Grant Protzman // Democrat // State House-District 7

1. How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?

As a youngster my family had tickets to the old Valley Music Hall Theater in the Round which is now a Woods Cross LDS Conference Center. National stage and film stars worked with Utah Thespians and musicians to present classical musicals. I remember clearly Brigadoon and Taming of the Shrew and the emotional impact and intellectual curiosity all of these productions had on me. I have been personally involved in Music, Speech and Drama throughout High School and my adult life.

2. Utah's humanities and arts employ 123,000 Utahns, provide $4.4 billion in earnings, and $13.2 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?

Yes

3. I support...

-Grants to be used for operations (jobs) as soon as possible

-Keeping emergency loans open to nonprofits

-Protecting the RAP taxes so that money granted to cultural organizations doesn't get repurposed

-Increasing availability of loans to cultural businesses (nonprofit and for-profit)

-Fiscally responsible government investment in arts and humanities organizations

-Cultural Districts

-Facilitating partnerships between tourism and culture

-Reducing regulations of creative businesses.

-Capital investment (in museums, performance/concert halls, studios, galleries, nonprofit office space, etc.)

-The RAP tax

-Existing fund balances that will be preserved for recreation, cultural organizations, and parks

-Percent for public art programs, which optionally designate 1% of government capital costs for public art

-Allowing municipalities to set design standards

-K-6 Students should have increased exposure to arts and humanities education

-7-12 Students should have increased exposure to arts and humanities education

-The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program which puts one arts specialist in most elementary schools

-The POPS (Professional Outreach Program in the Schools) which sends 13 professional arts organizations to all UT school districts

-The iSEE (Informal Science Educational Enhancement) which sends 10 professional science, zoological, and natural history organizations to all UT school districts

4. Fiscally responsible government investment in the arts and humanities (including humanities and arts education) means to me:

As a State Representative from 1987- 1996 for the same area where I am now running, the record shows I voted for every Arts issue and funding bill that was presented. Even in the late 80's when tax revenues ran short, while other Legislators said the Arts were an extravagance, I maintained support for the Humanities was essential to a quality society. said From seed money for the Utah Opera to remodel of the Capitol Theater I was a consistent and vocal supporter.

 

Website: http://www.protzmancampaign.com