1 / 5

ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald Provo Mayor Lewis Billings announces the name of the Covey Center for the Arts along side Sandra and Stephen Covey Thursday, August 23, 2007 at the new Covey Center for the Arts in Provo.

Ashley Franscell

2 / 5

ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald Sandra Covey walks out of the new Covey Center for the Arts Thursday, August 23, 2007 in Provo. The center was named after her as a member and former Chair of the Provo Arts Council who really pushed for the center in Provo.

Ashley Franscell

3 / 5

ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald Provo Mayor Lewis Billings and Director of the Arts Council, Katherine Allen, list all the amenties of the new Covey Center for the Arts Thursday, August 23, 2007 in Provo. The Covey Center for the Arts is at 425 West Center Street in Provo. It has a 670-seat performance hall with stat-of-the-art sound system, three dance studios, a general purpose studio and a 1,300-square-foot art gallery.

Ashley Franscell

4 / 5

ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald Pianist Jennie Larsen performed a medley of music for an audience during the name announcement of the Covey Center for the Arts Thursday, August 23, 2007 at the new Covey Center for the Arts in Provo. The center is named for Sandra M. Covey, a member and former Chair of the Provo Arts Council. The Covey Center for the Arts is at 425 West Center Street in Provo. It has a 670-seat performance hall with stat-of-the-art sound system, three dance studios, a general purpose studio and a 1,300-square-foot art gallery.

Ashley Franscell

5 / 5

ASHLEY FRANSCELL/Daily Herald The Covey Center for the Arts was named after named for Sandra M. Covey, a member and former Chair of the Provo Arts Council Thursday, August 23, 2007 in Provo. The Covey Center for the Arts is at 425 West Center Street in Provo. It has a 670-seat performance hall with stat-of-the-art sound system, three dance studios, a general purpose studio and a 1,300-square-foot art gallery.

Ashley Franscell

❮ ❯

The Provo Center for the Arts has already hosted several performances since opening last month, but a big question mark hung in the air like an unplayed note or an unspoken line. That question was answered Thursday when the city introduced the new center’s new name — the Covey Center for the Arts.

The center was named for Sandra Covey, wife of Stephen R. Covey, the co-founder and vice chairman of Franklin Covey and author of the best-selling book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Sandra Covey, a long-time advocate of the arts who worked for years to bring the new center to Provo, donated $2 million to the project. She is also a member of the Provo Arts Council.

Sandra Covey called the center’s opening a lifelong dream. Arts advocates worked for decades to bring the center to Provo.

“This is something that’s really needed,” Sandra Covey said at the naming ceremony on Thursday. “We want you to be able to go out to dinner and take your kids, come to the opera or ballet or the symphony or play or whatever, and not have to travel to Salt Lake.

“Thanks to all of you. This is really the thrill of a lifetime.”

The new name and logo for the center were unveiled Thursday at the ceremony at the center, 425 W. Center St. More than 100 people who attended were treated to a performance by two local musicians, Jennie Larsen on the piano and Jeanie Madsen on vocals.

The center was built on the site of the old city library. It includes a 680-seat auditorium, an art gallery, dance and music studios and a small, outdoor amphitheater. The project cost about $8.5 million, with about half of the funding coming from private donations.

Stephen Covey praised his wife for the 10 years she spent raising funds for the center, saying it was like a full-time job.

“I also want to pay tribute to Sandra, because for over a decade she’s had this vision, and this passion, and also the discipline governed by conscience,” he said. “This is my first time seeing this place and I am literally overwhelmed.”

The Coveys were introduced by Provo Mayor Lewis Billings and Kathryn S. Allen, the executive director of the Provo Arts Council. Billings lauded Sandra Covey for her commitment to the arts.

“Today we are grateful,” he said.

Decades ago, Sandra Covey performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She gave up her own aspirations of performing when she started her family, Billings said, but she never lost her passion for the arts.

Allen said there was a lot of anticipation leading up to the naming ceremony.

“I think there were many who wondered whose name would be on it. We’re certainly delighted that it is the Covey Center for the Arts,” she said.

While the Coveys, Billings and others spoke of the center as a place that would encourage talent in Utah County and give residents a place to enjoy the arts, the Coveys also talked about the possibilities it posed for downtown Provo. Stephen Covey said it could do to downtown Provo what the Marriott Hotel did for Times Square in New York City. Sandra Covey talked about a revitalization of the area.

“I just think it’s a lot of opportunities,” Sandra Covey said.

Stephen Covey said the project still requires another $500,000 to finish the building, and urged people to continue donating.

“I just hope that the community doesn’t feel like now it’s up, therefore the funds have been raised, because that is not the case. We need more. And I think really it will be a tremendous benefit to the city,” he said.

The Covey Center for the Arts will host a fundraiser on Oct. 2, sponsored by Zions Bank. There will be a community open house on Oct. 3, followed by the center’s opening gala on Oct. 4.

For more information about upcoming events at the center, go to www.provo.org or call 852-7007.

Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.