ST. GEORGE — The transition from Tuacahn High School for the Arts to Utah Arts Academy was finalized Thursday night as the school officially opened its new facility’s doors to the public with a grand opening ceremony.

No longer associated with Tuacahn Center for the Arts, the art-focused public charter school has gone through a lengthy process of disassociating itself from the center since July 1, 2021.

“The word that keeps coming to my mind is ‘miracle,'” Utah Arts Academy Acting Board Chair Nelson Hafen said during his speech. “Compared to where we were two years ago to today… we were homeless and leaderless.”

He explained how the community got involved and helped establish the school. Part of the thanks was to Washington County School District Superintendent Larry Bergeson, who provided a temporary location for holding classes while their current facilities were being renovated at 1091 N. Bluff Street.

The school was designed by Pablo Gotay, of VCBO Architecture, with a vision of a college atmosphere and a “home away from home” for students.

Hafen went through the history of how everything fell into place and the little keys to success that unlocked opportunities of finances, legalization of the school, finding leadership and support from the community.

Great acclamation came from Hafen for principal Drew Williams, as well as school staff and students.

Former StuCo (student council) president and current member Madisen Hone led the ribbon-cutting ceremony along with the rest of the StuCo. The ribbon-cutting was performed with a utility knife used during construction of the new building.

The night was filled with performances from students, including singing, musical performances utilizing the piano and guitar, dance routines, improv acting and performance of scenes from “The Crucible.”

Faith Olsen performed an original song on the guitar while singing. The musical piece was a recent winner in YoungArts, a national competition for the arts.

Joseph Leishman and LilyMae Stover performed “Come What May” for the full house of parents, students, staff and community supporters. Guests toured the three-story modern facility with classrooms, offices, piano lab, guitar studio, dance studio, recording studios, art studio, black box performance room, a rock climbing wall and a living room.

In an interview, Williams stressed the progression in finding their new and own identity as the Utah Arts Academy.

“We were growing and we needed space,” Williams said.

Williams said there were multiple other reasons, but it was a great opportunity to expand and focus on the students and their success. The smallness and quaintness of the school allow them to know everyone by name and help students adjust and adapt to the learning process accordingly.

It is a fully-accredited public charter school that is free to attend. However, due to size, they utilize the lottery system for those who apply.

“We are arts-focused,” Williams said. “Essentially, what that means is that students who come here really hone their skills for creativity, curiosity and feedback through the arts.”

All students earn state-sanctioned diplomas and are required to learn other studies, such as mathematics, English and social studies.

“Art really lives in everything we do,” Williams added. “Regardless of what you are going into, whether it is the medical field or the construction field… you name it… No matter what industry you are going into, if you are curious, you seek knowledge and you start connecting those dots and you can be creative in that field. That is what we need in every aspect of our life.”

The school has a math equation for success, which Williams stressed.

Curiosity + Knowledge + Connectivity = Creativity.

“It will be the creatives who will find the cure for cancer,” Williams said. “It will be the creatives who find out the next innovation of technology that we have. All of those innovations we have in the world come from the creative mind.”

Williams said the students will learn these skills to help them be successful in any industry, adding that it is not just about dance, visual art, music and acting.

“We believe that the Arts is the greatest teacher of humanity,” Williams said.

Hafen was ecstatic and all smiles as he helped give tours to guests among the 250-plus attendees.

“Now we can focus on running the school,” he said.

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