Salt Lake mural push

South Salt Lake’s Mural Fest is returning on May 9 with 10 new murals, and organizers are pitching it as a neighborhood event as much as an art walk. (ksl.com) The festival runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, with headquarters at 151 West Commonwealth Avenue in South Salt Lake’s Creative Industries Zone. The South Salt Lake Arts Council says the event is free and open to the public. (sslarts.org) When this year’s works are unveiled, South Salt Lake will have 89 murals in all, according to KSL. The arts council says the city already has the largest collection of street art in Utah. (ksl.com) (sslarts.org) Organizers are tying the murals to street performers, food trucks and nearby businesses instead of treating the paintings as isolated destinations. Visit Salt Lake’s event listing says the 2026 festival is built around an “open-air exhibit” in the district and encourages people to move through the area by train, bike or on foot. (ksl.com) (visitsaltlake.com) That approach fits how South Salt Lake describes its arts strategy more broadly. The city says its arts and culture work is meant to create accessible events and strengthen local identity in a place known for its industrial buildings and growing creative sector. (sslc.gov) Mural Fest has been expanding year to year. In 2025, the festival unveiled 13 new murals, and in 2024 organizers promoted 14 new murals tied in part to the Utah Transit Authority S-Line corridor and Parley’s Trail. (abc4.com) (x96.com) The 2026 artist roster has already been selected, and the arts council says residents will be able to meet artists in person at the May 9 event. A separate application page says 10 buildings in South Salt Lake were chosen to receive this year’s commissions through a jury process run by the South Salt Lake Arts Board and invited arts administrators. (themuralfest.com) (form.jotform.com) The city is also linking Mural Fest to other civic programming. South Salt Lake’s official website says a 2026 health and wellness event will include the unveiling of a youth-led mural as part of Mural Fest. (sslc.gov) By May 9, the newest murals will add another layer to a district the city and arts council are trying to market as a place to spend an afternoon, not just a place to stop for a photo. (ksl.com) (sslarts.org)