Utah Arts Festival to herald 30th year

The Utah Arts Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. Although the mission is the same, the times have really changed.

"We bring art to people who may not otherwise have a chance to see or hear it," festival director Robyn Nelson said during a press conference at the UAF offices Thursday night. "We had a $38,000 budget in 1976. Now our budget is $1.2 million for four days."

Back in 1976, the United States was in the midst of a nationwide bicentennial celebration. To spread the joy, a $50,000 City Spirit Grant was given to select cities around the country.

Ted Wilson, who was then mayor of Salt Lake City, used the money to create the Utah Arts Council.

"Back then, the city government was all about cleaning up the roads and sweeping the sidewalks," Wilson said during the press conference. "And I said, 'Let's get rid of that and make this city a more scintillating city.' "

With the help of Margaret Smoot, the council created the Utah Arts Festival.

"It took eight months to put the first Salt Lake Festival of the Arts together," Smoot said. "We closed two downtown blocks on Main Street, and everyone had a smashing good time."

The first Arts Festival took place in the summer of 1977, Wilson said. "It has become a statewide event over the years. And that says something about how we have touched the community."

Wilson, Nelson and Smoot were on hand at the press conference to give a little glimpse of what this year's festival will bring to Utah.

Like last year, this year's Utah Arts Festival will take place at Library Square, which includes the Salt Lake Library and Washington Square, from June 22-25.

A number of commissioned musical works including a chamber work by Utah composer Igor Iachim; a preview of "John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' " by the Utah Symphony & Opera's partnership with the Minnesota Opera; a chamber ensemble work by international composer Jefferson Friedman and a premiere of "Red Rock Rondo," by Utah musician Phillip Bimstein.

"We are privileged to have these commissioned works included in our event," Nelson said.

Other new works of art will include Gary Vlasic's sound scape installation of "Make a Joy-us Noyz" and "Construction Self," an exhibition of 30 self-portraits by Utah artists.

"It says something to be able to come back 30 years and see what you have created has done in the community," Smoot said. "There are a lot of people who helped us with the first festival that should be here with us today."

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com