Jennifer Fresques // Democrat // Salt Lake County Assessor

• How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?
  • I love theater, musicals and museums. I grew a lot through my involvement in musical theater and drama in high school. It's truly where I developed many of the independence and leadership skills that I have today. I have loved going to museums here in Utah. I love sharing theater and museum culture with my children and I'm grateful for our opportunities here in Utah.

• 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

• Fiscally responsible government investment in the arts and humanities (including humanities and arts education) means to me:
  • That our community will continue to grow and improve based on arts and humanities in our culture. It will also continue to employ so many Utahns and provide the high earnings and sales for our state.

• Items of Legislation I support:
  • I support the RAP tax
  • I will ensure existing fund balances are preserved for recreation, cultural organizations, and parks
  • Percent for public art programs, which optionally designate 1% of government capital costs for public art
  • My county's redevelopment authority should have a public art ordinance
  • Friendly ordinances that encourage public and private mural creation
  • Increased investment in public art projects to encourage murals, sculptures, utility wraps, and more

• I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:
  • Public buildings
  • Transportation
  • Private Developments
  • All government capital projects

• Anything else we should know about you?
  • I care deeply about our community. I care about growth in our area and cultural diversity. Without diversity and growth, we become stagnant and will easily be outpaced by other states and counties.