The Salt Lake City Arts Council hires new Public Art Program Manager, Renato Olmedo-González

The Salt Lake City Arts Council is proud to introduce the new Public Arts Program Manager, Renato Olmedo-González. Starting on April 19, 2021, Renato brings with him a wealth of knowledge from working with government agencies and Utah-based arts organizations.

As a student in college, he began his career in the arts with two Utah-based cultural organizations, Artes de México en Utah and Mestizo Institute of Culture and Arts, where he created community-oriented art projects throughout the state, in addition to organizing and curating more than a dozen visual art exhibitions. Renato now holds dual bachelor degrees in Art History and Latin American Studies from the University of Utah.

Renato Olmedo-González is a proud queer immigrant who is passionate about the arts and social change. Born and raised in Guadalajara, México, Renato came to the United States as an undocumented immigrant when he was 15 years old. After almost a decade of being an undocumented immigrant, Renato received his green card in 2015. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Consulate of Mexico in Salt Lake City as the Head of the Community Affairs Department, a role in which he implemented programming designed to empower Latinx immigrant communities in Utah and western Wyoming.

Recently, Renato served as Manager of Annual Giving at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. In this role, he led the Museum’s annual fund efforts, managed key relationships with a diverse portfolio of individual donors, and oversaw the UMFA Art Lovers, the Museum’s signature society for individual annual giving. His work in the arts and cultural field has garnered support from regional and national arts organizations, including WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Color program, and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures’ National Leadership Institute.

The public art program commissions artists to create new work specifically for identified projects including fire stations, public buildings, parks and city streets and neighborhoods. The public art program also selects local and national artists to create thought provoking and relevant artwork that represents a wide range of social, cultural, and historical values and characteristics in order to reflect the rich diversity of the citizens of Utah. Renato’s experience in community engagement and passion around organizing within large and small arts organizations made him a perfect candidate for the role.

Renato can be reached via email at Renato.Olmedo-Gonzalez@slcgov.com. The Salt Lake City Arts Council looks forward to seeing how the Public Art Program flourishes under his guidance.