Salt Lake City’s newest Arts Hub will celebrate its grand opening this weekend. The new, huge facility is made up of art galleries, event centers, dance rehearsal space, individual arts studios, performance space, photography studios, offices for non-profit arts groups and an outdoor venue for festivals. The SLC Arts Hub is the brainchild of Derek Dyer, executive director of the Utah Arts Alliance, who has renovated the large facility on the west side of downtown to create what is arguably the most comprehensive art space in Utah.
The public is invited to join in the grand opening on May 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hub, 663 West 100 South in Salt Lake City. All artist and nonprofit studios will be open for tours to offer a behind-the-scenes peek at the arts as they are created in Salt Lake City. Entertainment will include dance demonstrations and The Gray Wall Gallery’s first exhibit in their new location, consisting of work from artists who share the Hub as well as artists who will be featured in the upcoming Urban Arts Festival, slated for June 9. Refreshments will also be provided.
“The Arts Hub is a bustling center of creativity for the resident artists, professional performance groups and nonprofits that work in the space as well as classes and events for everyone interested, concerts, performances, exhibits and more,” said Dyer. “The great thing about the SLC Arts Hub is that it offers local artists an affordable home base from which they may earn an income in a difficult economy.”
With affordable studios for artists, offices for nonprofit groups and rehearsal space for performers, the Hub will contribute greatly to financial sustainability for local artists. Simply having a place to work, perform, teach and show helps many overcome some of the most difficult barriers to making it as an artist. Frequent festivals, open houses and gallery stroll nights will offer the artists an opportunity to sell their work.
“The Arts Hub is helping my business immensely by providing me a studio I can use for photography, conference room and office space at a price I can afford,” said Cat Palmer, a local photographer and Hub tenant. “It’s helping me make it as an artist and a business woman.”
“Our hope is that the Arts Hub will change the landscape of Salt Lake’s art scene by providing a home for artistic growth that hasn’t been seen before in our state,” continued Dyer.
Resident groups housed in the Hub include Salt Lake Capoeira, Samba Fogo, B-Boy Federation, People Productions, the Human Rights Education Center, Rhythms of Life, the Spanish Actors Workshop, Concept Creations Art, Glitch Wear and the Incendiary Circus’ fire performance group. The Hub also houses UAA programs like the Youth Arts in Utah program classes, Gray Wall Gallery, the Hub Boutique as the Utah Arts Alliance permanent collections gallery. Resident artists include Derek Dyer, Cat Palmer, Blake Palmer, Benjamin Altenes, Keith Eccles, Jenn Cook, Chris Madsen, Terrance Hansen, John Madsen, Jason Stewart, P.J. Hair, Tamara Fox, Alex Pysher and Michael Christensen. The Hub property also includes a community and sculpture garden space, as well as a circus tent for events.
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About the Utah Arts Alliance
The Utah Arts Alliance is a nonprofit arts and educational organization committed to furthering the arts in all forms. In addition to the SLC Arts Hub, the UAA has a gallery at 127 South Main Street in Salt Lake City. For more information, visit www.utaharts.org.
