Stories about local arts and culture events and profiles about local creatives.
Mark Conklin, who joined the Follies crew over a decade ago, says legend has it that the first few years of Follies was “a pretty rag tag affair.” The first show never made it to the second act. Tom Clyde confirms that the show was indeed cut short at the intermission. “The cast ran over to The Alamo [now the No Name Saloon] for a quick one and never came back. Given how the first act went, that was probably for the best.”
Read MoreWhen Shanoa Allowitz moved to Heber City two years ago, she recognized a gap in Arts & Culture programming. “I realized a need for a local art school that could offer a progressive, comprehensive education for people of all ages. With a degree in art education and 25 years of experience in the public school system I have dreamed of opening my own school and studio.” And thus Alchemy School of Art was born!
Read MoreFor the second year in a row, Canyons Village has an extra surprise in store for all residents and visitors: the Gondola Art Stroll! Whether you are there to shop, ski, or dine, as you wander the Village you can find 6 retired red pine gondolas, beautifully restored and outfitted to host installations by Utah artists.
Read MoreDriven by a growing concern for the challenges facing the small rural communities of Summit County, Lynn Wood partnered with a valued client and embarked on a new venture. “After exploring numerous possibilities, we landed on an exciting concept: crafting hand-made meal kits featuring ingredients sourced directly from our local farms and ranches. These kits would not only offer delicious meals but also share the stories and traditions of our unique mountain community, connecting people to the heart of our agricultural heritage.”
Read MorePerhaps it is her love for Kamas and the surrounding area that has inspired Desatoff to give back to the community in the form of Blue Jayne Studio. As she puts it, “Being part of Summit County’s creative scene feels like a dream come true. I believe that access to high-caliber arts and culture enriches lives and strengthens communities. Whether someone lives here or is just visiting, art has the power to inspire and connect us all.”
Read MoreOn November 18, 2024 the Summit County Public Art Advisory Board (‘SCPAAB’) held a grand opening for a very special traveling exhibit, Washakie: Through the Lens of Time. The exhibit is part of the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center collection, and features photographs and writings of Chief Washakie, a prominent Shoshone-Bannock chief who was active throughout Summit County in the 1800s.
Read MoreYes, you read that right—the Holiday Makers Market will be open through February 2, 2025! This marks the first time the Market will be open during the Sundance Film Festival, enabling residents and visitors to take home a locally-made piece of Park City to commemorate their time at the Festival. The Arts Council is proud to be able to keep the Holiday Makers Market running longer this Winter, as it means our artists and makers have more opportunities than ever to sell their work and share their stories.
Read MoreIf you’ve strolled down Park City’s Historic Main Street this season, you may have noticed that the town takes Winter seriously! Among the holiday decorations are seven snow globes commissioned by the Historic Park City Alliance (HPCA) as part of a partnership project with Canyons Village Management Association to bring the Gondola & Snow Globe Art Strolls to life.
Read MoreNSU was founded with the intention of being a support system for creatives and artists in the North Summit region, which NSU representatives say has a wealth of talented people across Arts & Culture disciplines. There is also a desire to preserve and celebrate the unique local heritage and character that residents adore, even as Summit County expands and changes. “No place stays special just on accident,” says NSU Treasurer Lynn Wood in a video about the organization’s mission. “It’s going to take a lot of involvement, it’s going to take some intention to keep our community unique as it grows.”
Read MoreLisa and Don see their artworks as sparking conversations that can go in many different directions: “Our first task as artists is to cut through the noise in the general environment. We ask our viewers for one of their most valuable assets: their attention…Even if the viewers are all in separate cars driving past the sculpture, they are all part of a conversation that includes a 25 foot tall moose, for example. We believe that those conversations create opportunities for social engagement and for creating community.”
Read MoreKent Youngstrom might be a newcomer, but he indicates a strong desire to be part of life in Summit County in all its aspects; “I am excited to fold my way into the fabric of the community here. And by that I mean all of the community—not just the ‘creative community.’ So often I think that as artists we want to be accepted by the art community and forget that our responsibility (at least I feel mine is) is to add something unexpected to the everyday lives of others—artists or not.”
Read More“My journey as a full-time artist accelerated this year, 2024, when I connected with the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County’s CREATE PC Artist In Residence program,” says Sherry Elshaug. Joining the Local Artist Collective has opened up new opportunities for Elshaug to exhibit and form friendships, stoking a new love of painting and “sharpening my creative edge, palette knife in hand,” she puns.
Read MoreThe Prospect Building on Park City’s Historic Main Street hosts a number of hidden gems, not least of which is a place you can go to create your own jewelry alongside experienced silversmiths. They host workshops in silversmithing, charms, and permanent jewelry, and visitors are welcome to their studio or they can arrange for a pop-up workshop offsite.
Read MoreCanyons Village Management Association (‘CVMA’) and Historic Park City Alliance (‘HPCA’) are seeking Utah-based artists/artist teams to creatively decorate the interior of 5 inactive Gondolas and 7 Snow Globes.
Read MoreCiting CREATE PC as a “fantastic resource…connecting me to local collectors and offering additional display opportunities,” Englebrecht encourages others to partake in the local creative wares displayed by her fellow exhibiting artists. “I think it's a great destination for people specifically interested in supporting local artists, where they can see painters, ceramicists, photographers, sculptors; any media, all local, all in one space. It's a resource and an opportunity that is really unique.”
Read MoreBAlletNEXT Founder Michele Wiles highlights how she loves “the engagement of children here, many seeing ballet for their first time. We are getting a flood of interest from children wanting to participate in some of our excerpt classical productions like Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.” Additionally, all BalletNEXT tickets are free and donation-based. Wiles says this is because it is part of her mission “to have every child in Summit county see their first ballet for free.”
Read MoreA year and a half ago Crane started his nonprofit, Cultural Fire Events, as a way to provide more spaces for Indigenous, First Nation, and Native American people to celebrate their cultures and communities. “Now I put on powwows because of singing and dance. It’s been a blessing in my life so I hold that close to my heart. I want to make sure young people have a place to dance, a safe place to be themselves—it's such a small thing and a big thing.”
Read MoreOne aspect of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera’s work is the cultivation of artists. “Everyone’s path into arts is unique,” says Kipp, “and our goal is to create a welcoming environment so people can come in and be naturally curious as to what this world is, in education and community. ‘Spark Engagement, Foster Belonging, Make Memories’ is our department saying.”
Read MoreMarshall found living in Park City gave her artistic latitude; “it has been remarkable how many opportunities have been presented for art shows, gallery opportunities, artist in residence programs, and cultural events.” She goes on to say that “art enhances and complements the natural beauty we find in Summit County and the Arts Council has such an inclusive perspective of art that it seems to encompass anyone looking for an art experience.”
Read MoreEskind is a proponent of Summit County’s expanding Arts & Culture scene: “I'm thrilled that the Arts Council is expanding its offerings. Public art is not a luxury, it is essential. It teaches us to reflect, to feel and be deeply human, to be connected and care about each other and about all of the precious creatures on Earth, and even care about Earth itself.”
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