Utah Arts Alliance

What Utah Arts Alliance does

Utah Arts Alliance (UAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that operates a multi-venue arts and culture portfolio spanning physical venues, public festivals, and community programs. Its venue portfolio includes Alliance Theater (a 100-seat theater with Black Box, bar, and suite in historic Trolley Square), Dreamscapes (Utah's first environmentally sustainable immersive walk-through art attraction currently located at The Gateway, built from 68,100+ lbs of upcycled materials), the SLC Arts Hub (33,000+ sq ft housing 35 artist studios, nonprofit offices, and event space), Urban Arts Gallery, the Art Castle (a 120-year-old historic chapel under renovation with a $5M Phase 1 budget), Counterpoint Studios (recording studio), and KUAA 99.9FM community radio. Major events include the Urban Arts Festival (Utah's largest free art festival at Smith's Ballpark), ILLUMINATE (a light art and creative technology festival featuring drone shows and projection mapping), and the SLC White Party fundraiser, alongside the statewide Connect monthly art meetup program operating in Salt Lake City, Ogden, St. George, and Orem.

The organization serves artists, event producers and performers, arts nonprofits, and the general public across Utah. Revenue is generated through diversified streams: individual donations and four-tier memberships ($20–$1,200 annually), Dreamscapes ticket sales ($16.99 adult / $12 child), venue rental bookings at Alliance Theater and other spaces, event fundraising, and corporate and government sponsorships (doTerra, Visit Utah, ReStore, 3form, JSX, Salt Lake County ZAP, Arts.gov). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging volunteer programs, social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter, email newsletters, and earned media. UAA reports annual reach of 250,000+ in-person attendees and 1M+ via online/televised/radio, with 2,000+ artists supported and a volunteer base contributing 5,159+ hours in 2023. There is no disclosed public API, SDK, or AI capability, and the Urban Arts Festival has adopted an explicit policy prohibiting wholly AI-generated artwork.

Name

Utah Arts Alliance

Legal name

Utah Arts Alliance

Website

https://utaharts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Utah Arts Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 in Salt Lake City that operates seven arts venues, statewide festivals, and community programs serving 250,000+ in-person attendees annually and supporting 2,000+ artists across Utah.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Arts Services

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Immersive art attractions
• Arts festival events
• Cultural venue management
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Individual donations and annual membership tiers provide recurring support. Membership tiers include Community Curators ($20/year), Illuminators ($240/year), Big Dreamers ($600/year), and Castlekeepers ($1,200/year), each with progressively more benefits including event tickets, discounts, and exclusive access.
2. Venue Rentals: Alliance Theater and other UAA venues are available for rental for private events, weddings, corporate events, performances, and productions. Multiple spaces available: Main Hall (up to 100-150 seated), Blackbox Theater, Alliance Bar, Lounge, and Suite.
3. Ticket Sales: Dreamscapes immersive art attraction sells tickets ($16.99 adults, $12 children) at The Gateway location. Group discounts and sliding scale pricing available for larger groups.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraiser events like the SLC White Party generate revenue through ticket sales while supporting the organization's broader mission and programming.
5. Sponsorship and Grants: Corporate sponsorships for festivals and events, plus potential government/cultural grants supporting arts programming across Utah.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Utah Arts Alliance operates a multi-venue arts and culture portfolio in Utah, running physical venues (Alliance Theater, Urban Arts Gallery, SLC Arts Hub, Counterpoint Studios, Art Castle, Dreamscapes, Art Garden, KUAA 99.9FM), producing public festivals (Urban Arts Festival, ILLUMINATE, SLC White Party), and administering community programs (Connect, Connect Finals, Membership, Volunteer, Art Sector Project). Core sellable experiences include Dreamscapes immersive art attraction ($16.99 adult tickets), venue rentals, festival admissions, and tiered memberships.

Product overview

Utah Arts Alliance (UAA) is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 2003 that operates a multi-venue arts and culture portfolio spanning physical venues, public festivals, and community programs. Its venue portfolio includes Alliance Theater (a 100-seat theater and multi-space event venue in historic Trolley Square with a Black Box theater and bar), the Art Castle (a historic 120-year-old chapel being converted into a community gathering space and immersive art attraction), Dreamscapes (Utah's first environmentally sustainable immersive walk-through art attraction currently at The Gateway), the SLC Arts Hub (housing 35 artist studios, nonprofit offices, and event space across 33,000+ sq. ft.), Urban Arts Gallery (a gallery in The Gateway), KUAA 99.9 FM (community radio), and Counterpoint Studios (recording studio). UAA's major festivals include the Urban Arts Festival (Utah's largest free art festival at Smith's Ballpark), ILLUMINATE (a light art and creative technology festival at Library Square featuring drone shows), and the SLC White Party (an annual 21+ fundraiser). Community programs include Connect (a monthly statewide art meetup in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and St. George), Connect Finals (annual art competition), UAA Online (virtual programming), the Art Sector Project (artist resource sharing), a volunteer program (5,159+ hours in 2023), and a membership program with four donor tiers. The organization serves over 250,000 people in person and over 1 million via online/televised/radio programming annually, directly supporting over 2,000 artists. UAA does not offer a public API, AI features, or technical product integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban Arts Festival: Utah's largest free art festival featuring cultural art, music, and performance at Smith's Ballpark, Salt Lake City
• ILLUMINATE
• Connect
• SLC White Party
• Connect Finals
• Art Sector Project

Products and services

• Alliance Theater Theater and event venue in Salt Lake City's historic Trolley Square hosting performances, plays, concerts, comedy, drag shows, dance recitals, weddings, corporate events, and private parties, with professional theatrical lighting, sound, full-quality livestreaming, and bar service. Available for rent to event producers and performers.
• Art Castle Project to acquire, preserve, and activate the historic 120-year-old 15th Ward Chapel as a community gathering space, immersive art attraction, and sculpture garden. Phase 1 includes accessibility renovations and building conversion.
• Dreamscapes Utah's first environmentally sustainable immersive walk-through art attraction featuring surreal scenes crafted from repurposed materials (over 68,100 lbs diverted from landfills). Created by 100+ artists, builders, and audio-visual experts. Tickets $16.99 adult / $12 child, with group discounts and sliding scale pricing.
• SLC Arts Hub Central hub of Utah Arts Alliance housing 35 artist studios, office space for arts nonprofits, dance studios, an events center, and event garden. Serves as the base for the Shared Resources Program partnering with over 100 organizations across visual arts, music, martial arts, film, youth arts, performing arts, dance, literary arts, and emerging arts.
• Urban Arts Gallery Gallery venue at The Gateway Mall showcasing local visual artists. Hosts the monthly Connect program (second Friday, February-November), the Skate Deck Show (15th year), and the annual Connect Finals art competition.
• KUAA 99.9 FM Community radio station operated by Utah Arts Alliance broadcasting at 99.9 FM with online streaming at kuaafm.org, reaching audiences across Utah and online.
• Counterpoint Studios / Midnight Records Recording studio facility at 2335 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, offering professional audio recording services. Midnight Records is the associated music label operating under the studio.
• Urban Arts Festival Utah's largest free art festival held annually at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City. Features an Artist Marketplace, Live Music, Live Mural Painting, Skate Deck Show at Urban Arts Gallery, Lowrider Custom Car Exhibit, and local art installations.
• ILLUMINATE: Light Art + Creative Technology Festival Free public festival celebrating art, light, and creative technology in Downtown Salt Lake City at Library Square. Features large-scale light installations, drone shows (up to 400 feet, in partnership with DroneShow.com), projection mapping on the Salt Lake City Public Library, live music and performances, the Artist Night Market, and the Light Museum.
• SLC White Party Annual exclusive 21+ fundraiser for Utah Arts Alliance held at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple, featuring themed immersive environments, live performances, music, and cocktail service. Ticketed event.
• Connect Dynamic statewide community-based art program spanning Utah, with monthly meetups in Salt Lake City (Urban Arts Gallery, second Friday), Ogden (Ogden Pearl Milk Tea, last Thursday), St. George (St. George Social Hall), and Orem. Artists bring up to two pieces for networking, professional development, critique, and voting; six artists are selected per event for the annual Connect Finals. Open to all ages and skill levels.
• Connect Finals Annual art competition and fundraiser at Urban Arts Gallery celebrating Connect program participants. Features public voting, cash prizes (public and expert judging), artwork exhibition through December and January, silent auction, opportunity drawing, and networking.
• UAA Online Online platform operated by Utah Arts Alliance providing virtual access to arts programming, televised and radio content, complementing in-person venues and events.
• Art Sector Project Program and network administered by Utah Arts Alliance providing shared resources, education, and support services for artists, facilitating access to affordable studio, event, and performance spaces through the Shared Resources Program with 100+ partner organizations.
• Membership Program Annual membership program with four tiers (Community Curators $20, Illuminators $240, Big Dreamers $600, Castlekeepers $1,200). Benefits include discounts on Dreamscapes tickets and gallery purchases, free SLC White Party tickets, member-only festival sections, and room rental discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000+ individuals served in person annually; 1M+ reached via online, televised, and radio programming
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• City WeeklyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for ILLUMINATE festival. Local media outlet providing marketing support.
• The GatewaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner for Dreamscapes 4.0. The Gateway mall provides exhibition space for Utah's first sustainable immersive art attraction.
• SPCC (Salt Lake City), Local BusinessesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial donation partners providing upcycled materials for Dreamscapes installations, diverting 68,100+ lbs from landfills.
• 100+ Partner OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Shared Resources Program, over 100 partner organizations access education and programming in visual arts, music, martial arts, film, youth arts, performing arts, dance, literary arts, and emerging arts at UAA locations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Museum of Ice Cream: Immersive, photo-driven entertainment experience with ticketed walk-through installations. Overlaps with Dreamscapes in experiential, social-shareable format and target demographic of families and tourists.
• Punchdrunk / Sleep No More: Pioneer of immersive theater with site-specific, audience-driven performances in repurposed spaces. Comparable to UAA's hybrid theater/immersive art programming, especially Alliance Theater and the Art Castle conversion concept.

Direct peers

• Color Factory: Immersive, interactive art experience company with ticketed walk-through installations in multiple cities. Closely comparable to Dreamscapes in terms of visitor experience, ticket pricing model, and family/tourist target market.
• Superblue: Operates immersive experiential art centers featuring artist commissions in ticketed, multi-room environments. Comparable to Dreamscapes' rotating, commissioned immersive model and similar audience development approach.
• Meow Wolf: Operates large-scale immersive art attractions built from unconventional materials with rotating installations, generating ticketed admission revenue plus events and retail. Most direct competitive comparison to Utah Arts Alliance's Dreamscapes business.

Others

• Artspace: National nonprofit that creates affordable artist live/work spaces and arts facilities. Directly comparable to UAA's Shared Resources Program and SLC Arts Hub model of providing infrastructure to arts organizations.
• Creative Time: Nonprofit public art organization that commissions and presents large-scale public art projects and community programming. Comparable to UAA's community-engaged programming model and partnership-driven approach.

Regional players

• Utah Museum of Contemporary Art: Salt Lake City-based contemporary art institution presenting exhibitions and community programming. Most direct regional peer for the Urban Arts Gallery's exhibition and community engagement function.
• Sundance Institute: Utah-based nonprofit supporting independent artists across film, theater, and emerging media through festivals, labs, and grants. Comparable mission to UAA and shares the regional Utah anchor for arts programming and festival production.
• Utah Shakespeare Festival: Long-established Utah-based performing arts organization producing theater and educational programming. Comparable as a Utah arts institution offering ticketed performance, education programs, and venue-based programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/utahartsallianc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-ZuDv2Qe4LdTmabkOBebzQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/utahartsalliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/utahartsalliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utah-arts-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Utah Arts Alliance