Emily Quinn Loughlin is a Park City-based artist who took her first art class at the Kimball Arts Center. But she’s struggled to find gallery representation in Park City. Now, she and 12 other artists are creating as artists-in-residence out of the old Zoom building on Park City Main Street, where the Park City Summit County Arts Council has set up its CREATE PC Program.
“Just the energy of being around people is really fun," Loughlin said. "I've actually been working in my living room by myself every day, and I think that's something that a lot of creative women struggle with is that oftentimes you're on your own, by yourself, and you're looking for places to find community. So, this actually really affords that to all of us who might be kind of off on our own painting or doing whatever and looking for that sense of community.”
PCSC Arts Executive Director Jocelyn Scudder says local business owner Mike Sweeney came to the organization with the opportunity to program the old Zoom restaurant as well as the Marriott rentals space at 692 Main St. The Zoom building houses the CREATE PC artist workspace and gallery program that Loughlin is a part of, and the building next door houses BRAND PC, a retail space for makers to sell their creations. Scudder says BRAND PC isn’t a new program—the arts council has run it for the past three years in a different format.
“We have had this kind of proof of concept—a fully baked idea where we do a one-week pop-up to celebrate our local creative entrepreneurs and the products that these locals make," Scudder said. "We have an incredible creative sector here, and we want to celebrate that through our programs. People believe in this concept, and now here we are with an opportunity to do this on an extended basis, not just the week pop-up but many months.”
Scudder says BRAND PC and CREATE PC will reside in the two spaces from now until at least April, seven days a week—except during Sundance. Like many Main Street businesses, Scudder says the two programs will vacate the spaces during the festival. The Zoom building has long sat empty but opens its doors during Sundance to host festival events. Park City has an ordinance about vibrant storefronts on Main Street, which says failing to maintain a “vibrant commercial storefront” will prevent property owners from applying for a special events liquor license. Scudder says artists pay a subsidized rent rate to use the space and participate in the program.
Scudder says the arts council is currently curating and accepting new vendors for the BRAND PC space, and she hopes Park City Main Street visitors make a trip to both spaces.
“Our creatives help with Park City identity, and so when people walk into these stores and they're able to see these studio spaces work in progress, they're able to make connections with artists and able to learn why they're here why they're making work," Scudder said. "I think it's going to be an incredibly unique experience, and, hopefully, our ultimate goal is that it's a great platform and an opportunity for our local artists.”
You can find out more about both programs at pcscarts.org.
