While Utah is well-known for its outdoor activities, not everyone recognizes the vibrant arts scene that enhances the state’s appeal.
The arts play significant roles economically, culturally and socially. Arts and artists bring positive impacts and create a more vibrant and inclusive community in Utah.
Pay attention to how the arts develop Utah and how Utah develops through art.
Why Utah
Beyond the Sundance Film Festival, Utah has a surprisingly rich artistic history and communities that encompass all fields of the arts. The Utah Art Institute was founded in 1899. During World War II, Utah developed world-class community orchestras and ballet companies. In 1976, The Folk and Traditional Arts Program was established to educate the public about Utah’s traditional arts. This shows Utah has been rich in the arts for more than 120 years.
In addition, the arts mean a lot to Utah economically. According to a study, Utah ranked among the top states in the U.S. for growth in arts and entertainment employment over the past few years.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that in 2020, Utah’s arts sector contributed more than $6 billion to the state’s economy, representing 3.5% of the state’s GDP. This indicates that Utah’s arts have a significant cultural and economic role in the state.
Arts as Advocacy
The arts do not exist only for community spirit. They also address real societal issues. The Salt Lake City Arts Council connects Salt Lake City to the arts by creating various events and projects.
One such project, ‘Wake the Great Salt Lake’ aims to curate temporary public art to raise awareness about the shrinking Great Salt Lake.
Renato Olmedo-González, the public art program manager at the Salt Lake City Arts Council, said, “What we hope is that people encounter these artwork installations or specific projects and use them as a catalyst for change, raising awareness of the actions needed to preserve the Great Salt Lake.”
The council aims to address topics such as air pollution, social justice, cultural identity and more through future projects. This artistic approach is significant for advocating important community issues that people might not be fully aware of.
Public art in Utah also continually promotes diversity within our communities. Public art is easily found around Salt Lake City, with each art project created by different artists from various backgrounds, representing different neighborhoods and cultural diversity.
An artwork called “The Crossing” located near public transportation in Utah and created by Jiyoun Lee-Lodge is inspired by the artist’s intersectionality as a woman and an immigrant living in a globalized world.
Arts for Unity
Art is a powerful way of representing locals and uniting our community. Utah boasts a rich cultural heritage in the arts, offering Utahns and visitors the chance to experience a variety of museums, galleries and festivals.
“Art can bring specific stories and people’s histories to the surface,” Olmedo-González said. “One of the most important things we can do is to see the arts as the soul of a community and a way to provide meaningful connections to people.”
For example, the upcoming DIY Craft Lake City Festival is Utah’s largest local art, music, science and technology festival, celebrating all things local with more than 500 local artists and performers contributing.
The festival not only promotes small STEM businesses in Utah but also supports DIY cultures and the creativity of Utahns, bringing the local community together.
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest museums in Utah, serves as a crucial hub for bringing together diverse places, cultures and time periods.
The UMFA seeks to foster unity and social development both within Utah and beyond, adapting to the rapidly changing world. In 2020, the museum focused on humanity and the planet in response to the pandemic and racial injustice issues.
By collaborating with local Utah artists, the UMFA presented messages of hope and opportunities for healing, aiming to create new ways to address ongoing global divisions.
Support More Local Arts
Utah inspires the arts and the arts amplify Utah. Despite the continuous efforts from locals to promote creative business, they remain threatened by a lack of support to sustain their work, which is concerning.
Supporting local arts isn’t hard and it provides you with great life experiences. There are a lot of local theatres, concerts and markets you can easily visit around Utah.
Many events are also affordable. The Utah Juneteenth Festival, Outdoor Film Series at Liberty Park and Summer Concert Series are perfect examples of free art events.
“Attend a place, find something you like and try to support those artists,” Olmedo-González said.
Olmedo-González also explained that another direct way to support the arts this fall is by supporting the Zoo, Arts & Parks Program, also known as “ZAP.”
“It’s a tax program where, whenever you pay sales tax, one penny for every $10 benefits up to 200 organizations, from very small community artworks to big institutions. The program needs voters’ approval every 10 years to be renewed, which is very important,” he said.
The arts reveal more than we expect and more than what we see. Pay attention to the arts around the world and in our community. Use what is happening locally and the messages being conveyed to build a better society.
Keep advocating for more local arts in Utah and let our small community unite and develop further as part of the world.
