Michael Iverson // Salt Lake City Council District 4 // Grade: A-
How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?
Answer: Art gives life another layer of purpose. I spent most of my teenage years escaping depression into books and video games, they gave me refuge and hope. I absolutely consider that time well-spent because each new story gives me a new perspective to experience. I would not consider myself an artist, but I do find writing fiction to be a wonderful excersize, and last year I was proud to publish my first original comic book. When I'm not busy campaigning, I make time for reading at the coffee shop or working on my stories.
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: N/A
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: 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: Arts can serve as an economic driver, so it's easy to justify as long as the ROI makes sense. That being said, it's worth paying for the diverse cultural enrichment of our community, so I support some spending on the arts even if there isn't a direct economic impact.
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: My city or county has not yet passed a RAP tax.
I support the RAP tax.
Answer: N/A
I make sure that the arts and humanities receive at least a 1/3 of RAP revenues.
Answer: N/A
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: To clarify: Salt Lake County does have the RAP/ZAP tax, but I'm running for office in the city which does not. I support this investment at both the municipal and county level.
To address an earlier question, I'd be interested in learning more about regulations affecting creative businesses in particular, this isn't something I'm familiar with. Please let me know if we can meet and talk details.
Percent for public art programs, which optionally designate 1-2% of government capital costs for public art.
Answer: Support
I support increasing my percent for art ordinance by .25-.5% to cover maintenance (vandalism, weather, etc.).
Answer: 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: No
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-Private developments.
Answer: No
I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-All government capital projects.
Answer: Yes, Willing to consider all options for public art, but I would priorities those three.
Anything else you'd like us to know about you?
Answer: When I talk about public art, I want to be clear I'm particularly interested in showcasing art from diverse artists. As the capital city we have a huge convergence of cultures, with over 100 languages spoken in the school district, and all backgrounds deserve representation in the arts. District 4 often serves as the face of Salt Lake City, and we deserve a district as beautiful as the diverse lives of the people who live here. This is the lens through which I view public art.
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