A Case for Art: Why Arts Matter More in a Fast-Growing Community
Growth brings opportunity — but it also brings a question every fast-growing community eventually has to answer: what do we want to hold onto?
Wasatch County is changing fast. If you’ve lived here for more than a few years, you’ve felt it — new developments where there weren’t any, familiar landscapes shifting, the quiet sense that the place you love is becoming something different. Growth brings opportunity, but it also brings a question every fast-growing community eventually has to answer: what do we want to hold onto?
The answer, more often than not, is found in the arts. Culture is how communities define themselves — through the festivals they show up for, the murals that line their main streets, the school plays that fill a gymnasium with neighbors who don’t otherwise see each other. These aren’t just nice things to have. They are the connective tissue of community life, and research consistently shows that places with strong arts investment are more socially cohesive, more economically resilient, and better equipped to absorb change without losing their identity.
Utah already knows this. We’re one of the most arts-engaged states in the country — and that’s worth protecting, especially here in the Wasatch Back, where growth is happening faster than almost anywhere in the state. The arts don’t slow growth down. But they give a community the tools to grow on its own terms. Here’s what the evidence shows.
The Economic Case
The arts are not a cultural amenity — they’re an economic engine. In Utah alone, nonprofit arts and culture organizations spend an estimated $335.6 million annually, supporting 8,256 jobs and generating $72.2 million in government revenue at the local, state, and federal level (Americans for the Arts, AEP6). Attendees at Utah arts events spend an average of $39.41 per person beyond the cost of admission — dollars that flow directly into restaurants, shops, and local businesses. And Utah was among the top five states nationally for post-pandemic arts employment recovery, a sign that our creative sector is not just surviving but growing.
| UTAH BY THE NUMBERS ▶ $335.6 million in annual economic activity from Utah’s nonprofit arts sector (Americans for the Arts AEP6) ▶ 8,256 jobs supported by arts and culture in Utah ▶ 73% of Utah adults create or perform art — vs. 52% nationally (NEA Survey of Public Participation in the Arts) ▶ 300,000+ Utah elementary students served by the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program in 400 schools statewide |
The Social and Civic Case
Utah’s arts participation numbers tell a remarkable civic story. According to the NEA’s Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, 62% of Utah adults attended a live performing arts event — compared to 38% nationally — and 73% created or performed some type of art, versus just 52% nationally. These aren’t just feel-good statistics. Research consistently shows that communities with high rates of arts participation report stronger civic trust, lower social isolation, and a more resilient sense of shared identity. Public art, community festivals, and local theaters create the kinds of “third places” — outside of home and work — where neighbors actually meet each other. In an era of rising loneliness and declining trust, that matters.
The Education Case
Utah has made a meaningful state-level commitment to arts education through the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTS Arts), which places trained arts integration specialists in over 400 elementary schools across 36 districts — reaching more than 300,000 students statewide. Research on the program shows that students in BTS Arts schools achieve higher math and reading scores the longer the program is in place, and show better attendance than peers in schools without it. This is consistent with national findings: students with strong arts education develop the creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative skills that the modern economy demands. Arts education isn’t an add-on — it’s one of the most effective tools we have for building well-rounded, capable students.
The Health Case
The World Health Organization’s landmark 2019 review of over 900 studies found strong evidence that arts engagement reduces anxiety and depression, supports recovery from illness, and improves quality of life for people with chronic conditions. For older adults, regular arts participation is linked to reduced cognitive decline and lower rates of loneliness. In Utah, where mental health resources are stretched thin in many rural and suburban communities, arts programming isn’t a luxury — it’s a form of accessible, community-based care that reaches people where they already are.
What This Means for Wasatch County
Wasatch County doesn’t have the luxury of assuming its cultural identity will take care of itself. Fast growth means new residents who don’t yet share a sense of place, new pressures on schools and public spaces, and a constant pull toward development over community. The arts are one of the most powerful tools a growing community has to counter that pull — to say: this is who we are, this is what we value, and this is the kind of place we intend to remain.
That’s why advocacy matters. Every time a local arts program loses funding, every time a school cuts its arts curriculum, every time a venue closes its doors, a community loses something that is genuinely hard to replace — especially in the middle of rapid change. We hope you’ll join us in making the case, and in celebrating the creative life of this remarkable place we call home.
Sources: Americans for the Arts Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) Utah Data; NEA Survey of Public Participation in the Arts; Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program / Utah State Board of Education; World Health Organization ‘What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?’ (2019).