SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Raymond Grant, whose multi-faceted career in the
arts has covered programming, development, operations and education, has
been selected as the Director of Arts and Culture for the Salt Lake
Organizing Committee of the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC).
Grant will oversee official cultural and arts activities as part of
the celebration of the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The
SLOC Arts and Culture Program will comprise a balance of visual and
performing arts, exhibitions, concerts and performances before and
during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The program will also incorporate
plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Village, venues and medals plaza.
"Ray's experience and qualifications will be a major asset in our
preparing for this important part of the Games," said Shelley Thomas,
SLOC Senior Vice President of Communications. "His skills will be a
tremendous strength in crafting a program that will celebrate great
artists as well as athletes during the Games."
Grant's appointment follows an extensive local and national search
which began last February for a Director of Arts and Culture. SLOC
enlisted members of the local arts and education community to form a
search committee which included representation from the Utah Arts
Council, Utah Humanities Council, Contemporary Arts Group, Salt Lake
Arts Council, University of Utah School of Fine Arts, Brigham Young
University School of Dance and other representatives from the arts
community.
"We are fortunate that Raymond Grant will join us here in Utah to
direct the Olympic Arts and Culture programs," said Bonnie Stephens,
Executive Director of the Utah Arts Council. "He is committed to
incorporating the best of Utah's arts community into Olympic programming
as well as presenting prominent national performers. We are lucky to
have him."
During his varied professional career, Grant served as General
Manager of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1985-91 and as Director
of Special Projects and Programs of the Tisch Center for the Arts from
1991-92 in New York City. He directed a staff of 20 people at the Tisch
Center in producing and presenting a $4.5 million series of programs in
classical music, literature and education.
Grant has produced major events in Carnegie Hall, Madison Square
Garden, Radio City Music Hall and New York's Central Park.
From 1993-96, Grant served as the Manager of Performing Arts and Film
for The Disney Institute in Orlando, Fla. He directed a 365-day per year
performance schedule featuring artists in the fields of music, theatre,
dance, film and television, science and architecture. He also launched a
$4.5 million artist-in-residence program and conceived of three
multi-million dollar performance facilities. His most recent assignment
has been as Programming Consultant for Walt Disney Attractions, Inc.
Grant has a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University
of Kansas and a master's degree in Arts Administration from New York
University. He has served as a panel member for the National Endowment
for the Arts Presenting and Commissioning Program. Grant has also been a
member of the State of Florida's Division of Cultural Affairs, and he is
a frequent lecturer at colleges and universities.