I hope people can appreciate the effort of doing something slightly different. By appreciating it they are willing to protect it.”
~ Terry Marten, Developer of Kayenta
Kayenta developer, Terry Marten, several decades ago, envisioned its future as a place of possibilities, that with growth, the community would embrace “nature, the arts and a culture of diversity and sustainability.”
But the vision remained, embedded in the hearts and souls of its residents, who yearned for the arts to flourish in their desert community. Thus, the Kayenta Arts Foundation was born in 2011, and by 2013, ground was broken for an arts center. Four years later the Center for the Arts at Kayenta was dedicated.
Jan Broberg entered the picture when the center opened in 2017 and has served as the executive director ever since. Under her leadership the organization has presented more than a hundred high-quality events, attracting thousands of attendees while actively involving the local community and dozens of local organizations. She does this by bringing in professional performers alongside local talent.
The Vision and Mission
Jan can quote the art center’s vision without missing a beat: “To be the premier venue in the greater southern Utah area for awareness, appreciation, education, and enjoyment of diverse artistic endeavors.” And the mission: “To develop and create an environment that fosters diverse artistic endeavors for educational and enrichment purposes.” Jan believes these may be lofty ambitions, but they are attainable. She further ensures both vision and mission are on display in a prominent spot upon entering the center.
Always an Actress
Jan recalls performing in “Sound of Music” when she was barely six years old. “I loved being on stage and am grateful to my neighbor, Elaine Marie Hoffman, for serving as my mentor. She inspired me to entertain others at an early and it came naturally to me.
Formerly, Jan served as executive director of St. George Musical Theater, and, as an actress, has numerous filmography credits, including Hollywood films, television shows and commercials. She has appeared in “Iron Man,” “Everwood” and numerous others, and has performed lead roles in endless theater productions, such as Virginia in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” Daisy in “Driving Miss Daisy,” and Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth.” Locally, she has performed roles with SGMT and Tuacahn. She appeared alongside Elijah Wood in the film “Maniac.”
After Jan’s tenure at SGMT, she moved to Los Angeles to be close to her film career, but when approached to work with Kayenta she was thrilled. Her St. George connections still run deep.
The Impact of Theater
“I have asked myself— how can we make this a destination venue where people want to come? It’s happening!” As Jan speaks about the world-class musicians and Tony Award winners who are often featured at the center, she returns to the center’s mission— the part about diverse artistic endeavors. “We aim to help people see something about themselves or see someone else differently in a better way through the productions we offer,” says Jan. “That’s our mission.”
PRODUCTION NOTES: PLEASE HIGHLIGHT WITH SHADED BACKGROUND:
In 2003, Jan Broberg and her mother, Mary Ann Broberg, co-authored a book titled, “Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story” to raise awareness about the maliciousness of child predators. Jan was kidnapped twice, sexually abused and brainwashed by a trusted neighbor. Her story was later told through the documentary, “Abducted in Plain Sight,” produced by filmmaker Sky Borgman, which appears on Netflix.