Downtown Salt Lake City’s arts scene has grown in recent years, and it will continue to expand throughout the next year, according to a presentation given to the Salt Lake City Council last week.
The Blocks, Downtown’s 40-block arts district that’s now in its eighth year, saw an increase in its days of activation between Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025, according to a report from city council staff. The Blocks had 148 days of activation in FY25 (as of May 12) compared to 117 days of activation the previous year.
The report also says The Blocks also saw an increase in the number of local artists it hired, higher attendance in its events and a higher percentage of its budget going directly to artists. Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County each contribute $300,000 to The Block’s annual budget, as the combined funds are the primary source of funding for the arts district. Salt Lake City’s contributions are made up of $250,000 from the city’s general fund and $50,000 from previous surplus, according to a city council transmittal.
Britney Helmers, program director for The Blocks, briefed the council on the arts district’s progress in the past year, outlining how the group’s number of events has grown to be more profitable, and how the organization will continue to expand into 2026.
“In working with all of our arts and cultural venues around Downtown, we’re also happy to report that over 4 million tickets were sold last year, which is an increase of 18.4% growth year over year,” Helmers told the council.
As part of their budget, Helmers said The Blocks will expand its asset loan program for artists. The Blocks loaned out over $18,000 in assets for free in 2024, with the most common item being loaned out being stage decking. This year, the group will now have a full PA and sound system to loan out for events in Downtown.
Helmers said a number of Blocks events will continue into the future. She cited events like Steppin’ on Main, which is a free summer series outside of the Eccles Theater that varies every week, as events that will continue to grow.
Another event that is scheduled for later this year is the city’s Mariachi Festival, which is now in its third year and put on in partnership with the Mexican Consulate. The event will be Aug. 22 at the Eccles Theater.
However, not every event hosted by The Blocks will return. Helmers said the yearly Glow Garden at the Gallivan Center likely won’t return in 2026, despite attracting over 71,000 visitors over three months. She said that other events elsewhere in the country, like the Portland Winter Light Festival, attract a much higher attendance.
“At the moment, we are currently evaluating how this program grows next,” Helmers said. “We’re looking to pause this in 2026 with the hopes that we bring it back in 2027 with new branding, new ideas, and a deeper collaboration with these artists.”
Council Member Eva López Chávez, who represents Downtown on the council, gave the only comment after Helmers’ briefing, who said she’s happy to see her district’s arts scene growing.
“To me, it is a way that the city can really anchor permanency and activation on block facades that might need some support right now,” López Chávez said. “We have a downtown that is transforming — and in the middle of that transformation — so having the continuity of The Blocks is really critical to activate spaces that otherwise wouldn’t normally be accessible or activated during these times in our summer.”
0 Comments