NEWS: New Change Leaders Named by Utah Division of Arts & Museums

For immediate release
June 2, 2011

New Change Leaders Named by Utah Division of Arts & Museums

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Arts & Museums announces 11 new graduates of the Change Leader Institute, an innovative leadership development program for nonprofit cultural organizations. The participants receiving certification are:

Lisa Duskin-Goede, Logan, Bear River Heritage Area
Rachel Hedman, Clearfield, Utah Storytelling Guild
Victoria Panella Bourns, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks Program
Craig Fetzer, St. George, St. George Arts Commission
Lela Bartholomew, American Fork, American Fork Arts Council,
Melanie Marsh, American Fork, American Fork Arts Council
Annette Johnson, Fillmore, Old Capitol Arts & Living History Festival
Abe Johnson, Fillmore, Old Capitol Arts & Living History Festival
Bobbi Wan-kier, St. George, Art Escapes 3-D
Cheryl Cox, Boulder, Boulder Arts Council
Nikki Lovell, Ogden, Egyptian Theatre Foundation, Inc.

“This is a great opportunity for individuals to gain leadership skills that can help their organizations and communities grow,” said Margaret Hunt, Director of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums. “Certified Change Leaders become more successful at managing projects, relationships, and community partnerships.”

The Change Leader Institute is a professional certification program that focuses on developing leaders of change. Participants acquire new skills to help them gain a greater awareness of the needs of their community or organization and the ability to respond effectively. Official certification involves an intensive training course, completion of a community project, and on-going participation in professional development events.

Certification projects allow participants to utilize the Change Leader training in a practical, individually meaningful way. Projects for this class of Change Leaders included such activities as:
· Establishing a scenic byway that will connect other byways in a heritage area with a travel itinerary highlighting outstanding features;
· Holding a fundraiser for the homeless in which writers shared stories (and recipes) about special dishes, some of which were prepared for the event;
· Developing a monthly brown bag networking program to build collaboration and partnership and help improve organizational capacity;
· Building community support for the establishment of an arts district, gathering place and tourist destination;
· Involving local artists in creating aesthetic designs for UTA Front Runner wind screens
· Increasing awareness, building value and broadening funding for current city art programs
· Forming a Friends Group to protect, preserve and assist the mission and purpose of an historical museum
· Combining community development and historical preservation efforts to put local artists to work in revitalizing a downtown
· Creating a local arts council
· Organizing collaborative fundraising projects to benefit nonprofits that serve the needs of the most vulnerable members of the community

These recent graduates of the program join over 120 Change Leaders across the state including administrators, volunteers and staff members of arts organizations, museums, chambers of commerce, government agencies, and grassroots community organizations.

For details on the Change Leader Institute, go to www.artsandmuseums.utah.gov, or contact Anna Boulton, Community Development Manager, at aboulton@utah.gov or 801-236-7546.


About the Utah Division of Arts & Museums
The Utah Division of Arts & Museums is a division of the Utah Department of Community and Culture with a goal to promote innovation in and the growth of Utah’s arts and culture community. The Division provides funding, education, and technical services to individuals and organizations statewide so that all Utahns, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or economic status, can access, understand, and receive the benefits of arts and culture. Additional information on the programs and services can be found at www.artsandmuseums.utah.gov or by calling 801.236.7555.

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