Launching the Four Corners Creative Vision Program

Four Corners Creative Vision Roadmap

The plan for the October 1, 2026, kickoff is to hold an in-person event at the San Juan County campus of USU in Blanding, Utah.

Based on our conversation history and the sources, the following details outline the current planning status:

Primary Objective: The event serves as the official launch of the Four Corners Creative Vision (FCCV) program, celebrating the transition from the stabilized Ruthellen legacy endowment to the active, travel-based operational phase.
Coordination: Anthony and the committee are charged with leading the coordination efforts. According to the upcoming April 6th agenda we established, the committee’s next step is to define the specific “run-of-show” for the day.
Strategic Timing: The kickoff is strategically scheduled to follow two major milestones:
- The August 31, 2026, deadline for Jami Bayles to submit her TRIO grant application, which will ideally include the FCCV program as a permissible “career and college exposure” service.
- The conclusion (or peak) of the initial Aggie Funded crowdfunding campaign, which seeks to raise 7,000–8,000 per trip for the 2027 travel cycle.
Narrative Focus: The event will reinforce the Branding Lock established in March, utilizing the STEAM focus to demonstrate how creative vision applies across all disciplines, from art to technology. It will also feature the completed narrative article by Marc Solomon to bridge the gap between rural Utah and national art centers.

While the broad location and date are set, the specific impact of Jami’s grant concerns on the timeline is still being monitored; Anthony is currently providing her with sample travel itineraries to ensure the program’s descriptions align with federal requirements.

Assembling the Guest List

To build the guest list for the October 1 kickoff, the committee will utilize USU software to identify alumni and past scholarship recipients:

Dane Graham will supplement this list by engaging major donors with “deeper pockets”.

Outreach materials will incorporate Marc’s narrative article and press releases to bridge the legacy of Ruthellen with the new vision.
To boost attendance, the team will deploy social media “impact blips” featuring “Learn More” CTAs.
Finally, using Instagram’s “Collaborator” feature will amplify visibility through influencer and family networks, ensuring high engagement for the Blanding event.