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Artists protest lack of state funding

Posted at 5:59 PM, Sep 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-01 19:59:23-04

A group of Utah artists and art supporters got together to say the state government is abandoning an important aspect of Utah culture.

"The arts community has lost trust in the Utah government to connect with them," said Diane Stewart, owner of Modern West Fine Art, a Salt Lake City gallery.

The artists focused on the small portion of the state budget given to the arts, "1/2 of 1 percent," said artist Frank McEntire, but the crowd of over 40 artists and art patrons cheered when another speaker mentioned Lynette Hiskey, the former Director of the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.

Hiskey was asked to resign in August by Julie Fisher, Director of the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts.