Erin Mendenhall // Salt Lake City Mayor // Grade: A+
How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?
Answer: What is a life without arts, culture or humanities? To sufficiently measure such an impact may not be possible, but I will say that I have been lucky to curate a life bolstered and inspired daily by poetry, music and finding joy in the creative mediums of others. My family is impacted by the regularity of experiences where we can dance, listen, watch, feel and create art in our home and prioritize such opportunities in our community. Art and love are the salve of life. Art is so valuable that it is worth a dedicated and consistent investment of public dollars to expand its reach throughout our community. My life is richer because of the arts and my passion for the arts is evidenced by my actions as a public servant--creating and supporting funding, exploring new opportunities for reach, from recent murals in The Granary to additional staff for the Arts Council. My work to support the arts in Salt Lake City will continue as the next Mayor.
Would you like to be considered for endorsement by Utah Cultural Alliance?
Answer: Yes
Utah's humanities and arts employ 112,000 Utahns, provide $4 billion in earnings, and $16 billion in sales. This is a larger economic impact than agriculture, mining, and real estate. Do you consider the arts and cultural sector an economic driver in Utah?
Answer: Yes
Government investment in arts and humanities organizations at fiscally responsible levels.
Answer: Strongly support
Government investment in my local arts council at fiscally responsible levels.
Answer: Strongly support
Cultural Districts (gov't can designate, fund, and create incentives/zoning ordinances to attract creative businesses to a district).
Answer: Strongly support
Low rent housing and studio space for artists.
Answer: Strongly support
Facilitating partnerships between tourism and culture.
Answer: Strongly support
Facilitating partnerships between businesses and culture.
Answer: Strongly support
Reducing regulations of creative businesses.
Answer: Strongly support
Capital investment (in museums, performance/concert halls, studios, galleries, nonprofit office space, etc.).
Answer: Strongly support
Increased investment in public art projects to encourage murals, sculptures, utility wraps, and more.
Answer: Strongly support
Reduced fees (land/building use, garbage, utilities, etc) for festivals and special events.
Answer: Strongly support
Artistinresident at my city or county.
Answer: Strongly support
Fiscally responsible government investment in the arts and humanities means to me (could be the right $ amount for the local arts council and/or its grants, etc.).
Answer: Doubling our current investment in grants for the arts community. It also means working through future bonding opportunities to improve the Fisher Mansion to create an artist in residence program with local partners.
7 counties and 33 cities have passed a RAP (recreation, arts, parks) tax. They are:
Counties: Cache (RAPZ); Duchesne (RAP); Salt Lake (ZAP); Summit (RAP); Uintah (RAP); Washington (RAP); Weber (RAMP)
Cities (all are RAPs unless otherwise designated): American Fork, Aurora, Blanding, Bountiful, Brian Head, Cedar City, Cedar Hills, Centerfield, Centerville, Clearfield, Fairview, Farmington, Green River, Gunnison, Helper, Layton, Lindon, Mayfield, Monticello, North Salt Lake, Orem (CARE), Payson, Price, Provo, Redmond, Richfield, Roosevelt, Salina, Syracuse, Spanish Fork, Tooele City (PAR), West Bountiful, Woods Cross.
I am: Running for office in one of these cities or counties
I support the RAP tax.
Answer: Strongly support
I make sure that the arts and humanities receive at least a 1/3 of RAP revenues.
Answer: Strongly support
I will support putting a RAP tax on the ballot to be decided by voters.
Answer: Strongly support
I will make sure that the arts and humanities receive at least a 1/3 of RAP revenues.
Answer: Strongly support
Optional: explain your answers.
Answer: N/A
Percent for public art programs, which optionally designate 1-2% of government capital costs for public art.
Answer: Strongly support
I support increasing my percent for art ordinance by .25-.5% to cover maintenance (vandalism, weather, etc.).
Answer: Strongly support
(if applicable) My municipality's redevelopment authority should have a public art ordinance.
Answer: Strongly support
Incentives (such as tax breaks) to encourage private developers add public art to projects.
Answer: Strongly support
Design standards.
Answer: Strongly support
Friendly ordinances that encourage public and private mural creation.
Answer: Strongly support
Increased investment in public art projects to encourage murals, sculptures, utility wraps, and more.
Answer: Strongly support
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Public buildings.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Transportation.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Utilities.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Private developments.
Answer: Yes
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-All government capital projects.
Answer: Yes
Anything else you'd like us to know about you?
Answer: N/A
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