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This photo shows a patron visiting the 2023 Springville Art Festival.

Courtesy Springville Parks & Recreation

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A chalk artist creates a picture during the 2023 Springville Art Festival.

Courtesy Springville Parks & Recreation

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Springville has been known as “Art City” since the mid-1930s, but its connection to the arts goes back further than that.

In 1922, Springville High School students began showcasing famous artists through a spring salon art display. The city marked the 100th anniversary of that tradition earlier this year at the Springville Art Museum.

This weekend, Springville continues with another growing tradition: its annual art festival, returning for the fourth year.

The event runs Friday and Saturday at the Springville Civic Center and throughout the downtown area, blending the fine arts, performance arts, film, music and food all in a span of two days, according to a press release.

“We really are celebrating all forms of art. We have a really strong visual art presence in Springville, and we are just kind of expanding that and really making Springville an art city, and not just a city with an art museum,” said Leslie Gleaves, public art coordinator at the Springville Museum of Art.

Attendees will be able to participate in a variety of art-themed activities and learn different techniques in mural paintings.

A “Chalk the Walk” event will allow live art to be created at the Springville Library on Friday then be displayed Saturday. Same-day registration may still be available, pending open spots.

Dozens of artists will compete during the festival’s plein air painting and sculpting event.

“Artists of all ages and experience will come to downtown Springville and spread out over the 10-block radius of downtown and spend about five hours painting and sculpting onsite,” Gleaves explained.

The public will have an opportunity to choose the art pieces they like the best.

Gleaves said the Springville Art Festival gives the community an opportunity to discover up-and-coming artists in the community and surrounding areas while promoting an inclusive environment to those wanting to display their talents.

“This is a time where we can all come together for a weekend and kind of celebrate and invite people to come and watch some of the artists demonstrating their work, and maybe learn something new — a new technique that they haven’t had or they haven’t seen before in an artwork,” she said.

Visitors will be able to attend a variety of art events at venues around downtown Springville. The historic Rivoli Theater will open its doors for short film screenings from local filmmakers, the release stated.

Admission is free to the public with free parking for attendees and artists.

The Springville Art Festival happens Friday from 3-7 p.m. with the final Central Bank Summer Concert in Park for the season featuring The Salamanders at 8 p.m. The event continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on exact events, times and locations, visit smofa.org/annual-art-festival.

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