Utah Humanities hit hard by loss of $1M federal grant

  • April 16, 2025
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Find out what that means for statewide programming. Plus, good trouble with Great Salt Lake Cleanup, Living Traditions, Community Animal Welfare Society Paws and Plates, 365 Poetry, Courtney Graf, and The Great Salt Lake: An Uplifting Artistic Oasis.

Tonight's edition of RadioACTive features the following people, organizations and/or events. Check them out and get plugged into your community:

You know festival season is close when Living Traditions issues its call for volunteers. RadioACTive talks with Performing Arts Program Manager Dawn Borchardt and Volunteer Lead Emma Hall.

  • Fri-Sun, May 16-18: Living Traditions Festival 2025, Washington Square, 445 S. State St., SLC. Event by Living Traditions Presents and Salt Lake City Arts Council: "The annual Living Traditions Festival is happening May 16-18, 2025, at Washington and Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City. Everyone is invited to enjoy the diverse multicultural offerings of food, live performances, and art from the many cultures that have made Utah home." Free and open to all. For more info, click here. To volunteer, click here. 

April is National Poetry Month. Tonight: Abi Olufeko of 365 Poetry Salt Lake City, which will host a poetry session at Urban Arts Gallery on Saturday. This month's theme: "A celebration of women who have succeeded a patriarchy infamous for burning covens."

RadioACTive's Connor Estes reports on the Protect Utah Workers Coalition and its drop-off earlier today of six truckloads of signatures they've been gathering for the past 30 days. We get an update on how many they were able to gather and what it means to public workers in the state.

Coming up May 3, Paws & Plates is a foodie and friends event to raise funds for CAWS, Community Animal Welfare Society. RadioACTive finds out more with chef and organizer Channing Porter and Di Lewis, CAWS board president.

Musician Courtney Graf joins us to talk about domestic violence and share her new single, "When I Leave You."

  • April 24: DV Survivor Awareness Show with Courtney Graf, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Clubhouse on South Temple, 850 E. South Temple St., SLC. "Pre-trial pep rally to raise money for survivors and be the first to see Courtney Graf's new music video to 'When I Leave You.' Gather for a special night of awareness, remembrance and the pain of injustice. Just a week before I enter a DV felony trial of the state vs a previous relationship, we will gather for a pep rally. My intention at this event is to give voice to those who couldn't find the strength to share. To speak for those who are still falling victim to silence, manipulation and fear. To raise the spotlight on the most painful events that have occurred in my life and make clear that I too never thought I would end up here. And, to hopefully have enough proceeds to donate to Peace House; who support DV victims daily. May another seeking soul, who found the courage to leave, receive this profound and necessary support."

Chandler Rosenberg of Stewardship Utah with an invitation to join a cleanup of Great Salt Lake on Earth Day next week. 

  • April 22: GSL Cleanup on Earth Day, 5:00-7:00 p.m. along the 1-80 Frontage road, just west of Lee Creek Natural Area. The exact meeting area is here. Event by Stewardship Utah and Mark Miller Subaru: "We're partnering to clean up the shores of our Great Salt Lake. Last year, we removed over 1,300 lbs of trash and helped preserve and protect the delicate ecosystems surrounding the lake. Join us to learn about what makes the lake special while meeting like-minded members of our communities. We will also hear and learn from some local experts about the lake, why it needs help, and what individuals can do to protect it. Our partners at Mark Miller will provide water, food, and some gear for the cleanup, including bags and trash pickers. Please feel free to bring your own gloves, trash pickers, etc." To sign up, click here.

With an emphasis on Great Salt Lake, a new exhibition of works from the Salt Lake County Visual Art Collection debuts Friday evening. RadioACTive talks with SL Arts Council's Andrew Shaw and Chloe Hendersen and Kate Ithurralde of Salt Lake County Art in Public Places.

  • April 18: The Great Salt Lake: An Uplifting Artistic Oasis opening reception, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State St., South Building, SLC. "This exhibition emphasizes the importance and impact of the Lake on our local community. Through artwork inspired by the environment, we can also explore the Great Salt Lake’s influence on artists in Utah. Using Salt Lake County resources and artistic inspiration, the exhibition tells the story of the Lake and encourages deeper exploration of its significance. With a direct connection to the Great Salt Lake, “The Great Salt Lake: An Uplifting Artistic Oasis” spotlights this vital relationship. What memories do you have of the Great Salt Lake? This exhibition was programmed in partnership with Wake the Great Salt Lake."

Utah Humanities is facing a significant funding loss due to the termination of its NEH Operating Grant. As a result, the organization's ability to continue its statewide programming is in doubt. RadioACTive talks about it with UH Executive Director Jodi Graham. 

  • ACTION ALERT: "DOGE cuts to Utah Humanities will impact cultural organizations in every corner of the state. We need your help to preserve Utah Humanities and the local community-building work we have loved and valued for 50 years. On Wednesday, April 2nd, we received notification that our National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant had been terminated by DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). The loss of NEH funding to UH will decimate our ability to serve Utah communities, eliminating programs and partnerships that are essential to our cultural infrastructure." To learn what you can do to save Utah Humanities, click here. 

How'd you like the show? Share your thoughts, suggestions and observations by calling the RadioACTive hotline: ‪(385) 800-1889‬. Or, send a voicememo to radioactive@krcl.org. Please tell us your name and neighborhood and leave a short message that may air on the show. So, keep it clean!

Guests' views, thoughts, or opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the board, staff, or members of  Community Radio of Utah, KRCL 90.9fm. Tonight's RadioACTive team included:

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