The Utah Cultural Alliance (UCA) is delighted to announce that Annie DiMartino will start as Executive Director of the organization with a 40-year history of supporting the arts and culture in Utah. With over twenty years of experience as an actor, educator, administrator, and advocate, she is known for her warmth and wisdom, along with a proven track record of making a significant impact on arts and culture in the Pacific Northwest. “Annie is the person to lead the Utah Cultural Alliance into its next chapter,” said UCA Board Chair David Wicai. “She has experience in all areas of the arts and culture sector, and brings a unique perspective to collaborating and visioning with UCA’s diverse and invested stakeholder groups across the State.”Annie arrives at UCA from the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), where she served as Deputy Director. During her tenure, PACE experienced exponential growth and increased relevance through its acclaimed arts education and community engagement programming, strategic planning, and fundraising. Annie established a robust and popular free concert series that performed in multiple cities, reaching audiences of over 60,000 annually. She also re-established Bellevue’s Bellwether Art and Tech Festival as a thriving and immersive experience for audiences of all ages.Annie will relocate to the Beehive State next month, and she is eager to listen to, engage in, and experience Utah arts and culture. “I am thrilled to be joining UCA as its new Executive Director,” Annie DiMartino said of her appointment. I felt an immediate connection to the mission, to the members of the Board, and to the spirit of Utah.”Annie continued, “I am inspired by the role UCA plays as a catalyst for economic growth and connecting communities. The Board has done truly significant work over the last year, and I’m honored and delighted to be joining UCA at this watershed moment in history and to make Utah my new home.”Prior to her leadership of the Performing Arts Center Eastside, Annie served as the Arts Education Director for Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle and as the Education Director for the Tony Award Winning Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT. As an arts leader, Annie has been recognized for her passion for providing young people with innovative arts experiences, building community partnerships, and ensuring that the performing arts are accessible to all.DiMartino assumes the role of UCA and UCAF Executive Director beginning today. DiMartino’s full professional biography may be found on UCA’s website here. Her email address is annied@utculture.org. Please feel free to send her a message welcoming her to our state! For further questions or comments please contact Ernesto Balderas, UCA Deputy Director, at ernesto@utculture.org or (714) 876 – 7125.
About Utah Cultural AllianceUtah Cultural Alliance (UCA) represents the state’s arts, culture, and entertainment industry and champions, alongside its membership, an environment that transforms lives and communities through creative experiences. Founded in 1980, UCA’s resources include its substantial lobbying efforts, NowPlayingUtah.com, its Data Impact program, and the annual Culture Connect conference. Through these resources, UCA provides critical economic data and accompany findings for the arts and cultural industry, relevant professional development for creative professionals, and necessary lobbying and advocacy work on behalf of the cultural industry. UCA’s goal is to bring cultural education and programming to every Utahn to benefit families, communities, and their employers.