Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County to co-own new Performing Arts Center

<p>SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams on Tuesday signed a landmark interlocal agreement detailing the city and county's partnership for the Utah Performing Arts Center.

The 2,500-seat downtown facility will be co-owned by the city and county and operated by the county's Center for the Arts, which also owns and operates Abravanel Hall, Capitol Theatre and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.

“We are very pleased with our partnership with Salt Lake County, as the county will take a role as minority owner and an operator, bringing decades of experience and expertise in venue management,” Becker said.

The Utah Performing Arts Center will be located on the 100 block of Main Street and will play host to touring Broadway productions, nationally prominent family programming, music and comedy, as well as local arts presentations.

“This new facility is going to be an entertainment draw for our capital city and a new jewel in Salt Lake County's arts and culture portfolio,” McAdams said. “The great partnership for this regional arts facility ensures current and future artistic organizations will thrive and continue to delight our residents and visitors alike for years to come.”

The venue's design team of Pelli Clarke Pelli and HKS Architects will be unveiling the schematic design on April 17, with construction slated to begin in 2014 and completion in 2016.

More information on the project can be found at www.utahperformingartscenter.org.