Arts Commission Spotlight

In December 2025 the Arts Commission celebrated its 10th anniversary. The 2015 Arts Master Plan outlines a vision for placing public art in Ivins City. Our original focus has been to develop an Arts Corridor along Center Street. There are currently 8 art-wrapped utility boxes along Center Street. One of the 2025 Art on Loan sculptures, “Walk Lightly” created by Cheryl Collins & Trent Ripplinger is located near the roundabout at Snow Canyon Parkway and Snow Canyon Dr. Also in 2025, Arts Commission collaborated with Ivins Inspired to secure funding to purchase the Lyman Whittaker Wind Sculptures located on Highway 91 and Kwavasa Drive.

All Arts Commission projects are funded through individual donations, grants, and the Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP tax). Washington County’s RAP Tax is a small, voter-approved sales tax (0.1% or 1 cent per $10) on non-grocery purchases, used to fund local parks, trails, arts, and cultural programs. No general funds are spent on any public art projects.

After two applications, the City and Arts Commission were disappointed to learn that the efforts to secure an Our Town federal grant to further develop an Arts Corridor were not successful. So now, moving forward, how do we make the widest impact with limited funds?

The community response to the It’s a Wrap! program has been very favorable. Two HOA’s located within the Arts Corridor sponsored art-wrapped boxes and received partial support from RAP funds. All the artwork featured on the boxes came from local artists.  Last Fall, the Commission went back to our Master Plan to see how we could better serve the entire community.  Today I am excited to unveil the next phase.

Ivins Community Arts Districts

The interactive map below shows the boundaries for each of the six Arts Districts:

·         Art Village District

·         Unity District

·         Heritage District

·         Central District

·         Tuacahn District

·         Resort District

www.google.com

Ivins Community Arts Districts - Google My Maps

Includes wrapped boxes, sculptures

It is our hope that other community organizations, schools, churches, and HOAs will identify with their Arts District.  We encourage community members to help sponsor art projects. For example, Unity Park is in the Unity District; that is a center for recreation activities. Perhaps an organization would like to help sponsor a mural for the building or have the skirt at the skate park painted. The Arts Commission will work with groups to help facilitate a project and offer partial funding as funds are available.

Later this spring we will be unveiling the “Safety in Art: Enhancing Safety and Connecting Generations,” a collaborative public art and pedestrian safety project at the existing roundabout and four crosswalks located at Center Street and Red Mountain Boulevard/N 200E. This project came to us from Ivins Inspired, an Ivins based 501(c)3 organization. They have been working for over a year collaborating with the Arts Commission, Ivins City, and the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department.

An Arts District idea was recently suggested to develop an art walk honoring those who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of our beautiful city. This seems to be a natural fit for the Heritage District. The Arts Commission appreciates these suggestions and welcomes the community support needed to sponsor the project and spearhead fundraising.  

If you are interested in pursuing a public art project, please contact the Ivins City Arts Commission at IvinsArtsCommission@IvinsUtah.gov. As a reminder: all public artwork displayed in Ivins must be approved by the Arts Commission and the Ivins City Council.

The Arts Commission also sponsors the Art on Loan program. Each year new artworks are displayed throughout the city from May to April. Entry applications for 2026 Art on Loan program are open now through February 27,2026. For application and further details, check the Arts Commission website.

2026 marks the 250^th anniversary of the United States. Heritage Days will be a wonderful opportunity to honor our country and community. Each year the Arts Commission sponsors an art exhibition in the council chambers which features artwork from students and adults who live in Ivins. Plan ahead, we would love to display your artwork next September!

Michele Adams, Chair

Ivins City Arts Commission