“I think everybody in Davis County is creative and needs a creative outlet,” said Sarina V. Ehrgott, Executive Director of the Bountiful Davis Arts Center (BDAC). “Sometimes it’s not about a finished art project, it’s about the cathartic feeling, working through your artwork.” 

Ehrgott came before the North Salt Lake City Council and explained the good that the center does for the people of Davis County and requested that the city’s yearly support be increased to $5,000.

“We want to make sure that residents in our communities and in your communities have the opportunity for creativity, connection and learning, without cost being a barrier,” she said. The center serves not just the people of Bountiful, but all of south Davis County. 

The BDAC was founded in 1974, by a partnership between Bountiful and the University of Utah’s Department of Arts and Division of Continuing Education. From the beginning it has focused on work by local Utah artists. 

Ehrgott said its mission is to help build the community through art classes, free exhibits, and the support of local artists with residencies. They are currently working toward accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, which will allow the art center to apply for more grants and elevate their standing in Utah and the Western United States. 

The exhibitions at the BDAC are free to the public, and many of the programs are designed with accessibility at the top of mind. “People get exposure to cultural arts, and they wouldn’t have it any other way without this venue,” said Councilmember Heidi Smoot. 

The arts center is a non-profit, and runs on donations from various organizations, such as the Davis County School District. The City of North Salt Lake has been supporting the center for many years. Monetary contributions from the city would go toward providing free public access to art exhibitions opportunities for students to present their work in a gallery setting, programs that introduce children to art, putting on events that bring families and communities closer together, and helping to ensure that all Davis County residents have access to art.

Providing access to beautiful art is not the only good that the center is doing for the community. One example of the programs that the art center runs is“Fragments to Wholeness.” Working in conjunction with the nonprofit mental health service Grandview for Good, “Fragments for Wholeness,” allows for young adults and children who have suffered from sexual assault to create artwork out of shattered glass. 

In recent years they have seen an uptick in attendance, especially now that there is a public library across the street from the main gallery building. According to Ehrgott they used to see around 10 or 15 families at the free events, and now there are more than 30. 

The center works very hard to make sure that their events are well advertised on their official website, and on social media, Instagram and Facebook. 

No decision was made by the city council regarding how exactly the city will continue to support the center. They will continue to discuss the topic and vote at a later date. 

“At the foundation of society is art, and always has been,” said Councilmember Suzette Jackson.