes

6. Do you support preserving the Utah Historic Preservation Tax Credit?

Answer: Unsure

7. Do you support policy that positively impacts tourism, such as the creation of historic and cultural districts?

Answer: Yes

8. Have you had a personal experience with arts, culture, or humanities that has had an impact on your life? Please explain. (responses to this question were not graded)

I was a choir and theatre student throughout middle school, high school, and college. I know from personal experience that the arts teach empathy, giving students the tools they need to understand other perspectives. They would be worth supporting even if they did not give tangible economic benefits; the fact that they do makes the arts all the more worthwhile.

Comments/Explanations:

I stated that I was "unsure" about the Utah Historic Preservation Tax Credit. I did so because of constituent concerns that not all the buildings being preserved in this and other ways truly merit historical protection. I would like to see more data on how this law is currently being applied, and whether adjustments to it might be necessary in the face of future growth. I do not anticipate needing to repeal the credit, but I would be open to adjusting it so that it better fulfills its purpose without impeding neighborhood growth.