History — 1960s

1961

James Lewis Haseltine is hired as the first paid and
professionally trained director of the Salt Lake Art Center,
furthering the goals and rigor of the organization. SLAC
increases number of original curated exhibitions and original
exhibition catalogues begin, for the first time.

1962

The Rental Sales Gallery program begins, allowing the
community to rent and purchase art work. The program, a
common practice among art museums of the era, serves as
a way to show that art acquisition is accessible to would-be
collectors.

1963

Partnering with public television through the program, ”The
Way of Art,” SLAC finds a wider audience to explore artistic
concepts and exhibition topics.

1964

Recognizing the need for a more specialized and larger arts
space, the Center begins to explore plans for a new building .

1965

The 100 Years of Utah Painting exhibition opens with the
landmark catalog of the same name. Curated by James L.
Haseltine, the show is lauded as ”the first time a full-scale
survey [has been organized] of Utah painting from the earliest
pioneer days to the recent past.”

1966

First Benefit Art Auction, a tradition that continues today,
begins, organized by Women’s Alliance of the Salt Lake Art
Center.

1967

Center unveils a scale model of the proposed new building
design on the site of the Finch Lane Gallery Space. Not
actualized, these efforts foreshadow the new building to
come.

1968

Joseph P. Stuart is named executive director and continues
work to expand the existing building or replace it with a new
one.

1969

First Annual ”Discovery Arts Festival,” a predecessor to the
Utah Arts Festival is held in the SLAC Courtyard, sponsored
by Salt Lake Art Center Guild. Twilight Concert Series is also
later launched in the SLAC Courtyard.