Department of Cultural and Community Engagement

The mission of the Department of Heritage and Arts is "Preserve and promote heritage, arts, community development, cultural resources, and understanding." ("Mission, Vision & Goals," http://heritage.utah.g v/dha/mission-vision-goals-dha; 3 September 2014.)

"The Department of Cultural & Community Engagement has a holistic understanding of the impacts of culture, service, and diversity on our state. With these insights, we cultivate the state's civic engagement and boost local economies through the lens of art, and humanities" (https://community.utah.gov/about/, 18 May 2021).

Original functions of the department did not differ significantly from those exercised by the old departments of Community Affairs and Development Services. The new department was to encourage a healthy economy through increased economic development and tourism, and to promote social and cultural opportunities in the state. As the department expanded, a new function was added in 1981: to assist communities and minorities through affordable housing and technical advice on community development.

The most important change in function came in 2005 when economic development and tourism promotion activities were moved to the new Governor's Office of Economic Development. A number of programs were specifically transferred to the new office as well. The new department was responsible for community and cultureal development, planning, and administration of relevant state and federal grant programs.

In 2012, the Legislature moved the Division of Housing and Community Development to the Department of Workforce Services, renaming the department Heritage and Arts. The 2021 change to Department of Culture and Community Engagement continued to clarify responsibilities not only in the cultural sector, but also serving broader and diverse Utah communities throughout the state.

The director of the department is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. An Advisory Council on Community Affairs was created to advise the department on matters affecting state and local government relations in 1979, but its role was expanded in 1985 to also include advising the Legislature and the Governor's Office. The department administration also assumes a role in state issues that overlap or transcend the mission of DCED. The executive director serves on the Four Corners Regional Commission as an alternate for the Governor, and this officer or a designee also serves on the Federal Research Committee and several other statewide planning bodies.

DCED was organized by combining the departments of Development Services (UTSVH00303-A) and Community Affairs (UTSVH00136-A). Divisions included in the new department were essentially those which had existed in the two older ones and included: Industrial Promotion (UTSVH00535-A), Expositions (UTSVH00367-A), Travel Development (UTSVH01151-A), Fine Arts (UTSVH00369-A), History (UTSVH00495-A), and Community Development (UTSVH00176-A). The Division of Industrial Promotion became the Division of Business and Economic Development (UTSVH01825-A) in 1985. Two new divisions were added in the reorganization: the State Library (UTSVH00575-A) which was formerly independent, and the Division of Indian Affairs (UTSVH00524-A), which had been transferred from the Department of Social Services.

Since its creation, several agencies have been added and removed from under the department's administrative umbrella. The Utah Housing Finance Agency was added in 1979. Offices of Community Services, Hispanic Affairs, and Black Affairs were added in 1981 (and then combined with Office of Asian Affairs into the Office of Ethnic Affairs in 2005, now known as Division of Multicultural Affairs). The Office of Labor and Training was transferred from the Planning and Budget Office in 1983 and reorganized as the Office of Job Training for Economic Development. The Offices of Asian Affairs and the Utah Technology Finance Agency were added in 1984. The Women's Economic Development Bureau was created in 1989 (and closed in 1990). The Utah Statehood Centennial Commission existed from 1988 to 1998 to oversee activities related to Utah's Centennial in 1996. The Utah Office of Energy Services was added in 1993 when it was created, moving in 2001 to the Department of Natural Resources. The Commission on Service and Volunteerism (USERVE) was added in 1994. Divisions and offices related to economic development and tourism promotion moved to the new Governor's Office of Economic Development in 2005.The STEM Action Center was added upon its creation 2013.