South Salt Lake is preparing for its annual Mural Fest, an event designed to blend community and culture through public art. The festival, which is approaching its ninth year, will feature nearly a dozen new public art pieces installed throughout the city.
Britney Helmers, the executive director with South Salt Lake Arts, stated that Mural Fest unites the community through the arts by showcasing stories from international, national, and local artists on industrial buildings. Artists collaborate with local businesses to bring visions of social causes or compelling images to life.
Nearly a decade ago, city leaders and organizers set a goal to have 100 murals in South Salt Lake within 10 years. With ten new murals planned for the upcoming event, the city has reached a total of 89 murals so far. Organizers believe the city now functions as an open-air gallery with the largest concentration of murals in Utah.
The festival is expected to draw significant crowds, with organizers estimating that approximately 12,000 people attended last year. Attendees can walk or bike the mural route, meet the artists, and enjoy live music.
In alignment with the One Kind Act a Day initiative, two graduation-themed murals will be added to the collection, located at Woodrow Wilson Elementary and the Central Park Community Center. These specific pieces involved community engagement with local youth to inspire the artwork.
The ninth annual Mural Fest is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, starting at 151 W. Commonwealth Avenue. A map of existing murals in South Salt Lake is available on the event website.
