Since the founding of the state of Utah, the arts have been part of every household bringing us joy as children. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, caused a $76.5 million revenue and 25,000 full-time and part-time job loss to the very cultural industry that brings these arts to the beautiful state of Utah. I thank you deeply for appropriating $20 million to the Utah Division of Arts and Museums to fund the Create In Utah grant program. These grants were the vital support line that cultural organizations across Utah needed and allowed them to survive through the pandemic thus far. The cultural industry is still in need of funding support, but your initial funding of Create In Utah has kept the arts alive for all Utahns.

Whatever your art form, whether dance, theatre, poetry, voice, or painting, culture is in our DNA as Utahns. However, the many organizations that provide these beautiful art forms to all citizens experienced a combined loss of over $76.5 million and over 25,000 full-time and part-time jobs. Your appropriation of $20 million to the Utah Division of Arts and Museums to fund the Create In Utah grants provided the necessary shot in the arm that kept many of these organizations alive. I sincerely thank you for your support of the cultural industry through the Create In Utah program. Though the need for additional funding is still great, the arts are still able to provide relief and opportunity to all Utahns.