Grand Opening of the Art Institute of Salt Lake

Caption: Paint is caught mid-flight, thrown by school and city officials, as it heads on its way to create a wall mural at the grand opening of the new Art Institute of Salt Lake City in Draper.

By Ryan Christensen


Throwing paint on a wall in the name of art was in the day’s work for government officials and students Jan. 10 during the grand opening of the Art Institute of Salt Lake City at 170 W. Election Road, Draper Utah.

The ceremony also included a donation of $2,000 to Art Works for Kids.

Draper was chosen as the site for the location because of it’s central location between Salt Lake City and Provo. Other draws to this location were the beautiful view of the mountains and closeness to the freeway said school president Darren Adamson.
Among the government officials who attended the grand opening were Draper City Mayor Darrell Smith, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, and leaders of the Utah Art Council and the Utah Department of Community and Culture. The event was held in a yet unfinished portion of the building, symbolizing the schools ongoing growth and goal for continuing improvement, said Adamson.

Mayor Smith commented on our responsibility to remember the past and where we have come from, recalled his remembrance of the land where the school is now built once being farmland, dotted with black and white cows. With the opening of the Draper location The Art Institute now has over 40 schools nationwide and serves over 61,000 students.

Also as part of the ceremony Adamson awarded the Utah-based non-profit foundation “Art Work for Kids” with a grant of $2,000.

The funds will be used to help bring art professionals into the classrooms to work side by side with elementary school teachers teaching art education, said Lisa Davis, a representative for Art Works for Kids. Funds received are also used on an ongoing basis to lobby Utah legislators and encourage them to fund art education initiatives.

Every Utah elementary needs an arts program, Davis said, adding that her organization works to make sure that the arts don’t get pushed aside. According to the AWFK website, “Fine arts, especially at the elementary level, contribute to the development of neural connections that enhance learning in mathematics, reading, writing, and general language development.”

“The Art institute of Salt Lake will allow artistic students to get the training they need so they can make a living,” Davis said.

The Art Institute offers classes in culinary arts, digital filmmaking and video production, graphic design, web design and interior design. With the opening of the Draper location The Art Institute now has over 40 schools nationwide and serves over 61,000 students. For information visit www.artinstitues.edu/saltlakecity, and www.artworksforkids.org