Despite the disruptions of this pandemic year, the Park City/Summit County Arts Council is returning with its Brand P.C. Holiday Pop-Up Shop, featuring products from local artists.
The Executive Director of the Arts Council, Jocelyn Scudder, said this is the fifth year they have operated the Pop-Up store.
“Really what it is, it’s a pop-up store and editorial spotlight that tells the story of our local creative entrepreneurs, and also gives a platform for them to sell their products.”
The store is located, she said, at 544 Main St. in Park City and will be open until Dec. 31, offering some amazing gifts.
“You’re gonna find chocolate from Rachel Chocolate. You’re gonna find jewelry. You’re gonna find apparel, books and cards and prints.”
It’s operating, of course, under Covid guidelines. Masks are required, sanitizers are on hand, and the number of patrons is capped at 10 people. Scudder said you can also make shopping appointments, for up to five people, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 6 and 8 p.m.
She said they’re seeing a lot of support for the shop, and she hopes it encourages locals to come to Main Street.
Meanwhile, Scudder also gave a presentation to the Park City Council on December 17th on the economic impacts of the arts. The numbers are impressive, although based on data from 2019.
“There are about 1,700 people employed in Summit County that are creatives. So they’re the graphic designers, the fine artists, but then we’re seeing a huge spike in the creative industry. And this industry, basically the difference is, occupations of the people, they’re the creatives that, you can be a graphic designer at a non-creative job like at Deer Valley, let’s say. And then if you look at the industry, that’s the Kimball Art Center, that’s the fine-art galleries. And the industry employs about 4,200 people in Summit County. And so, that could be an accountant working at a gallery.”
She said the impacts are huge.
“These numbers have spiked since—what we’re comparing to is, since 2010, we’re seeing a 40-50 percent increase in those jobs and in that industry. Since 2010, we’re seeing just about $500 million in sales revenue generated by the industry, which is huge economically, right? It’s a huge part of our economic landscape here in Park City and Summit County.”
Scudder added that the members of the council are passionate supporters of the city’s Arts and Culture District, and feel it will help to express Park City’s local identity.
