Life in Utah is good. Life in Park City and along the Wasatch Back is just pure art. Evidence? The Sundance Film Festival.
Each January, Utah plays host to some of the most artistic souls on earth. If you had a Park City home or a Sundance home, you’d already be in the middle of the action! The Sundance Film Festival touts original artists to adventurous audiences. Imagine, if you will, a pristine winter mountain setting brought to life by:
- dramatic and documentary films
- shorts films
- new Frontier films
- installations
- performances
- panel discussions
- dynamic music events
Robert Redford brought this gem to Utah
Movie star Robert Redford championed the inception of the Sundance Institute in Utah. Redford sought a magical place to refine the art of storytelling. In 1981 the Sundance Institute was born. The non-profit organization’s stated mission is to foster new voices in American storytelling. It was established to curate stories for the stage and screen.
The institute employs a staff of 180 employees who work year-round. They team up to offer:
- 25 residential labs
- more than $3 million in grants
- mentorship for more than 900 artists annually
In January (smack in the middle of ski season), the institute’s Sundance Film Festival launches groundbreaking work by creative minds that take storytelling to a whole new level.
Throughout the year, it hosts programs designed to “amplify original voices, inspire new ideas, and rally our community in support of independent storytelling,” according to an About Us article published online at sundance.org.
Financial impact of festival on Utah is massive
I love what the Sundance Film Festival contributes to the arts, but the financial impact on Utah’s economy is also a beautiful thing. A 2020 economic impact statement (the most recent available in 2023) outlines the financial boost the annual event gives to the state.
“At least 116,800 people attended the Sundance Film Festival between January 23 and February 2, 2020, resulting in 215,873 tickets redeemed. Approximately 44,000 of the attendees were visitors from out of state. These out-of-state visitors spent an estimated $135 million in Utah during the festival,” according to the report.
In 2020 the Sundance Institute also contributed via planning and producing the festival that year. Following are the numbers outlines the following mind-boggling numbers:
- $167.5 million in Utah’s gross domestic product was consumed in 2020
- 2,730 Utah residents were employed by Sundance Institute
- $88 million were paid in Utah wages
- $17.8 million was gained in state and local tax revenue
If you want to live in the heart of the culturally iconic community that helps make this hit program possible, call me today at 801-673-3333. I would love to help you find a Park City home that’s just right for you.
