Southern Utah University launches expanded arts initiatives and concert series in Cedar City

The Cedar City government meeting held on June 5, 2025, focused on discussions surrounding the RAP (Recreation, Arts, and Parks) tax and its impact on local arts organizations. The meeting began with Aaron Copeland highlighting the success of the young composers program and the growth of the local orchestra, expressing hopes for increased attendance beyond 10,000 for the upcoming year. Copeland noted a decline in audience numbers for the Messiah performances, attributing it to ticket availability concerns.

Following this, representatives from Southern Utah University (SUU) presented updates on their arts initiatives. Jessica Kinsey, Executive Director of the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), emphasized the importance of RAP tax funding for community engagement and reported that 81% of their visitors were Utah residents, with 73% from Iron County. Kinsey announced new exhibitions opening on June 17 and thanked the council for their ongoing support, requesting $58,300 for the upcoming fiscal year, an increase from the previous year's $45,000.

Keith Bradshaw, representing the SUU music department, discussed the expansion of the Satellite Salon concert series, which aims to increase the number of performances from two to four annually. He noted the series' popularity and the need for additional funding, requesting $7,500 to support this initiative. Bradshaw highlighted the series' focus on classical and jazz performances, distinguishing it from other local music offerings.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the impact of funding cuts from various sources, which have affected all three organizations represented. The council acknowledged the importance of the RAP tax in sustaining the cultural vibrancy of Cedar City and the need for continued support for local arts initiatives.