In 1976, philanthropist Bill Kimball wanted to support a local arts festival that started in 1969. So, he purchased the old Eley Garage that was located on the corner of Heber Avenue and Main Street to build what became the Kimball Art Center. Although the KAC, as locals call it, has since moved from that location to its current one at 1251 Kearns Blvd., its mission has remained the same, said Communications Director Alex Regenold.  “We believe that art is one of the deepest forms of communication,” she said. “We facilitate connection through art.”  On Friday during Live PC Give PC, Park City’s day of giving to local nonprofits, the Kimball Art Center will host a birthday bash to celebrate 50 years of art, art education and culture. The free event will run from 4-6 p.m. and include cake and a handful of creative activities, Regenold said. “Historically we’ve always done a pottery Olympic Games, and it’s been a way for people to get involved with our ceramic studio and get their hands dirty,” she said. “This year it’s going to be more accessible.” The party is an open house, and people are invited to drop in at any time, Regenold said. “We’ll have some cake, a birthday cap station and clay challenges,” she said. “No pottery experience is required. Some of the activities are just pure fun, but we’ll have instructors on site to walk people through the more complicated things.” One fun activity is a community clay project, Regenold said. “So many people have described the Kimball as home, so we are going to start with a house,” she said. “People will have a chance to decorate the house by adding a sculpture garden or an animal on the roof. Everybody can design something that represents what Kimball means to them and put it in or on the house.”  Opening the ceramic studio was always on the table, said Development Director Lacey Cole-Rae. “When we were thinking about a fun way to bring in our community to celebrate, this felt organic, fun and approachable,” she said. “It is a great way to show people that we show art, make art and how fun it is to do those things together.” Another activity will be a scavenger hunt that showcases bits of the Kimball Art Center’s 50 year history, Cole-Rae said. The Kimball Art Center’s timeline actually started in 1969 when a group of Park City launched an open-air arts festival on historic Main Street. The idea was to attract visitors to the town through a cultural event during the summer. Bill Kimball’s vision came to fruition when the Kimball Art Center officially opened its doors in 1976. Since then, the nonprofit has served the community with exhibits, art classes, art talks and other events. In 2016, the Kimball Art Center made its first of two moves to 1401 Kearns Blvd. in Bonanza Park. Then in 2021, the art center moved again to its current location, 1251 Kearns Blvd. The Kimball Art Center will celebrate its 50th birthday with a bash on Friday that will include free pottery sessions, cake and a scavenger hunt. The free, drop-in event runs from 4-6 p.m. during Live PC Give PC. RSVPs aren’t required, but encouraged. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Kimball Art Center During the summer of 2025, the Kimball Art Center Executive Director Aldy Milliken announced plans to construct a new building on the land adjacent to the PEAK Center, which is the former Skullcandy building, at Kimball Junction. “I’ve done a lot of research digging into our history, and it’s been beautiful to see the evolutions of Kimball over the years,” she said. “It’s also nice to see some things have stayed the same in what we provide to the community, and I think that’s relevant now when we think about the future of the Kimball Art Center, our future move to Kimball Junction and what our next 50 years will look like. We’re the city’s oldest cultural nonprofit, and we invite folks to experience Kimball. We’re proud on our 50th birthday to serve such a deep and wide swath of our community and visitors.” Cole-Rae looks forward to the Kimball Art Center’s participation in Live PC Give PC, her favorite day of the year.  “You are talking to a giant Live PC Give PC fan,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve worked in the nonprofit space for well over a decade, and it’s wonderful as a community member to see people out there raising critical funds for our community’s nonprofits. Being at the Kimball Art Center, it’s a day we are truly raising funds to invest in our exhibitions program, our education program so we can do the many community events we do.” Kimball Art Center’s 50th Birthday Bash When: 4-6 p.m. Friday Where: Kimball Art Center 1251 Kearns Blvd. Cost: Free but RSVPs are encouraged RSVP: tinyurl.com/2mya4rfx Web: kimballartcenter.org The post Kimball Art Center celebrates 50 years with a birthday bash appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less