Salt Lake City has been named a "Top 25 Arts Destination" in the June 2011 edition of AmericanStyle magazine. For the sixth year in a row, readers of the national arts lifestyle magazine have recognized Salt Lake City as one of the top travel destinations for the arts among mid-size cities.
Salt Lake City comes in at 16 on the list, following other cities like St. Petersburg, Fla., Savannah, Ga., New Orleans, La., Charleston, S.C., Scottsdale, Ariz., and others.
The top big cities on the list are New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Boston.
In the small cities category, Asheville, N.C., won by a small margin over Santa Fe. Third place went to Gloucester, Mass.
A complete list of cities named can be found at www.americanstyle.com.
For many travelers, Salt Lake City is home of the "greatest snow on earth," but the city is also getting recognition for its rich cultural climate. "The arts community in Salt Lake is a strong contributor to the local quality of life and is an attraction for arts enthusiasts at any time of year," said city spokesman Art Raymond.
Arts experiences available to both locals and visitors include everything from music and dance to theater and opera, to arts festivals and crafts fairs, to film and literature and every type of expression in the visual arts.
Arts organizations such as the Utah Symphony/Opera, Ballet West, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and others are nationally recognized for excellence. The city has first-class museums such as the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the soon-to-have-a-new-home Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Church History. Arts facilities include Abravanel Hall, the Capitol Theatre and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The city has a strong public art program, as well, that brings visual arts and sculpture to a wide variety of venues.
There is a thriving visual, literary and performing arts scene, and media arts events include those hosted by the Sundance Institute, the SLC Film Center and the Salt Lake Film Society.
For more information on the arts in Salt Lake City, visit www.slcgov.com/arts or www.nowplayingutah.com.
Utah boasts the oldest Arts Council in the nation and is known for support of the arts statewide. A look at arts throughout the state can be found at www.utah.com/arts.
Email: carma@desnews.com