Learn
About Us

Salt Lake County Arts & Culture

Spaces, Places & Services to Engage With the Arts

We are a Salt Lake County agency, dedicated to building deep and engaging connections and dialogue around the arts and culture in our community.  For more than forty years, we have been an active participant in the arts community, providing the spaces, places and services to create and perform great art.

We are edgy and elegant.  On any given night, you can see the most avant-garde of modern dance, enjoy the sublime sounds of the symphony or experience a classical ballet.

We are tradition and innovation. Enjoy a traditional Broadway musical one night or get swept away in the drama of an opera, and the next day witness a local theater company interpret current events and their effect on our community.

In 1975, Salt Lake County residents passed the Bicentennial Bond, creating the now Arts & Culture division and providing funds to renovate the Capitol Theatre and construct Abravanel Hall and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. Over time, we have added new venues and services, including the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in 1999, the County Art Collection in 1985, ArtTix in 1991, the Eccles Theater in 2016, and the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in 2020.

Arts & Culture Advisory Board

The Salt Lake County Arts & Culture Division is advised by an Advisory Board, whose mission is to advocate for the support of arts organizations and facilities within Salt Lake County. In addition to advising the County Mayor and County Council on the use of county-owned performing arts facilities, the Arts & Culture Advisory Board also advises on policies for the County Public Art program and collection, including yearly art acquisitions. The members of the board value the role of arts and culture within the growing Salt Lake Community and are stewards for arts education and access to arts for all residents of Salt Lake County.

The Arts & Culture Advisory Board meetings are public meetings, and we welcome anyone to listen to audio recordings via the Utah Public Notice Website. To find meeting minutes and audio, use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to specify the government type as ‘county’, the entity as ‘Salt Lake County’ and the body as ‘Center for the Arts Board.’

Places, Spaces & Services to Engage with the Arts

Our Places

Our Art Centers are more than just bricks and mortar – they are places to create and perform art and engage in shared experiences.

Abravanel Hall

Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall is celebrated for its acoustical excellence and is an architectural icon in the City. The Hall is adorned with more than 12,000 square feet of hand-brushed 24‑karat gold leaf and its grand four-story lobby offers stunning views of the city. The newly redesigned public plaza and lobby complement the original architecture while modernizing the space. Abravanel Hall is also the home of the 27-foot-tall Olympic Tower statue by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly.

Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theatre has been at the center of the Salt Lake arts community since 1913. Its rich architectural features and more than 100 years of exceptional theater, dance, opera, music, vaudeville, and film performances have made the Capitol Theatre a treasured historic landmark. With recent renovations including improved seating, a remodeled lobby, and a newly installed orchestra pit, the Capitol Theatre building is now joined with the Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater

The Eccles Theater is a performance destination for Salt Lake, Utah, and the Intermountain West. Your Eccles Theater experience starts the minute you enter from busy Main Street into the spectacular five-story glass lobby. The distinctive chandeliers, colorful balustrades, and striking terrazzo floor remind you that you’re in for a memorable experience.

Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center

The Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center is the newest addition to the Salt Lake County Arts & Culture family of performing arts venues. Located in Taylorsville, the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center bring premiere performance and rehearsal spaces to the middle and southwest section of the valley. This thoughtfully designed venue includes the 439-seat Main Stage Theatre, Studio 5400 black box theatre, and the Centennial Room, a rehearsal and event space. Mid-Valley provides the opportunity for performing organizations to showcase their art in this fast-growing area of Salt Lake County.

Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center

The Rose is a vibrant, active hub for emerging and established artists and arts. Performances range from edgy to elegant and provocative to traditional. We host modern dance, theater, classical music, ballet, student recitals, and even U.S. Naturalization ceremonies. The Rose is an active film venue, hosting the Sundance Film Festival each January and year-round events with the Utah Film Center.

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

Since its founding in 1931, UMOCA has been a driving force for creating and nurturing the local art scene. Utah’s only contemporary art museum provides education and lectures to help local artists grow and succeed. The museum’s galleries showcase rotating exhibitions by local, national, and international contemporary artists.

Our Spaces

Our Art Centers boast beautiful theaters, unique spaces and architectural delights. Between our five venues, we have a total of nine performing stages, seven studios or rehearsal spaces, and five reception or meeting spaces.

Our Services

ArtTix

ArtTix is the authorized ticketing service for any event at the Eccles Theater, Abravanel Hall, Capitol Theatre, Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. By purchasing your tickets through ArtTix for events at these venues, you are assured that your tickets are valid, are being sold at the correct cost, and can be replaced if lost or stolen. Tickets purchased through a third party do not have that guarantee. ArtTix can be contacted at 801-355-ARTS (2787) or via email at arttix@slco.org.

Event Management

From your first inquiry to your final curtain call, our Event Managers act as your liaison between our administrative and technical teams. They assist with every aspect of your event, ensuring it runs smoothly and that you are highly satisfied with our spaces and services. Contact our Event Management team at (385)-468-1030 or via email at events@artsaltlake.org.

Patron Services

Our dedicated front-of-house staff – many of whom are long-term volunteers – serve our patrons at each event. They ensure everyone gets seated in the right place, distribute programs, help patrons with accessibility needs, and answer patron questions. In case of any emergency, our team is trained in safety and evacuation techniques.

Technical & Operational Services

Each venue has its own technical and operations team. These professionals know their venue intimately and work hard to keep everything running just right. One of our Technical Directors is always on-site at any event to ensure that the lights work, the heating and air conditioning are just right, and that the restrooms are clean. They are always available to advise and assist with equipment questions.