Davis Arts Council (DAC) has hired Lisa Hoyt Zamora as their new Executive Director.
She is thrilled to join the 47-year-old non-profit organization. “The Davis Arts Council has a strong legacy of artistic excellence and community engagement, and it is an exciting privilege to step into its leadership as Executive Director. I am deeply committed to strengthening community partnerships and cultivating programming that captivates audiences, empowers local artists, and remains accessible to all. I am excited to work alongside our talented board, staff, and partners to further position our community as a vibrant, sustainable, and thriving cultural hub.”
With a foundation in the performing arts and a deep commitment to arts access, Lisa Hoyt Zamora, MFA, is an experienced nonprofit administrator, educator, and community catalyst. Guided by the belief that the arts are essential to human connection and civic vitality, she has dedicated her career to expanding free and affordable cultural opportunities and ensuring the arts remain a shared public resource that strengthens community identity, engagement, and belonging.
Most recently, Lisa served as the Eccles Theater Community Activation and Event Manager for Salt Lake County Arts & Culture. Previously, Lisa spent more than a decade with Ballet West, serving as Academy Administrator and faculty member there. Her career also includes long-standing performing and directing experience with the Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Eastern Arts, as well as teaching appointments as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Utah and Adjunct Faculty member at Westminster University. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to align mission, operations, and community impact.
Lisa holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Ballet and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ballet with a minor in Business from the University of Utah. She has completed extensive professional training in venue management, leadership, and arts education. She remains active in national and local professional and civic organizations. She and her family make their home in Davis County. As a family, they enjoy attending and supporting community arts and cultural events throughout Utah. In her fleeting spare moments, Lisa remains connected to creative practice as an emerging visual artist.
DAC Board Chair Nancy George says the Board of Trustees is delighted about the appointment. “We’re confident Lisa will build on Davis Arts Council’s strong legacy of excellence and continue guiding our mission and strategic vision, extending the reach of meaningful arts experiences to our community.”
The Davis Arts Council staff are also enthusiastic about their new addition. “Lisa is a natural fit for our organization,” said DAC Director of Communications Heather Hendrix. “Her experience with Ballet West Academy and Salt Lake County Arts & Culture has clearly prepared her well for this role. We’re also happy that she has a deep connection to Davis County—she already knows and loves the community we serve.”
DAC warmly thanks its outgoing Interim Executive Director, LeAnn Saldivar, Senior Advisor with Pathway Group. In her role at Pathway, she specializes in working with nonprofits to build long-term viability, efficiency, and effectiveness. She served with DAC for seven months.
About Davis Arts Council:
Davis Arts Council (DAC) was founded in 1979 and has grown steadily to proudly serve the Northern Wasatch Front as the largest community-based, arts-focused non-profit organization in Davis County. DAC’s mission is to “strengthen and enrich our community through the power of the arts.”
DAC has nearly 100 events annually that draw 40,000 people. As accessibility is a crucial component to fulfilling their mission, 85% of their programming is provided free of charge.