Sheldon Kirkham // Democrat (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: Theatre was my minor course of study in university. In its pursuit I discovered that the progress of human history depends much on the progress of the arts. The forms and content of artistic expression both reflect and inform the zeitgeist. A vibrant interest and investment in the arts is a hallmark of times of progress and prosperity. When the arts wane or exist in stagnation, so does civil society at large.
Additional Comments: While I understand the intention I generally object to the use of the phrase 'fiscally responsible'. It is a phrase opened to a great deal of weighted interpretation and, at present, its interpretation is dominated by a political ideology which is anathema to the promotion of arts and culture.
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