Kimball Art Festival Future Contract

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Consultation has concluded

History of the Park City Kimball Art Festival

In 1969, a small group of local artists joined together to start a local art festival. In 1976, Bill Kimball purchased a dilapidated building on the corner of Park and Heber Avenues and started an art center, calling it the Kimball Art Center. The Park City Kimball Art Festival has been a primary fundraiser for the Art Center and is held annually on Main Street. Proceeds from the event provide access to the arts, free exhibitions, and youth programs for the local community throughout the year.

Currently

The City Service Agreement between the City and Kimball Art Center expired on August 15, 2022. A new contract, which will outline terms over a given number of years, will be considered by the City Council. Terms may include length of the contract, dates, days and hours, fees and costs, insurance requirements, and operations of the event.

Feedback

City Council seeks your feedback. There are multiple ways to provide input:

  • Filling out a survey in English or Spanish
  • Join us for an Open House – Tuesday, September 13: 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. – City Hall, Council Chambers
  • Invite us to your trade association or neighborhood meeting
  • Written comment to jenny.diersen@parkcity.org
  • Written comment to council_mail@parkcity.org
  • Public comment at Council meeting (date TBD)

Timeline

  • Survey open: September 2-October 3
  • Analyze survey results and feedback: October 3-6
  • (Tentative) City Council Work Session to Discuss Kimball Art Festival survey results: October 27
  • Additional meetings with public input to be scheduled: TBD

Survey Links

History of the Park City Kimball Art Festival

In 1969, a small group of local artists joined together to start a local art festival. In 1976, Bill Kimball purchased a dilapidated building on the corner of Park and Heber Avenues and started an art center, calling it the Kimball Art Center. The Park City Kimball Art Festival has been a primary fundraiser for the Art Center and is held annually on Main Street. Proceeds from the event provide access to the arts, free exhibitions, and youth programs for the local community throughout the year.

Currently

The City Service Agreement between the City and Kimball Art Center expired on August 15, 2022. A new contract, which will outline terms over a given number of years, will be considered by the City Council. Terms may include length of the contract, dates, days and hours, fees and costs, insurance requirements, and operations of the event.

Feedback

City Council seeks your feedback. There are multiple ways to provide input:

  • Filling out a survey in English or Spanish
  • Join us for an Open House – Tuesday, September 13: 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. – City Hall, Council Chambers
  • Invite us to your trade association or neighborhood meeting
  • Written comment to jenny.diersen@parkcity.org
  • Written comment to council_mail@parkcity.org
  • Public comment at Council meeting (date TBD)

Timeline

  • Survey open: September 2-October 3
  • Analyze survey results and feedback: October 3-6
  • (Tentative) City Council Work Session to Discuss Kimball Art Festival survey results: October 27
  • Additional meetings with public input to be scheduled: TBD

Survey Links

Consultation has concluded
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    We are not in favor of moving forward with the Kimball Arts Festival. We have worked long and hard to maintain our gallery on Main Street for many years.

    montgomerylee@xmission.com asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your feedback. If you have questions/additional comment, please contact jenny.diersen@parkcity.org before October 3.

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    The Kimball Art Festival should continue but be moved from Main Street to the location of the proposed arts district. My view is that it is and was a huge failure for our community when the Kimball and the City could not find a way to reach an agreement on a new iconic addition to the original auto dealership building that was the venerated home to the Kimball Art Center. Around the planet, art venues of all types (performing and 2-D and 3-D) have become iconic structures that people come from all over the planet to see and utilize. That could have been the Kimball in its original location but for lack of vision and adherence to rules that should apply to every other structure on historic Main Street. What did we get because of this lack of vision? More mundane condos that run to the millions. An L.L Bean outlet. And a store for those who love all things Norwegian. A rather unremarkable set of outcomes for what otherwise is a remarkable and historic Main Street. As a former Chair of the Kimball I am frankly appalled by the City's lack of vision and rigidity in this particular instance. Now the die is cast and the challenges remain for the Kimball to continue to be relevant as a repository for art, art appreciation and arts education. It is shameful! Since I believe that the six acres should be used to build a community park because of its unparalleled central location with breathtaking 180 degree views of the Wasatch, I do not know where the new arts district might be built. Perhaps using half of the parking lot located in Richardson Flats would be a good site, provide views and have ample parking. Along with the failure to construct heated walks up and down both sides of Main Street, and the struggle to find space for more bike and hike paths in town, our planning is appearing to more challenged than ever. Park City can and should do better. It is evident that the City has a vision for private development and construction but little evident thoughtfulness for public amenities-parks, bike paths, etc.

    Brian T. Schiller asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Brian. If you haven't already done so, we encourage you to take the survey linked on this page. Or, if you have questions/additional comment, please contact jenny.diersen@parkcity.org before October 3.