The Department of Art & Art History proudly congratulates and recognizes Art Teaching student Matthew J. Brasher as the 2025 Rolapp Scholarship Recipient. Matt’s dedication to art education and his commitment to fostering community engagement earned him this well-deserved award. Matt states:
As a teaching artist, I truly believe in the boundless and reciprocal nature of creativity. With the proper care and environment, creativity can grow to unimaginable heights. My goal is to plant the seed of creativity by encouraging bravery, embracing the process, supporting creative freedom, facilitating reflection, and reinforcing growth through communication and connection.
Brasher’s commitment to community and the power of art is evident as he shares his intended use of the scholarship funds:
With this award, I intend to compile a range of high-quality teaching materials that would allow me to travel to various senior centers in the Tooele and Salt Lake Valleys and be able to continue offering low/no cost art classes for a population in great need of community and creative expression.
This summer, Matt partnered as an intern with the Department of Art & Art History’s Community Arts Program. He utilized his skill and creativity to provide artmaking opportunities for over 100 community participants. Community partners included the University of Utah’s Parkinson’s Center of Excellence, The INN Between, Youth Education at the U’s Club U, and the Hartland Partnership Center. This internship culminated in a community exhibition in the Gittins Gallery that included work by dozens of participants. This fall, he will continue this internship, bringing artmaking and creativity to even more participants.
Matt’s skill as a community-based teaching artist, in addition to his initiative, organization, and leadership, has made him an invaluable asset to the Department of Art & Art History, our Salt Lake Valley community, and beyond. We celebrate his outstanding achievements and look forward to his continued impact in the field.
Images provided by Matthew J. Brasher.