Zach Bloxham // Layton City Council // Grade: A

 

How have the arts, culture, and/or humanities impacted your life?

Answer: Chuck Klosterman said that art is like love, the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you. I couldn’t agree more. Culture is what binds our community together and personally, a subject of immense importance. As a culturally conservative person, I enjoy great film, art, and literature from persons with a different lifestyle fro. my own because it allows me to experience, even for a small moment, how it is to be someone else. To see what they would see. Or live how they would live. Culture gives us an empathy toward our fellow citizens in a way that other mediums lack. Each day of my life is spent, even for a few minutes, taking in the culturally expressions around me. A community suffers greatly when these things are not of importance.

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: Support

Facilitating partnerships between tourism and culture.

Answer: Support

Facilitating partnerships between businesses and culture.

Answer: 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: 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: A portion of development fees should be used to fund art related projects.

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: Strongly 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: Strongly 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: Strongly 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: 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: Yes

I believe percent for art ordinances should apply to:-All government capital projects.

Answer: Yes

Anything else you'd like us to know about you?

Answer: Investment in the arts -- in funds, in time, and in support -- is a foundational principle of civil government and a sign of a healthy and vibrant community. We must do more.