Shireen Ghorbani // Democrat // US House of Representatives Congressional District 2 (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)

Shireen grew up in a home where art was very important. At an early age, she got involved in children's theater and dance. Those passions carried through her undergraduate studies where she majored in theater. The experience of getting involved in arts early fostered a passion and commitment to community building, follow through, empathy and working together. Shireen personally spent a few years running a community theater as a young professional and knows first hand what a vibrant arts program can do to enhance communities from downtown urban centers to more rural towns. The arts bring us together, they are a reflect of the most human part of ourselves. In the words of Margaret Atwood, "In the end, we'll all become stories."