Norm Thurston // Republican Party // Utah House of Representatives District 64 (B)

1. Should government invest in funding the arts and humanities at fiscally responsible levels?

Answer: Depends

2. Do you support investing money into K-12 arts and humanities education at fiscally responsible levels?

Answer: Depends

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: No

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)

Explanations:

Regarding education and curriculum - it is important for decisions about what is to be taught and how to be made at the local level, involving both parents and teachers. As a general rule, I believe that parents will support arts and humanities in their children's education, but I would prefer not to have a top-down mandate that applies to all situations and all children.

Regarding the 1% requirement - having an inflexible rule like this can lead to waste and inefficiency and not actually achieve the desired outcome. Each building project (and the proposed art needed for the space) should be evaluated individually. State guidelines should allow for budget funds to be spent on art that supports the mission, but requiring a specific amount for every project should be weighed against the goals and desired outcomes.