Karen Kwan // Democrat // Utah House of Representatives District 36 (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: Yes

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)

Answer: Growing up, my siblings and I participated in choir, drama and band in public school. I was also on the HS drill team. The lessons I learned in these classes go beyond anything I could have learned in traditional academic classrooms. Being on the steering committee of my HS drill team was my first experience in community leadership. I learned skills involving hard work, dedication, creativity, critical thinking, community building, fundraising, politics, negotiation, and so much more. I believe arts, culture and humanities are the cornerstone of civilization. These carry the narratives (whether oral, visual or physical narratives) in which we share the human experience across race, ethnicity, nationality and time.