Beverley Taylor Sorenson dedicated her life to two things: children and the arts. She was a champion of arts education in Utah through philanthropy and advocacy. Before her death in 2013, Beverley was encouraged by her children to support a major project at Southern Utah University aligned with her artistic vision. Her generous gift critically enabled the creation of a new center that connected a legacy theater arts organization, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and a flagship visual arts institution, Southern Utah Museum of Art, under a single banner and shared mission.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts and to honor Beverley’s indelible legacy, this exhibition presents two timelines tracing the individual histories of the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah Museum of Art. Archival photos and video illustrate the stories of these two cultural institutions, which join together in the culminating chapter that Beverley wrote over a decade ago. Inspired by its namesake, The Beverley Center proudly incorporates visual arts, live theater, and dynamic arts education, enriching the cultural life of SUU, Cedar City, and beyond.

Special thanks to Gary and Ann Crocker, Crocker Catalyst, and the Sorenson Legacy Foundation for making this exhibition possible; and to Professor Ryan Paul for providing the timeline of the Utah Shakespeare Festival.