WHAT IS THE ART CASTLE PROJECT?
• Historic Preservation
• Community Art Center
• Creative Industries Incubator
• Performing Arts Center
• Immersive Art Attraction
• Sculpture Garden
The Art Castle is a project by Utah Arts Alliance to acquire, preserve and renovate the historic 120 year old
15th Ward Chapel located at 915 West 100 South to create a community gathering space, an arts and creative
industries incubator, an immersive art attraction and a regional draw for those that would like to experience and
participate in new emerging art forms. The Arts Castle project will be an incredible Economic Development
driver and regional tourism draw in one of the most underserved areas in the State. HISTORY OF UAA
Utah Arts Alliance (UAA) was founded in 2003 with a mission to foster the arts in all forms in order to create
an aware, empowered, and connected community. The UAA serves an average of over 250,000 individuals
in person and over 1M people via our online, televised and Radio programing annually. The UAA is the top
independent Cultural Facilities administrator in the State of Utah with seven cultural facilities that include
Counterpoint Studios, Alliance Theater, Arts Hub, Dreamscapes, Urban Arts Gallery, The Cube Maker Space, Art
Garden and now the new Art Castle. The UAA also presents three major festivals and administers many programs
and media outlets in a variety of artistic fields that serve the community. HISTORY OF THE BUILDING
The Historic 15th Ward Chapel is a beautiful old Castle-like chapel and exemplar of Victorian Gothic revival
architecture. It was built in 1900 and was previously used for the 15th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. The church
sold the chapel in the late 1960’s when the ward was discontinued and it was merged into the 34th ward. For the last 40 years the building has been used as LA East Studios, a recording studio facility that has been used
to record music for hundreds of films including Disney’s Lion King, Toy Story, Jurassic Park and Wonder Woman
to name a few. King, Elton John, and Eminem are just a few of the artists that have recorded in this facility. Universal Music owned LA East Studios but stopped using the building in 2020. In January 2021 The Utah Arts
Alliance entered into a contract with the building owner to purchase the building and plans to create what we
are calling the Art Castle. PLAN FOR BUILDING OPERATIONS:
The UAA will use the building as a much needed
community gathering space, utilizing the Historic Chapel
building for presenting performances, concerts, film
screenings, presentations and more. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES INCUBATOR : The Art Castle will
help create new businesses and provide affordable space
for local business, organizations, and creative groups to
use as they grow their reach in the community. This will be
a way for many creative individuals and groups to lower
their operating costs in order to put more money toward
growing their business and developing programs. A
creative industries incubator will be a vital resource for so
many new and growing businesses, especially for those on
the west side of our city. IMMERSIVE ART ATTRACTION: An immersive art
experience will be another unique feature of the Art
Castle. Inside this facility members of the public will have
the opportunity to buy tickets to participate in a multisensory
immersive art experience, similar to the Utah
Arts Alliance’s Dreamscapes attraction at the Gateway. Immersive art spaces are a global trend of increased
demand for multi-sensory, interactive, technological,
highly imaginative art works. COMMUNITY ART CENTER: Salt Lake County continues
to be in need of facilities that support artists and
creatives and the need for the public to experience arts
and culture. The Art Castle will support both of these
needs, with artist studio space, venue rental options,
access to public art, and an immersive art experience
featuring local artists. SCULPTURE GARDEN: The Art Castle will have an
outdoor garden dedicated to the presentation of
sculpture. Open to the public to enjoy sculptures
and installations at no cost and suitable for outdoor
events. The sculpture garden will be a safe,
accessible place for the community to enjoy public
art and events. OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER: An outdoor stage with
seating. A venue for local performers and musicians
and a place for the public to enjoy arts and culture.
