Culture Bytes

This week, we spoke to Hannah Farr, Artistic Director and Founder, of West Works Theatre. Hannah tells us about the brand new permanent facility coming for West Works Theatre in addition to what the Theatre has been up to during the pandemic and information on their blog "The Surly Mermaid." Listen more by downloading from your preferred podcast service or by heading to our website below:

https://www.utahculturalalliance.org/podcast_culture_bytes

This week, we speak to Jerry Rapier, Artistic Director for Plan-B Theatre Company. He speaks to us on what the significance of having a presenting organization like Plan-B Theatre Company in the state of Utah is. He also details what he has learned in implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion in to his practices and how the Company continues to provide programming via a virtual format.

This week, we spoke to Michaelle Martial, founder of Caribbean Nightingale LLC. She speaks to us about the significance of her organization and how it serves to "promote the healing powers of the arts and diversity in Utah and abroad." In addition, she discusses the #BlackJoyIs blog that is housed on Caribbean Nightingales' website, along with the Relaxation Through Verse poetry series, and boutique offered to visitors. 

This week, we spoke to Joshua Stavros, Associate Director of the Arts Administration program at Southern Utah University. He details what exactly Arts Administration means for the cultural industry and what types of curriculum students learn within the program. In addition, he details what the significance of learning Arts Administration is especially in confronting challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, we spoke with Dr. Ruby Chou, Executive Director for the Mundi Project. She speaks to us about the impact of several programs run by the Mundi Project including their Piano Brank program and various professional development webinars offered to educators.

This week, we speak to Sara Penny, who is the Vice President of the Cedar City Arts Council. She speaks to us today about the significance of her work in relation to providing funding and support for cultural events and artists in southern Utah, specifically Cedar City. She also speaks to us about the Council's Mini Grants and Art Walks that include a variety of organizations and individual art projects within Cedar City.

This week, we spoke to Shandra Benito, Executive Director of Art Access! Shandra discusses various facets of her work including the significance of providing opportunities to create art for artists with disabilities and other marginalized communities. In addition, she discusses the benefits and specifics of her programming such as Art Access' "Partners," "Breaking Barriers," and their teacher development workshops.

This week, we spoke to Della Lowe, PR and Marketing Director for DOCUTAH, the International Documentary Film Festival at Dixie State University. She speaks to us about what it means for DOCUTAH to provide a "global experience" as part of the festival as well as adaptations they've had to make for the COVID-19 pandemic. She also details what it means to the students of DSU to have an international film festival right on their doorstep to both learn from and engage with. 

This week, we spoke to Max Barnewitz, one of the co-founds of the Queer Spectra Arts Festival. They speak to us about how Queer Spectra came to be and what it means to provide a safe space for queer performing arts to be conceptualized and performed. They also speak to us about how the various difficulties and most rewarding moments about creating and leading such a unique organization here in Utah.

This week, we spoke to Solange Gomes,  the Founder, Principal Dancer, Artistic Director, and Choreographer for Tablado Dance Company. She speaks about her experience teaching dance within Utah in comparison to her time in South America. Gomes also speaks on how she aims to provide dance education across Utah.