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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Did you know some of the best known architectural wonders of our world have come out of competitions … like the Eiffel Tower, Gateway Arch and Sydney Opera House. Another architectural competition is bringing world-class talent to Utah to design the expansion of the Kimball Art Center in Park City.
Bjarke Ingels is the globally recognized architect who won. He has an impressive background, designing award-winning buildings from China to Germany, and he's under 40! He did research before submitting his design and concluded that the addition to Kimball Art Center should reflect Park City's mining history since miners used the Center as a stable. Later, it became a garage before it became a community art center.
In fact, Park City mayor Dana Williams remembers his family's car being serviced at the garage. Now, he is one of Kimball Art Center's 500 plus volunteers. He also serves coffee in the garage gallery's café, which executive director Robin Marrouche brought in to support and create more visitors.
Robin has a business background and believes every square foot has the potential for revenue and community service, even the 25 square feet that make the smallest art supply store you've ever seen. It used to be a closet, but hey … Thomas Kinkade once bought supplies here.
At any time, Kimball Art Center hosts three art exhibits, and public admission is free. Yearly, the Center serves 80,000 people and holds 350 art classes. They welcome kids, and the center's youngest student is a one-and-a-half-year-old fingerpainter.
Another way Kimball Art Center brings people to Park City is the Kimball Arts Festival, which starts in just a couple weeks, from August 3 to August 5. The festival's economic impact is huge, bringing over 18 million dollars into Park City each year. Last year's festival brought over 55,000 visitors to Park City. Volunteers make this impact possible and show why Utah is the No. 1 state for volunteerism. Visit Kimball Art Center, beat the heat and visit the festival, keeping your dollars working right here in Utah.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Kimball Art Center 638 Park Avenue Park City, UT 84060 435-649-8882 www.kimballartcenter.org
