About
If you live in Salt Lake County, you are within minutes of artworks that represent and celebrate our community. The Salt Lake County Art in Public Places program places art in county facilities around the valley – in libraries, parks, recreation and community centers, public offices, even at public works sites. These art pieces make these places and spaces more beautiful and give anyone who visits an unexpected art-venture!
Art in Public Places benefits our community in many ways. It is beautiful and thought-provoking. It sparks conversation and helps build community identity. It honors the past and celebrates the future. And the Art in Public Places program gives a voice to our artists and enriches our community.
Next time you visit a Salt Lake County facility, park, recreation center, library, or theater, take a minute and find the art.
Visual Art Collection
The Visual Art Collection is a permanent collection including paintings, photographs, mixed media, and sculpture. The Collection is eclectic with a unifying theme – Utah. Each artist represented has lived or worked in Utah or is currently working in Utah. All works in the collection are on public display at county facilities, with the majority displayed at the County Government Center.
Percent for Art Collection
The Percent for Art Collection are site-specific works that range from murals and sculptures to mosaics, stained glass, or larger environmental works. Funding for this collection comes from legislation which allows up to one percent of money spent by county government on new buildings to go toward the purchase and installation of public art. Salt Lake County adopted this legislation in May of 1982.
VIEW PERCENT FOR ART COLLECTION
Community Engagement
The Art in Public Places programs fosters the act of coming together as a community to engage with public art. This act celebrates artists, placemaking and creates invaluable dialogue our community. Community engagement includes, public tours of the Visual Art Collection and Percent for Art Collection, joining a selection committee and collective appreciation.
For Artists
Art in Public Places values artists and the artistic process. Since it’s creation in the 1980s the Art in Public Places program has commissioned or purchased over 700 works from local and international artists. Our goal is to create opportunities for artists to express their voice and vision for the community.
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Questions?
Contact Kate Ithurralde Art in Public Places Manager P: 385.468.7059 E: kithurralde@slco.org
About
The Visual Art Collection has more than 650 pieces, including paintings, photographs, sculpture, and mixed media works. The unifying theme of the Collection is UTAH. Each artist has a tie to Utah, they either live here or create here.
Salt Lake County honors the spirit and values of our residents through the Collection and each piece is on display at county facilities, with the majority displayed at the County Government Center on State Street and 2100 South in Salt Lake City.
Visit the Collection online to find your favorite art piece or works by your favorite artist or what art is at the county facility closest to you.
Yearly Acquisitions
Explore the Collection by year to find the works acquired.
Art Acquisition Subcommittee
Art in Public Places receives an annual budget to purchase new artwork for the Collection. Our Visual Art Collection Subcommittee, a part of our volunteer Salt Lake County Arts & Culture Advisory Board, reviews and recommends artworks to the Advisory Board for the County to purchase.
The 10-member Subcommittee includes one member of the Arts & Culture Advisory Board, at least one member of Salt Lake County staff, County residents with advanced knowledge of visual art, and other interested citizens.
Current members of the Visual Art Subcommittee are:
- Ann Bernstein – Chair
- Lee Dever - Vice Chair
- Essie Shaw - Arts & Culture Advisory Board Representative
- Scott Baird - Salt Lake County Employee Representative
- Daphne Williams
- Felicia Baca
- Sandy Brunvand
- Nancy Holman
- Cara Krebs
- Jorge Rojas
- Colour Maisch
- Nancy E. Rivera
- Kim Southam
- Sarahi Soriano
Click here for more information about the Arts & Culture Advisory Board.
Donations
If you are interested in donating an art piece by a Utah artist to the Visual Art Collection, please contact Kate Ithurralde, the manager of the Art in Public Places program.
The Collection Subcommittee and the Arts & Culture Advisory Board carefully reviews potential art donations before they are formally accepted into the collection.
Artwork Appraisals
Salt Lake County Art & Culture is unable to assist with artwork appraisals. If you need an appraisal, contact the American Society of Appraisers to find a qualified professional near you.
About
The Percent for Art collection are artworks created to complement a specific location or building. These art pieces are part of the design and construction of new county facilities and include sculptures, murals, and even stained glass.
Most installations are permanent, some are temporary, and each piece brings attention to and beautifies our County spaces. We have more than 100 Percent for Art installations throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
Visit the Collection online to find your favorite art piece or works by your favorite artist or what art is at the county facility closest to you.
VIEW PERCENT FOR ART COLLECTION
Percent for Art Ordinance
In 1982, the County Council adopted the Percent for Art Ordinance. This Ordinance sets aside 1% of capital improvement or development project funds to commission, purchase and installation of artworks at county facilities.
Click here to learn more about Percent for Art Ordinance.
Percent for Art Selection Process
Each project opportunity is advertised nationally and sometimes only in Utah. Anyone can submit their idea through the County’s Request for Proposal process. Each application is reviewed by a committee representing the County facility, the architect and construction firm, local art experts, and other relevant County staff.
Click here to see open Percent for Art Opportunities.
Community Engagement Opportunities
We love talking about the Art in Public Places program and showing off the Collections. There are a few ways to engage with the art. Sign up for a free guided tour at the Government Center or request a customized tour. Visit your nearest county facility and explore the art. Go to an exhibition that features Art in Public Places art pieces.
Click here to sign up for Guided Tour
Community Engagement Exhibitions
Art in Public Places partners with various Salt Lake County agencies to bring unique art exhibitions and experiences to public spaces. The goal of these exhibitions is to create site-specific works that spark imagination and invite the community to engage with Salt Lake County owned venues, parks and other facilities.
Percent for Art Opportunities
We encourage artists or artist-led groups to apply for Percent for Art projects.
- Eccles Theater Holiday Installation Call for Artists
The Eccles Theater (located at 131 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT) is soliciting proposals from an artist or artist-led team to create a unique temporary holiday installation for the Eccles Theater during the holiday season. Proposed works are encouraged to be fabricated with non-traditional materials and reflect the spirit of the holiday and/or winter season. Up to $35,000 has been designated for the temporary public artwork. Artists must live in the state of Utah to qualify to apply. Competitive proposals are due April 17, 2023 before 1pm MST. Temporary artwork will need to be installed by November 10, 2023. Click here to learn more about the competitive bidding process and submit your bid. Use the keywords "Eccles Theater." - Household Hazardous Waste Call for Artists
Salt Lake County Art in Public Places, on behalf of Salt Lake County Heath Department, plans to contract with a qualified artist or artist team, living in the state of Utah, to participate in an open competition for a public art piece for the new Household Hazardous Waste Facility (to be located at 8778 South 700 West, Sandy, UT, 84070). Up to $30,000 has been designated for this permanent art installation. Proposals are due May 3, 2023 before 1pm MST. A pre-proposal conference will be held on April 17, 2023 at 4pm MST via WebEx. Click here to learn more about the bidding process and submit your proposal. Use the keywords, "Household Hazardous Waste."
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