(St. George, UT) - Dixie State College administrators, along with representatives from The Center for Business and the Arts (CEBA), Kanab City and Kane County, Friday received a $15,000 donation from Zions Bank to fund an annual grant program to support artists, businesses and art educators. Zions Bank President and CEO A. Scott Anderson presented the check to DSC President Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld and Kanab City Mayor Nina Laycook during a brief ceremony at the downtown St. George Zions Bank branch office.

The money donated by Zions Bank will go toward funding grants awarded to a number of homegrown Utah artists, small business owners and art educators who attend the annual Business of Art Seminar, which is held each November in Kanab. Officials from DSC and CEBA are currently developing the guidelines and criteria for which each grant will be awarded.

Anderson, who served as keynote speaker at the third-annual Business of Art Seminar held last month, noted the impact the event had on the attendees, who came from all over Utah and neighboring states, to not only learn about creating art, but also the business of art, and how both can help the economy. He added that in order to build an enduring platform for economic success in Utah, both business and the arts must have an opportunity to flourish, and he hopes that the additional funding provided by Zions Bank will help take those opportunities to the next level.

“The arts are not only to entertain and business is not only to make a profit,” Anderson said. “The arts incarnate the creativity of a free people, and creativity is the juice that drives business differentiation and success. This, in turn, enriches our community, bolsters our economy, creates new jobs, and makes our lives richer and better.”

DSC Vice President of Advancement and Cultural Arts Christina Schultz lauded the new partnership between Zions Bank, DSC and CEBA. She added that thanks to the generosity of Anderson and Zions Bank, a number of artists, galleries and educators will be given the opportunity to realize dreams and reach goals they may have thought were unattainable.

“Dixie State College’s mission is to provide educational and cultural opportunities, which in turn benefits our community and economy,” Schultz said. “This generous grant donation and Zions Bank’s support of the Business of Art Seminar will help us fulfill those goals.”

The annual Business of Art Seminar for visual artists in all disciplines is presented by Dixie State College and CEBA in an effort to educate artists and enhance their business skills. This free seminar features an exciting schedule of classes and workshops, presented by knowledgeable professionals from throughout Utah.

For more information on the Business of Art Seminar, contact DSC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Cultural Arts Christina Schultz at (435) 652-7542.