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SALT LAKE CITY -- The citywide EVE three-day celebration will take on a lot more culture Wednesday night. Organizers are excited this year's celebration is a party and more. One way to think about it is a wintertime arts festival.
At the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, for example, there are a number of music, theatrical, film dance and comedy performances to let people know how much talent is in Utah.
EVE Artistic Director Jeffrey Berke said, "There are groups here at EVE that represent a level of talent and a level of excellence artistically that are as good as any groups in the world."
The events are part of the EVE ZAP Arts Festival at Rose Wagner. The performances are all part of the $15 wristband that allows admission to all the EVE events around town.
People who used to come down for "First Night" welcome the variety of activities. Kami Escamilla is celebrating EVE and says, "Yeah, a lot of artsy stuff. It doesn't happen around here often enough."
The ZAP Performing Arts Festival is named that because many of the participants get funding from ZAP: the Zoo, Arts and Parks Fund. ZAP is one-tenth of 1 percent of the sales tax in Salt Lake County. EVE received $58,000 for this event, but most of EVE is funded by sponsorships and admission.
This is a way of letting people know how the arts are part of the Capitol city's future. Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance Jason Mathis said, "Over the next two years, downtown is going to change dramatically, and we're going to be looking for even more ways for people to come and enjoy their downtown and enjoy their urban experience."
The snow has affected a lot of people, but organizers are still hoping people will come downtown to celebrate Wednesday and Thursday.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
