Council interviews and moves several Arts Council nominees to the consent agenda

Salt Lake City Council interviewed four nominees for Arts Council appointments during its Sept. 9 work session and said it would place their names on the consent agenda for the formal meeting that evening.

Anthony Wright introduced himself as East Bench Community Council chair and a fifth-generation Salt Lake City resident who plays violin, piano and guitar and said he wanted to bring more public art to District 6. Denise Begay (identified in the meeting as Begay) described a long career in arts fundraising and advancement with Utah cultural institutions and said she hoped to serve as an ambassador to students and artists. Nick (last name Peterson in transcript) described himself as a photographer, digital artist and educator who recently returned to Salt Lake City after an MFA and noted his experience with public-art projects. Pablo (last name not given) described community-based arts work and residency experience and said he wants to help expand opportunities for artists, including immigrant communities.

Council members asked brief questions and thanked applicants; the chair said the council would place the nominees on the consent agenda for that evening’s formal meeting and that nominees need not be present to be confirmed. In addition, staff sought council members to serve on a subcommittee to review applications for a vacancy on the Metro Water District board; Council members Poui and Dugan volunteered to join an ad hoc subcommittee to review candidates after the application period closes Oct. 8.

No formal appointment votes occurred during the work session; interview remarks were short and the council scheduled consent-agenda consideration at the formal meeting.