City, county and arts leaders in Utah gathered Thursday for a unique “groundbreaking” ceremony for the new Larry H. and Gail Miller Arts Center.
Instead of the typical dirt flip most groundbreaking ceremonies include, attendees at Thursday’s event got to leave their mark on the future building by painting a small portion of a paint-by-number style rendering of the arts center. Designed by local artist Brooke Smart, who will finish the painting, the artwork will eventually be hung in the venue after its anticipated opening in mid-2028.
The almost 90,000-square-foot venue, located in Daybreak at 5349 W. Lake Avenue, will include an 800-seat theater, two smaller, flexible performing spaces, a social event and rehearsal room, two arts classrooms, and a full-time art gallery.
The Miller Arts Center aims to be a “contemporary hub for arts, creativity and community connection” for the southwest area of Salt Lake Valley, according to the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation.
“We are proud to help create spaces like this where ideas can take shape, creativity can flourish and communities can gather,” said Gail Miller.
Don Stirling, executive director of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, said this project has been in the works for a “fair amount of time.”
“It brings together things that are really important for us: community, togetherness, and we love the arts. We feel like the whole valley, and in particular this part of the valley, deserves to have this type of performing arts center and the opportunity for families and friends to come and enjoy dance, theater or music,” Stirling said.
The arts are important to communities because they “inspire us and lift us,” Stirling added. The foundation hopes the venue brings joy to the community and to anyone who visits.
“We believe the arts deserve a center like this where life takes place,” he said.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said funding the performing arts venue wouldn’t have been possible without a $25 million donation from the Miller Family Foundation. The South Jordan facility is just one of several arts centers the county is rolling out throughout the valley, the mayor added.
Without the help from the Millers, the arts center would’ve taken almost a decade longer to build, Wilson said.
“This area is changing. We are seeing so much growth and development,” Wilson said. “I love that we have incredible facilities in downtown Salt Lake ... it’s also great with busy families to have arts and culture so accessible throughout the valley.”
The arts center will give residents access to more amenities that improve their quality of life, she said.
Matt Castillo, division director for Salt Lake County’s arts and culture program, said he was “beyond excited” to be at the groundbreaking.
The other arts venues in the valley are “beyond full, beyond busy,” and so this venue will help provide additional performing opportunities for arts groups, he explained.
“This is a huge day for arts and culture,” he said. “We are beyond excited to build this newest venue in the fastest growing part of the county to be able to serve even more folks and bring even more arts and culture.”