Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Larsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emily, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I’m lucky that it’s easy to be optimistic at my job at the Springville Museum of Art. I truly believe in our mission and the transformative power of art to enrich lives, so I know that everything we do contributes to the greater good. Plus, the stakes are low on the downside but huge on the upside—we might make a small mistake, but we also have the chance to inspire hope, connection, and joy for each of our visitors. I also believe most challenges can be solved with money, time, or creativity, so it’s easy to stay positive when you see problems as opportunities.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m the Executive Director at the Springville Museum of Art, where our mission is to ‘foster beauty and contemplation through life-affirming art and experience.’ We’re proud to highlight Utah artists, showcasing more local art than any other institution in the state—last year alone, we exhibited 1,341 works by 978 artists. We also have an incredible school outreach program that served over 35,000 students and teachers from 450 schools. Our exhibitions and programs are designed to be accessible, engaging, and transformative, ensuring every visitor feels a personal connection to the art. Plus, our museum is housed in a stunning Spanish Revival building from 1937, making it one of the most beautiful architectural landmarks in Utah. Best of all, we’re free and open to the public six days a week!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’ve been incredibly lucky in my career and am deeply grateful to those who have helped me along the way. Three qualities that have been most impactful for me are curiosity, collaboration, and communication. Curiosity has driven me to constantly learn, explore different aspects of the museum and art world, and try new things. Collaboration—saying yes, working with diverse partners, and viewing colleagues as collaborators rather than competitors—has opened countless doors. And strong communication, paired with empathy, has been essential in sharing the right information with the right people and understanding different perspectives. For those early in their journey, I’d advise staying curious, building genuine relationships, and always seeking to improve how you listen and connect with others
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I believe it’s better to go all in on your strengths and collaborate with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses. When you focus on what you’re naturally good at, you build momentum and achieve more, often with greater fulfillment. That said, it’s important to work on your weaknesses to the point where they’re not liabilities—you need to meet the minimum requirements in any critical area of your job. But after that, leaning into your strengths and ‘superpowers’ usually delivers the best results.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smofa.org/
- Instagram: springvillemuseum
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyalarsen/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@springvillemuseumofart3867
Image Credits
Photos by Clark Clifford for Springville Museum of Art
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