Capturing the Culture of the Cedar City Arts Council through Policies and Procedures

Experiencing the Spring Social 2024

by Sally Hunter Jensen

    The Cedar City Arts Council (CCAC) hosts three Public Socials annually. I’ve

attended a few of them...three, since I’ve been employed by the organization.

CCAC has done an excellent job of designing programs that meet the mission

goals of the organization:

    ● Advocacy: The Cedar City Arts Council conveys the essential value of

the arts and artists in our community.

    ● Appreciation: The Cedar City Arts Council encourages the creative

spirit and recognizes the arts as a vital economic force.

    ● Education: The Cedar City Arts Council engages all ages in visual,

performing, and literary art forms through diverse programming and

community outreach.

    ● Support: The Cedar City Arts Council helps fund the creative

endeavors of artists and small arts organizations.

Social, May 1, 2024

    Arts advocates, artists, families of presenters, friends and community leaders

gathered on May 1st, in the spacious foyer of the Heritage Theater. (Yes, “er”) It’s

a regal spot, with high ceilings, a staircase leading to a landing which makes for

an ideal stage, a grand piano, a well designed snack area and a lot of space to

set up displays. Each Public Social is held at different venues in the community.

As a retired business owner I appreciate the fact that CCAC is aware of

supporting as many businesses in the community as they can, by spreading its

business around. In turn, local businesses also partner with CCAC, which I will

talk about later when I address the Membership Program.

    As part of my job as Membership Director, I am required to attend and have a

spot at the information table so that I can sign up new members, renew yearly

memberships and answer questions. There is always a lot of non-membership

related visiting that takes place, so I have to be able to multitask. Not only was I

there to promote the membership program and connect with the people but I was

there gathering information to be used for my Capstone project. I will be writing

the Policies and Procedures for this program very soon.

The “Social” Structure

    CCAC Socials are designed to provide opportunities for connection between the

public and local artists and arts organizations in a setting that is conducive to

relaxed conversation, education, sharing, enjoyment, and the strengthening of

the Iron County Arts Culture. Socials are structured the same each time... always

including three presentations from the latest mini-grant recipients, other pertinent

arts information shared by both CCAC and community representatives, and high

quality refreshments.

    “Yummy Tummy,” a local bakery, provided hand-crafted sweet treats

that tasted as wonderfully as they were presented. I tried to resist the different

array of brownies, artistically wrapped in paper and in just the right amount, but

eventually I just had to eat one. I did not regret that. Savory treats were provided 

by Sara Penny.

    As part of their Mini-grant contract, recipients must be willing to participate in the

Socials by presenting their projects at a Social. Mini-grant monies must be used

for arts-related projects that involve/benefit the community.

The Projects Presented

    Emily Ronquillo hosts the on-going Collage Project, held at Artisans’ Gallery.

Her grant will help to supply materials and tools for the “collage kit” she creates

for those who attend her classes. It was a lesson in repurposing magazines,

calendars, stationary, wrapping paper, etc.  These are all collage gold and a recycling 

opportunity. Her goal is to encourage the artist in all attendees, whether they believe they 

have artistic talent, or not. She brought an array of the product to support this belief. It

was humorous when the owners of Artisans’ chimed in from the audience that

her classes are a hit, as proven by the mess left over from the cutting, snipping

and gluing during the class! In Emily’s defense, she did get it cleaned up by the

time the gallery opened the next day.

    We then heard string performances by student string players involved in the

Kolob Canyon String Camp (KCSC). Director Amanda Clarke received the

Mini-grant to help fund the camp, which provides an opportunity for youth to

develop their musical skills by working with inspiring and skilled professionals

from around the country. This is the camp I accompanied the first week of June

and I can attest to the fact that this camp brings the finest instructors to our

community. In addition, there are all kinds of arts classes now offered. Clarke, a

teacher and violinist, is also a gifted, passionate speaker and advocate of the

importance of community arts. She spoke of KCSC’s mission and how an

investment in the musical journey of our children is an investment in a better

community and ultimately, a better world.

    The Southern Utah Watercolor Society SUWS) used its grant money to host a

juried Plein (outdoor) Painting Competition. The competition included a public

exhibit of the paintings created during the competition, in the City Office Building.

Spontaneous Audience Participation

    Then, it seemed like people randomly popped up in the audience, to talk about

the most recent arts events coming up in our area. Utah Shakespeare Festival

(USF) Guild president, Brent Potter announced a new Southern Utah Book Festival 

taking place in the fall.

    Whitney Staheli from Southern Utah Museum of Arts (SUMA) was thanked for

successfully leading the recent campaign to continue arts funding through the

local Recreation/Arts/Parks (RAP) tax. USF, Orchestra of Southern Utah (OSU)

and Iron County Acoustic Music Association (ICAMA) representatives were there

to tell us all about their upcoming performances.

    Now, I know that these people did not just show up to the Social and happen to

jump to their feet one by one to get the audience excited about all of the artistic

happenings coming up, but it did seem that way.

    Oh, I almost forgot, I was particularly drawn to a previous Mini-grant project

called Music and Motion, for disabled adults.The representatives shared many

of their past innovative activities covering all areas in the arts and brought one of

the attendees to talk about her favorite activity, which was the drum circle. The

activities were wildly creative. It was delightful. Classes are on-going.

CCAC President Roger Gold and CCAC Assistant Sally Hunter Jensen with friends at Social

Mary Anne Andersen introducing the mini-grant presenters

Emily Ronquillo with her Pop Up Collage Project

Amanda Clark, center, with students representing the Kolob Canyon String Campo

Music and Motion report.

Brent Potter introducing the upcoming Southern Utah Book Festival, set for October.

CCAC Board Member Joesph Howe with his children checking out the Yummy Tummy treats.

Michael Clark and Teri Rochford with CCAC Vice President Sara Penny and the Southern Utah Watercolor Society exhibit.

Overview of the upcoming Utah Shakespeare Festival

Overview of upcoming ICAMA performances