Established in 1992, the Mayor’s Artists Awards program recognizes the significant accomplishments and contributions of individuals and organizations, to the arts and cultural landscape of Utah.
The collection of remarkable humans who received this year’s awards—and who will be celebrated this Friday at the Utah Arts Festival —is a testament to the cultural richness of Salt Lake City. The winners were selected by a panel of community arts leaders and past recipients — and represent more artists who amplify the City’s priorities, including equality, affordable housing, and sustainability.
2019 WINNERS
DesignBuildBLUFF
A graduate architecture program at the University of Utah, DesignBuildBLUFF immerses students in hands-on, cross-cultural experiences through partnerships with the rural and native communities in the Four Corners region of San Juan County.
Margaret Willis
An artist, teacher, outdoor enthusiast, yogi, and gardener, Margaret Willis loves to experiment with a range of mediums. From oil-painted portraits, to up-cycled plastic bag crowns, intricate mandalas and giant glue and fabric monsters, Willis work offers us insights into how she sees the world.
Utah Museum of Fine Arts, ACME Initiative
The goal of the Art, Community, Museum Education Initiative (ACME) is to expand and rethink the role that museums play in public life. ACME ‘s three programs — ACME Lab, ACME Sessions, and ACME Scholars — aim to transform the way the Utah Museum of Fine Arts connects with and learns from the community. Over the past three years, ACME has increased community access to the arts, earning the program both local and national support.
Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls
The annual Rock n’ roll Camp for Girls seeks to empower girls, transgender and gender non-conforming youths through music education, collaboration, and performance. Part of the worldwide teaches, the week-long Salt Lake City camp teaches girls and other marginalized youths to opportunity to learn an instrument, write music, form a band and perform for a live audience.
Ed Napia
Eruera “Ed” Napia was born into the Te Whiu, Te Popoto, and Te Honihoni subtribes of the Ngapuhi Tribe from Aotearoa-NewZealand. Napia’s art is his autobiography. His unique and original style of handmade pottery and clay sculpture represent the various stages of his life, from his New Zealand childhood, to his time in Hawaii and his move to Utah.
The winners will be presented the Mayor’s Artist Award in conjunction with the Utah Arts Festival on Friday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Washington Square. Utah Arts Festival is the state’s largest outdoor multi-disciplinary arts event, drawing some 70,000 to downtown Salt Lake City each June. The fun begins Thursday, June 20 and continues through Sunday, June 23, 2019 from noon to 11 p.m. each day.
Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development 