Shannon Ellsworth // Provo City Council District 3 // Grade: B
How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?
Answer: The arts are an important and consistent part of my world. I grew up visiting the Hale Center Theatre almost monthly and appreciating the new stories and characters brought to life on stage. As a voracious reader I am constantly trying to balance and control my utilization of the Provo City Library, BYU Harold B Lee Library, Audible, Libby, my home collection, and regular book purchases on Amazon. This summer I'm trying to read works by local authors Jamin Rowan and George Handley.
I enjoy live music at Guru's Cafe, Provo's Rooftop Concerts, performances at BYU, the Orem Hale Center Theatre, and the Covey Center. All these encounters with the humanities take me outside of my own experience and expose me to people, places, and problems I hadn't considered before. It makes me a more empathetic person and helps me shed the bias of "all I see is all there is". I'm eager to partner with the arts community to bring more cultures, light, and empathy to my city.
Would you like to be considered for endorsement by Utah Cultural Alliance?
Answer: N/A
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: Support
Low rent housing and studio space for artists.
Answer: Strongly support
Facilitating partnerships between tourism and culture.
Answer: Opposed
Facilitating partnerships between businesses and culture.
Answer: Strongly support
Reducing regulations of creative businesses.
Answer: Strongly support
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: Strongly support
Artistinresident at my city or county.
Answer: Neutral
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: finding resources for and investing in public spaces, festivals, built capital, and art that creates a sense of place, brings different parts of the community together, and preserves the past. Historical preservation and architectural quality is worth funding as well.
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: Running for office in one of these cities or counties.
I support the RAP tax.
Answer: Strongly support
I make sure that the arts and humanities receive at least a 1/3 of RAP revenues.
Answer: Support
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: Support
Optional: explain your answers.
Answer: N/A
Percent for public art programs, which optionally designate 1-2% of government capital costs for public art.
Answer: Neutral
I support increasing my percent for art ordinance by .25-.5% to cover maintenance (vandalism, weather, etc.).
Answer: Neutral
(if applicable) My municipality's redevelopment authority should have a public art ordinance.
Answer: Support
Incentives (such as tax breaks) to encourage private developers add public art to projects.
Answer: 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: No
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: No
Anything else you'd like us to know about you?
Answer: Yes, some recreative spaces and historic districts
Do you like this page?