The director of arts and culture for the 2002 Winter Games has been named.
Raymond Grant, who has worked for the Walt Disney Co., will be responsible for overseeing cultural and arts activities for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, including exhibitions, concerts and performances before and during both the Olympics and the Paralympic Winter Games.The organizing committee conducted an extensive local and national search beginning last February with the help of members of the local arts and education communities.
"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 communities into Olympic programming, as well as presenting prominent national performers. We are lucky to have him."
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 1991-91 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.
From 1993-96, Grant served as the manager of performing arts and film for The Disney Institute in Orlando, Fla. His most recent assignment was as programming consultant for Walt Disney Attractions Inc.
Grant earned a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Kansas and a master's in art administration from New York University. He has served on a panel for the National Endowment for the Arts and has also been a member of Florida's Division of Cultural Affairs.
Grant will report to Shelley Thomas, SLOC senior vice president of communications, who said he "will be a major asset in our preparing for this important part of the Games."