Kimball Arts Festival elevates Artists and the Community

In the heat of Utah’s summer, there’s a cool place to get away in Park City.

The Park City Kimball Arts Festival paints Main Street with a colorful collection of artists, collectors, and festival goers, with about 30,000 people attending over the weekend. This year marks the 57th annual festival, which runs from August 7-9, and continues the legacy started by a group of local artists in 1969.

Festival Director Hillary Gilson emphasizes that the weekend serves not only as a major community event but as a critical livelihood for artists. 

“It means so much to the artists that participate,” she says. “I always say they’re our backbone of the festival. The artists, coupled with our local Park City community, are really what makes the festival have the magic it has.”

Supporting Artists

The Kimball Arts Festival features between 180 to 190 artists, selected after a highly competitive process. Gilson estimates that around 1,200 people apply each year, which means the top 16% are chosen.

Applications opened in November, closed in February, and were reviewed by festival staff before being sent to a 12-person blind jury made up of people from the art world, like practicing artists, collectors, and gallery owners. It takes the judges about two weeks to submit their scores, which are then reviewed by festival staff. Artists were notified in early April if they were accepted.

“It’s kind of like a machine within a machine,” Gilson explains.

She added that festival organizers have a set of artist goals, including a minimum of 10 local artists from Summit or Wasatch counties and having 20% of artists be first-time attendees, whether they’re emerging artists or established veterans. There’s also a range of mediums represented from drawing, painting, and digital art to glasswork, metalwork, and sculptures.

“It happens pretty naturally through our jury process,” Gilson continues. “Our returning favorites will most likely be there, but every once in a while, you’ll get a surprise, and maybe someone wasn’t able to come, but then their space is filled with a brand new artist for someone to fall in love with.”

The Kimball Arts Festival will also save space at Miners Park, which serves as a main studio area for its Young Artist Academy for the third year. Last year, the festival had its first tent just for clay students, which will continue this year. 

“It’s a group of teens who want to have a career in the art world, and so we work with them to really expand their horizons and get real-life applications,” Gilson says. “I think it’s an invaluable educational experience.”

The initiative is particularly special to her because it’s a unique experience that helps students learn how to sell their work at a highly competitive festival and grow their network with other artists.

A full list of artists sorted by medium will be posted on kimballartsfestival.org when available.

Expanded Experiences

Working through the Kimball Art Center, the festival seeks to integrate the center’s educational offerings and exhibitions. The latest exhibition, running through Sept. 13, is titled “(Re)Sounding” and explores how sound is “not simply something we hear, but something we inhabit, shape, and are shaped by.”

Gilson explains that the festival works to tie those sound-themed elements into various areas, such as the youth-centered (but enjoyed by all) Creation Station on Heber Avenue and additional programming led by the education team. 

There’s also an intentional focus on hands-on art experiences that let visitors make art as well as view it. For example, Kimball Arts Festival attendees can get their hands dirty and try wheel throwing with clay. There will also be live demonstrations such as mural making or presentations from Kimball Art Center teachers.

Gilson says the best way to make the most of the festival is to purchase a weekender or VIP pass, which provides access to the VIP lounge as well as other perks like extended hours and drink tickets.

Art for Everyone

Kimball Arts Festival organizers are also deliberate in ensuring the featured products range in affordability for students to seasoned collectors. Gilson says there will be a range of price points, such as small ceramics like mugs and larger-scale pieces, that are all high-quality.

She encourages visitors to speak with artists, as many could have a smaller-scale, more affordable print of a pricy painting, for example. Custom commissions could also be more accessible than bigger showpieces. 

Still, the festival offers a fun experience to locals and visitors regardless of their love for art amid the historic Main Street backdrop. 

There are two music stages found on Heber Ave. and in the Brew Pub parking lot with food vendors and bars in both areas. 

Summit County residents receive free admission with advance registration on Friday night, which Gilson says has a social “reunion” type energy. 

“You can’t walk five feet without seeing someone you know,” she continues.

The Kimball Arts Festival peaks on Saturday, the busiest day, and has the classic festival bustle. Sunday is quieter and less crowded. It’s also the best day to try to score a deal, as artists may be willing to negotiate on unsold pieces near the festival’s conclusion.

“There’s just such a magic to Park City. I think people really feel that it’s a small town, but it’s also a town that’s really invested in the arts,” Gilson concludes. “One thing I specifically hear from artists is that this is one of their best performing shows, that they’ll make the most money at this show. And I think it really speaks to that love of art that people have, and not only supporting artists, but wanting to learn more about art, wanting to form a collection of their own, and wanting to support artists.”