On any given night in the city you can find music shows, stand-up comedy, art exhibits or film presentations happening at the multiple venues in Utah Valley. With much to offer, Provo has a new website that will make Provo talent more accessible.
Indieprovo.com launched five weeks ago, featuring all kinds of artists and talents around Utah Valley.
“Indieprovo.com is meant to showcase local talent,” said website creator Marshall Bean. “Provo has always had so much talent, and this site just makes it easier for artists to showcase their work and for others to find it.”
The website is ultimately a collaboration site featuring all kinds of artistic venues including, but not limited to, music, art, film, photography, fashion and food. The newest additions to the site include an online store, allowing artists to sell their merchandise, and Indie Provo Live, featuring live broadcasts of entertainment events around the city.
“Anyone can be a part of it,” Bean said. “Indie is just short for independent, which most Provo artists are. The website lends artists more credibility and gives them a chance to be seen.”
Right now the website features more than 76 artists and venues, and it has only been up for five weeks.
“I was amazed at the quick response,” Bean said. “I began contacting artists, retrieving their information and placing it all in the website manually, but now artists can input their contact information and website (or Facebook page), and once approved, it will be added to the site, simple as that.”
Bean hopes the site will encourage creativity, support and even competition among Provo artists. The design lends itself to popularity, meaning the most “liked” artists will be placed at the top of the page.
“The more ‘likes’ you get, the higher the site places you,” Bean said. “I am hoping this gets people involved, and it also allows artists to get a good feel for the community’s response to their work.”
Bean initiated the site with a few artists already in mind to feature. The first artist officially on the site was Aly Jenkins, a junior at BYU studying illustration. Her paintings and illustrations are featured in the art section of indieprovo.com.
“A lot of artists’ recognition comes through social media,” Jenkins said. “I think it is normal to assume that artists live in New York or California, and with that mentality people miss out on the amazing local talent Provo offers. This site is a great place for people to become familiar with and to promote artists who live just down the street.”
Jenkins, along with other Provo artists, is anxiously awaiting the full effects of this site, and Bean says he hopes it will turn Provo into a “mecca of opportunity.”
Also looking for opportunities are local bands and musicians. Provo was a starting place for bands Neon Trees and Imagine Dragons, and the rest of the Provo music scene is anxious to follow in their footsteps.
Local band Red Yeti, also featured on the site, is excited for the possibilities it offers.
“Having a site where all the local artists can somewhat communicate and support each other is amazing,” said Red Yeti member Coleman Edwards. “It increases creativity, support and even friendly competition, which is really important to have.”
Edwards hopes the site will help Provo become a destination city where people travel to see the arts instead of Provo being a place artists want to break out of.
“Provo has so much to offer, and it is time people know that,” Edwards said.
To experience the site, or if you are an artist and want to have your work featured, visit indieprovo.com.
