A new creative era rises at Salt Lake City’s historic Art Castle

For 125 years, the corner of 100 South and 900 West has been graced by a Victorian Gothic revival structure. It’s served many purposes over the years, including as a church and as a recording studio. Now, it’s getting a new lease on life. Photo by Ben Trentelman.

On Salt Lake City’s Westside, a 125-year-old landmark is entering a new chapter. The Art Castle, formerly the historic 15th Ward Chapel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has long stood as a symbol of the neighborhood’s layered history. Built in 1900, the Victorian Gothic revival structure has served as a chapel, a playhouse, and — most famously — a world-renowned recording studio used by artists such as Dolly Parton, Elton John, BB King, and Eminem. Now, thanks to the Utah Arts Alliance (UAA), the building is being transformed into a center for creativity, community, and cultural preservation.

Closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and put up for sale after the Warner Bros.–owned studio shut its doors in 2020, the building’s fate was uncertain. Many worried that one of the city’s most architecturally striking historic sites could face demolition. The Utah Arts Alliance stepped in, purchasing it in 2021.

The grounds of the Art Castle are adorned with various works of art, all with unique designs and unique meanings. The combination of history and innovation sits on display for all to see. Photo by Ben Trentelman.

“We knew we had to save it,” says Liliana Lopez, Marketing Manager for UAA. “It’s one of the most unique and stunning buildings in Salt Lake City. Our goal has always been to preserve this incredible landmark while reimagining it as a cultural hub.”

UAA’s vision for the Art Castle goes beyond preservation. The organization aims to create a permanent multidisciplinary arts center where artists and community members can collaborate, experiment, and connect. Lopez describes the effort as blending history with innovation: “It’s a living symbol of transformation, preserving the past while building the future of art in Salt Lake City.”

Before public programming can fully launch, the building must undergo major ADA and accessibility renovations. Fundraising efforts are currently focused on installing an elevator, adding accessible restrooms, and making structural improvements to ensure the space is welcoming to all.

“We’re in an exciting transitional phase,” Lopez says. “Once these renovations are complete, we’ll begin expanding programming and opening more of the building to the public.”

Built in 1900, the Art Castle was first used as a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The chapel housed the 15th Ward. Photo by Ben Trentelman.

Plans for the Art Castle include immersive art installations, concerts, workshops, community gatherings, and a sculpture garden. The space will also house a new immersive art experience inspired by Dreamscapes, UAA’s award-winning interactive art attraction, as well as the organization’s community radio station KUAA 99.9 FM.

“The Art Castle is both a creative incubator and a public gathering place,” Lopez says. “It will offer ways for people to experience art in unexpected, meaningful ways right in their neighborhood.”

Even in its transitional phase, the building is already drawing community involvement. UAA offers open houses, guided tours, and volunteer opportunities, and encourages residents to support the project as donors, sponsors, or participants in upcoming events.

“Art thrives when everyone participates,” Lopez emphasizes. “This building belongs to the community.”

Utah Arts Alliance aims to create a permanent multidisciplinary arts center where artists and community members can collaborate, experiment, and connect. Photo by Ben Trentelman.

The Art Castle arrives at a moment of growing artistic activity on the Westside. Nearby organizations like Sugar Space and developments such as the ARTWest Townhomes reflect a rising creative momentum in the area. Lopez sees the Art Castle as an anchor institution in an emerging cultural district.

“The Westside is becoming a vibrant new cultural hub,” she says. “The Art Castle can help bring visibility, collaboration, and investment to the neighborhood’s creative community.”

One of UAA’s core goals is ensuring that the Westside’s existing residents are not displaced as interest in the area grows. Instead, the organization hopes to strengthen the neighborhood’s creative economy while keeping community voices at the center.

“We want Westside residents to shape their own community through art,” Lopez says. “Access to creative opportunities shouldn’t depend on income or geography. The Westside is rich with culture and creativity, and the Art Castle helps support and celebrate that.”

The transformation into the Art Castle came with a refreshed and revamped exterior, including a fresh coat of funky-colored paint. Work is still ongoing inside the building, as UAA works to make the building more structurally sound and more accessible. Photo by Ben Trentelman.

In the next three to five years, UAA envisions the Art Castle as a fully renovated arts campus, complete with immersive galleries, flexible studios, classrooms, performance spaces, and a sculpture garden. It will host year-round programming, exhibitions, and artist residencies, with KUAA broadcasting from within its walls.

Lopez believes the project will become a cornerstone of Salt Lake City’s creative ecosystem and a model for how historic preservation and contemporary art can strengthen communities.

“For a building that has already lived so many lives,” she says, “its next chapter may be its most transformative yet.”