Gov. Gary Herbert on Friday appointed Gay Cookson as the director of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, a division of the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts.
"Gay Cookson is a proven leader in Utah's arts and museums communities," Herbert said in a prepared statement. "With 30 years of responsibility in arts and cultural administration, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her new position. I trust that the nation's oldest state arts agency will be in capable hands."
She replaces Lynette Hiskey, who after 13 years with the division, the last two as director, was asked to resign in August.
Cookson currently serves as the senior director of development for the University of Utah College of Fine Arts, which includes the University's four professional arts and cultural affiliates: Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Tanner Dance Company and Kingsbury Hall (UtahPresents); and six academic departments including ballet, modern dance, theater, music, art and art history, and film and media arts.
At the College of Fine Arts, she worked to support and expand the influence of arts and creativity on campus and throughout the community.
Cookson earned a bachelor's degree and a master's in arts administration from the University of Utah.
"I'm delighted to join the Division of Arts and Museums as director," Cookson said a prepared statement. "I look forward to working with the talented professional staff at the division and to continuing Utah's proud tradition of state support for arts and museums."
Julie Fisher, executive director of the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts, praised the appointment.
"Gay is a great addition to our Utah Department of Heritage and Arts team," Fisher said. "Her years of experience with arts and culture at the University of Utah and in the broader community will enhance the mission of the Division of Arts and Museums."
The governor convened a search panel of leaders in Utah's arts and museums communities to conduct a nationwide search for a new director. The panel was chaired by Vern Swanson, emeritus director of the Springville Museum of Art.
"Our search panel reviewed a large number of qualified applicants from across Utah and the nation," Swanson said. "After a thorough and grueling interview process, Gay rose to the top of our list and was the unanimous choice of the committee to lead the Division of Arts and Museums in its bright future."
The previous director, Hiskey, was named division director in 2013 after 11 years as assistant director.
She was unexpectedly terminated at an Aug. 3 meeting. Hiskey said Fisher told her: "It's not working." When Hiskey asked why, she was told: "We're moving in a different direction."
Hiskey acknowledged differences with Fisher, a former four-term state legislator from Davis County, and Deputy Director Brian Somers, formerly on the governor's communications staff.
"We had had some differences but I didn't feel that it was anything that would warrant a termination," Hiskey said. "Obviously, in their mind it did."
In September, on the heels of Hiskey's departure, advocates decried the decrease in state budgets for arts and cultural programs, and signed a letter calling for new professional leadership for the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts.
Hiskey's ouster was an example of how arts programs are overlooked and underfunded, said Diane Stewart, owner of downtown's Modern West Fine Art Gallery and a former member of the Utah Arts Council.
"It appears the department has been taken over by political appointees who have little knowledge, understanding or passion for the arts," Stewart said in early September. "The arts community has lost trust in the state."
Former employees describe the shakeup as the micromanagement of administrators, who are political appointees, over career arts administrators.
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