Hundreds of artists and art lovers will gather in Park City this weekend at one of the top art festivals in the country.
The forty-second Park City Kimball Arts Festival on Park City’s Main Street will run this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $5 to $10 or free to Summit County residents and children younger than five. Proceeds from the festival go to benefit the Kimball Art Center, enabling it to provide free exhibits and community outreach programs throughout the year. This year’s theme is “building the future of art” and is focused on forging new pathways between art lovers and artists.
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Local photographer Cat Palmer will be participating for her second year because she loved her experience at the festival two years ago. She said one of the best parts was talking to her fans, answering questions and forming relationships with art lovers. Palmer does photography on metal with mixed media on top. Since 2007, she has been working on distinctive projects formed around messages meant to empower women. Creating art with a message has been rewarding for Palmer, especially when she presents her work at festivals.
“It really means a lot to me when I see teenage girls who you can tell are struggling with self-esteem who connect with my work,” Palmer said. “Their eyes light up at the photos and they’ll have their parents buy pieces to put in their rooms and things. It’s one of the coolest things for me to see.”
Another feature at this year’s festival will be the second annual “Relevant,” an artist-in-residence program for selected undergraduate- and graduate-level college art students. The program provides students with opportunities designed to set them on the path toward becoming successful, full-time career artists. “Relevant” artists’ work will be showcased throughout the festival.
The festival will feature much more than visual artists. Visitors can enjoy performing artists on stages at Miner’s Park and Main Street, art activities for kids and Taste of Art, discount cuisine artfully prepared and provided by local restaurants. Festival After Dark will keep the party going with free film screenings and concert series.
With the hours extended this year and about 50,000 visitors expected to attend, the Kimball Art Center has been preparing for months in advance.
“We’re showcasing the most talented artists in their respective fields to bring to our annual Arts Festival, and raised the bar on programs like Taste of Art and Festival After Dark,” said Robin Marrouche, executive director of the Kimball Art Center. “As the largest three-day event in Park City during the summer, we work year-round to come up with innovative ways to create a multi-sensory experience for all of our patrons.”
