Arts Day at the Legislature

Utah Division of Arts & Museums

The Utah State Capitol was built to serve not only as a place for government, but as a house of the people. During the Legislative Session community members often assemble, advocating for what they hold important for the enrichment of their shared State of Utah. Some of these gatherings include Museum Day at the Legislature, Rural Legislation Day, and the event held yesterday, Arts Day at the Legislature. Arts Day brought over 100 visitors to the Capitol for their participation.

Event Details

Organized by Art Works for Kids! and the Utah Arts Council Board of Directors, Arts Day at the Legislature on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 occupied the State Capitol Rotunda.

What is the purpose of this event?

This event is held in particular to give attention to those who are receiving enrichment from, have been heavily influenced by, and have overall benefited from public funding of arts. Arts Day enables the community to actively introduce artists to their legislators to remind them of the importance of the arts. This event is also a chance for arts supporters to personally thank their legislators for their continued support of art in schools and the community.

Who puts on this event?

Art Works for Kids! particularly advocates for continuing the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Learning Arts Programming. The Utah Arts Council Board of Directors is a governing board of Utah Division of Arts and Museums and is in charge of aiding in the development of arts in the community, managing state and federal arts funding, and working as a springboard for arts planning around the state.

State Capitol Visitors Center Unveils New Exhibit

Photo courtesy of the Utah State Historical Society

SALT LAKE CITY—One hundred years ago, a lumbering steam shovel bit into winter-cold soil on a hill just north of Salt Lake City. It was December 26, 1912, and Utah’s state capitol was finally being built—65 years after the arrival of the first pioneers and 16 years after Utah attained statehood. 

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Utah State Capitol, the Capitol Preservation Board is pleased to present a new Visitors Center exhibit, Step Back in Time: A Centennial Celebration of the Capitol Construction. Using a collection of striking historic photographs, this new exhibit breathes life into the fascinating stories behind the planning and construction of the Capitol.

“We are thrilled to provide a unique and educational opportunity for all Capitol visitors to experience the vibrant history of this wonderful building,” said Allyson Gamble, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board.

The exhibit opens on January 24, and will be on view weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. On January 24, at 10:30 a.m., a special presentation will formally welcome the public to the exhibit.

Admission to Step Back in Time is free. Digital images used in the reproduction of the exhibit’s historical photographs were provided courtesy of the University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library, the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the Utah State Historical Society, and the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum.

For more information, please contact 801-538-1800 or showard [at] utah [dot] gov.

Word of the Day

Tuscan Order - The simplest of the Orders of Classical Architecture. The shaft of the column is never fluted, and the capital has a square abacus. *For definitions of other words, see our older posts.

Visitor Services Program Re-Cap January, February & March 2009

Visitor Services Program Re-Cap January, February & March 2009
I want to personally thank the Visitor Services staff for all of their efforts during the past three months. In January, February and March the Capitol hosted more than 70,000 people. February was the busiest with more than 46,000 people visiting the Capitol Hill Complex.


Visitor Services –
In January the Docent Program trained 18 new docents. Over half of the new docents are state employees willing to donate their time, we are very grateful for their interest and commitment to the program.

This Legislative Session Joanna Hudson, Tour Coordinator and the docent’s hosted over 9,500 people on tours of the Capitol. There were over 150 school tours during the session.


The text Capitol tour with mobile phones continues to be enjoyed by many visitor’s to the Capitol. They say it is easy for them and they like the uniqueness of the idea and the information is quite informing.

Award’s –
The Capitol continues to receive national recognition and awards for the restoration project.

Since the beginning of 2009 the Board has been notified of the following awards:

2009 - The Palladio Award for Public Works
2009 - Building Design and Construction Platinum Reconstruction Award
2009 - Victorian Society in America Preservation Award
2009 - Engineering News Record's Best Project of the Year Award

Additional award submittal applications are continually in the process of being evaluated and worked through to submit as deadlines approach.

The Utah Capitol Store –
The Utah Capitol Store began a new program introducing Utah's owned food products called, "Utah's Own". The store invited Utah companies to bring food products for taste testing and cooking demonstrations throughout the Legislative Session. Visitors were offered samples of products such as honey, lotions, cereal, tomato seeds and chocolate. Two Utah authors visited the Capitol Store during this time as well. These products were available to purchase through the Utah Capitol Store through the end of March.

This program helped to introduce Utah’s own products to a key audience and also increased sales and attendance in the Utah Capitol Store.

Throughout the 2009 summer we are planning to have a variety of vendors visit the Utah Capitol Store and provide samples to the public and state employees. We are also working to invite Utah authors to hold book signings at the store in a continuous effort to spotlight Utah’s Own artists and products.

Public Relations –
Capitol Brochure: The 50,000 copies of the Grand Opening brochure were given out to the public. The creation and development of an updated brochure with new Capitol picture’s and copy has been completed. The new brochure is being used by the Visitor Services Center.

Web Site: New information is constantly being developed and written for posting to the Board’s web site.

Media: I trained and helped new media personnel from TV, print and computer on their broadcast needs from the Capitol and other areas on Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill Complex was the backdrop for hundreds of stories during the session.

Movie Under the Stars: I am happy to announce, the Utah Care Foundation funded our proposal for $2,500 to fund Movie Under the Starts. The summer film series will kick-off on June 10th and run through August. We are excited to watch Utahn’s enjoy the People’s Grounds throughout the summer.