Departing Sundance chief blames $$$

Published: Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 9:11 p.m. MDT
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The former executive director of Sundance Resort says he left the post due to financial cutbacks.

"There will be a lack of money, limited resources, I was told," Raymond T. Grant told the Deseret Morning News on Thursday. "My view of the role of programming at Sundance is that it should be at the forefront, an integral part of the experience.

"But the financial cart came before the creative horse."

Grant said it was an amicable parting, and he insists that his former Sundance boss Robert Redford "believes in the role that artists play in society." But Grant feels that role at Sundance is going to be underfunded.

Sundance general manager Eric L. Sather said the 2005-06 programming season "will continue as planned," citing the October "Harvest Festival" as an example.

Sather added, "After the end of this year, we will reassess the 2006 season."

He also reaffirmed Redford's role. "Robert Redford is committed to arts and culture, and Sundance has been and always will be a place for art."

During his three-year tenure at Sundance, Grant was responsible for a number of arts programs — bringing in nationally prominent authors, a songwriters' workshop in collaboration with Nashville's famed Bluebird Cafe and a summer series of Utah Symphony concerts.

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"I have enormous respect for Redford," Grant said, "and his vision, and the latitude he's given me with respect to artists to be invited."

While he does not yet have another position, the native New Yorker — who was responsible for the Winter Olympics arts festival before joining Sundance — said he would like to stay in Utah.

Sather would not comment directly on Grant's departure, except to offer an official Sundance statement:

"While a diversified programmatic offering for consumers will remain ongoing and intact, Sundance Village, in its continuing move to refine efficiencies in operations, is phasing out the position of executive director of programming, currently held by Raymond T. Grant. . . . We lose a member of the Sundance Village family whose innovation during his tenure has made an enormous contribution. We are deeply grateful to Ray Grant for his dedication, creativity and commitment."

Upcoming Sundance events include the Harvest Market, which will feature booths and live music, on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundance Movie Channel Screenings in October and November. (For further information, go to www.sundanceresort.com.)

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