Construction is underway on the Larry H. & Gail Miller Arts Center, a new regional venue set to expand arts access in Salt Lake County’s southwest valley. A March 19 groundbreaking in Downtown Daybreak brought together civic leaders, arts advocates, and community members to mark the start of the project, which is expected to open in 2028.

Funded through a combination of county support and a $25 million gift from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation—part of a $90 million project that also includes a land donation from the Larry H. Miller Real Estate Company—the approximately 89,000-square-foot facility will be operated by Salt Lake County Arts & Culture. Plans include an 800-seat proscenium theater, a size that fills a longstanding gap in the county’s arts infrastructure, along with a 99-seat flexible studio space, rehearsal areas, a visual art gallery, and classrooms—making it the first venue in the county’s portfolio to integrate dedicated visual arts spaces alongside its performing arts programming.

At the ceremony, organizers leaned into the creative ethos of the project, trading ceremonial shovels for paintbrushes in a paint-by-numbers activity that offered a symbolic preview of the center’s future.

Leaders emphasized the project’s role in meeting the needs of a rapidly growing region. Gail Miller noted the center’s potential to foster creativity and connection across the community. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson highlighted the venue as a space for both established and emerging artists, while South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey pointed to the collaboration between public and philanthropic partners as key to bringing the project to fruition.

The center will also incorporate four site-specific public art commissions through the county’s Percent for Art program, embedding visual art into the building from the outset.

Once completed, the center is expected to host performances, exhibitions, classes, and community events, positioning the southwest valley as an increasingly important destination for arts and culture in the region.

15 Bytes

UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.