Who We Are
Each summer the Utah Arts Festival transforms downtown Salt Lake City into a bustling hub of creativity, attracting around 35,000 attendees, 900 volunteers, 800 artists and bands who come to experience its unique blend of visual arts, live performances, film screenings, demonstrating arts, workshops, and culinary arts.
The Utah Arts Festival not only entertains, but also inspires and educates. Combining high-quality artistic presentations with inclusive, interactive experiences, the Festival brings people together, stimulates economic growth, and fills educational gaps making it an indispensable part of Utah’s cultural landscape and ensuring that the arts remain a vital and accessible part of community life.
We are more than just an event, we're an experience that ignites the senses and inspires the soul. Along with regional and national talent, we bring together some of Utah’s most renowned artists and arts organizations in the heart of Salt Lake City to feature the unique talents of more than 800 artists and groups over one weekend each June. Whether you’re a lifelong art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this experience-rich environment that celebrates the transformative power of the arts.
What We Offer
Artist Marketplace
The Artist Marketplace features 170+ visual artists representing 16 mediums. We also work with the Salt Lake City Library to present a collection of local artists for a Fine Arts Exhibition in their 4th Floor Gallery.
Performing Arts
More than 125 live music, dance, and literary performances are presented featuring a broad range of genres with a heavy emphasis on local artists. We also present regional, and national talents.
Demos & Workshops
Workshops and artist demonstrations offer opportunities to participate in the making of art, from writing workshops and competitions to visual arts workshops.
Fear No Film
The Festival's film program, offered free for patrons inside the Library Auditorium, features 60+ short films curated from around the world. Genres include animation, narrative, documentaries, and more.
Urban Arts
Recognizing the contagious energy of graffiti art and hip-hop culture in our community, the Urban Arts program educates and enlightens while supporting and validating the work of young artists.
Kids Art Yard
The Kids Art Yard offers free, hands-on projects to cultivate creativity, foster collaboration, and inspire imagination among children. Each year features a theme that inspires artists of all ages.
100 Artist / 1 Image
An offshoot of the Urban Arts Program, 100 Artist / 1 Image is a communal puzzle mural requiring 100 artist patrons to paint a 20’x20’ square. Once the 100 tiles are hung together, the mystery is revealed.
Emerging Artists
This program supports artists who are in the early stages of career development, providing an opportunity to present their work, network, and share their diverse perspectives.
Food, Etc.
Beyond the art programs, the Festival also values the contributions that make the experience pleasant for patrons, from food and beverage to technical production and volunteers.
Our Continued Evolution
The Utah Arts Festival was founded by leaders in Salt Lake City who recognized the value and need to provide art for everyone in our community. Some of our programs (Kids Art Yard, Performing Arts, Artist Marketplace) were conceived in those early days and continue on today. Other programs (Fear No Film, Urban Arts, Emerging Arts) have been created and evolved to more fully meet the goal to present art in various forms to our community.
In 2025, we would like to add some year-round competitions to promote engagement from the community, identify new artists and provide opportunities to show their work, and maintain a healthy supportive presence in the community year-round. As we look for ways to do this, we have an eye on finding funding to present small events where artist and performers can compete for a cash prize as well as a chance to participate in their respective medium as part of the Utah Arts Festival.
The Producers of the Utah Arts Festival
The Utah Arts Festival is programmed and operated by a small full-time staff and Program Coordinators, Board of Directors, and many volunteers.
Staff
2024-2025 Board of Directors
Board meetings are scheduled a month in advance and take place at the Festival Office's at The Shop, 350 East 400 South, Suite 409, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111. For information about upcoming meetings, contact Aimée Dunsmore at 801-322-2428 or
Current Board
- David Bateman, Board Chair
- Jenniffer Clark
- Katherine Fife
- Jennifer Messer
- Loren Micalizio
- Rachel O’Crowley
- Cuauhtemoc Sandoval
- Nick Steffens
- Shane Stroud
- Joseph Szurgyi
- Mark Thomas
- Tonya Wilbur
- Sean Woodward
Emeritus Board
- Ken Ament
- Bruce Bell
- Robert Bradley
- Marsha Fetzer
- Lee Goldberg
- Edward B. Havas
- Susan Koles
- Rich Nordlund
- Tamara Pluth
- Betsy Slayton
- Bob Springmeyer
- Celia Willette
Program Coordinators
To reach our program coordinators, please contact Amanda Neff at the Festival’s offices (call 801-322-2428 or email
- Accounting - Ted Madsen
- Art Yard - Maggie Willis
- Artist Marketplace - Matt Jacobson & Sarah Baker Taylor
- Beverages - Mary Ward
- Box Office - Chad & Kathleen King
- Culinary Arts - Ali Valdez
- Demonstrating Arts - Mason Fetzer, PZL MRL
- Environmental Program - Jill Fletcher & Tyreese Hill
- Fear No Film - Derek Mellus
- Hospitality Patio - Chelsea Kimball & Pete Wankier
- Information Booth - Yolanda Kunder
- Literary Workshops - Kati Lewis, SLCC Community Writing Center
- Marketing, PR & Web - Third Sun Productions
- Performing Arts - Dayna McKee
- Production Director - Tyler Gust
- Signage - Aimee Horman
- Stage Production - Rich Nicholes
- Technical Director - Michael Taylor
- Urban Arts - Pablo Pinet
- Volunteers - Kaye Wankier, Melinda Cammans, Nick Wankier
Sponsors & Friends with Benefits Donors
We also could not pull off this annual festival without the generous support of our Festival sponsors and our Friends with Benefits donors. They not only provide financial and critical in-kind support, but they enthusiastically promote the Utah Arts Festival to their employees, friends, and family. We offer a big thanks to all of them!
