The Open Line is an initiative of Rhetorical Review created to listen to the people who make, support, teach, present, and experience arts and culture throughout Utah.
We want to hear about your experiences: what is working, what could be better, what challenges you have encountered, and what you hope to see change. Whether you are an artist, arts worker, volunteer, educator, audience member, or someone who cares about Utah’s creative community, your perspective matters.
Why does this matter?
This initiative really began with a conversation and concerns an artist brought to my attention. They shared an account of a theatre removing its diversity statement, which I reshared.
That conversation led me to a broader question: How do we know whether the values arts organizations publicly express reflect the actual experiences of the people who work, create, perform, and participate in those spaces?
I’ve seen meaningful work happening in Utah’s creative community, and I’ve also become aware of how many conversations about representation, accessibility, working conditions, and opportunity happen privately, if they happen at all. I didn’t want those conversations to depend on individual people being willing to speak up publicly. So I wanted to create a space where people could share their experiences, recognize what’s working, identify common concerns, and help shape a more supportive and equitable creative community. I see this as a chance to listen before making assumptions.
Appreciation and accountability are not mutually exclusive. Utah’s creative community is full of people doing meaningful work, but there is always room to grow. Understanding people’s experiences—including difficult or complicated ones—can help us recognize patterns, identify barriers, and imagine a more inclusive, accessible, and supportive arts community.
A note about privacy and participation
The survey does not ask for your name or email address. Most questions are optional; only the eligibility questions and the final privacy and use-of-responses acknowledgment are required. Not everything submitted will be published, and most responses will not be shared word-for-word. This is part of how we protect participants’ privacy. Responses may help inform Rhetorical Review’s editorial coverage, community conversations, outreach, and future public-facing reports.
Please remember that open-ended responses can sometimes identify people or organizations, even when names are not included. Avoid sharing private personal information or identifying details you do not wish to disclose. When discussing an organization or experience, please distinguish between what you personally experienced, what you observed, and what you heard from others.
The survey is a community listening initiative, not a formal complaint process or an investigation of individual organizations or people. Naming an organization does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.
Participate in The Open Line
Whether you have had positive experiences, encountered challenges, or simply have ideas about the future of Utah’s creative community, I welcome your perspective.
Note: Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. Listening is a starting point for understanding, and understanding can help us build a stronger creative community.
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