Craft Lake City® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission to educate, promote and inspire local artisans while elevating the creative culture of the Utah arts community through science, technology and art.
Craft Lake City elevates Utah’s creative community through year-round programming, initiatives and seasonal events. Since transitioning from a 100% volunteer-run organization in 2017, we’ve served over 4.6 million people and empowered 6,300 creatives.
Founded in 2009 by Angela H. Brown, Executive Editor of SLUG Magazine, Craft Lake City began as a one-day event celebrating Utah’s DIY culture. Now a nonprofit, we offer year-round programming and our flagship event, the DIY Festival, has grown to three full days, celebrating local artisans and Utah’s creative community.
Craft Lake City elevates Utah’s creative community through year-round programs, initiatives and signature events like DIY Fest, Holiday Market, LetterWest, and Makers Mart, providing opportunities for creatives of all backgrounds to connect, learn and grow.
We aim to educate, promote and inspire Utah creatives through our programs, including four major annual events: DIY Fest, Holiday Market, LetterWest, and Makers Mart. In addition to annual markets, Craft Lake City provides opportunities for people of all backgrounds through our Youth Entrepreneur Program, STEM programs, scholarship opportunities and more.
Craft Lake City aims to serve all Utahns, including creatives, artisans, foodies, local businesses, nonprofits, and community members of all backgrounds.
We value respect, kindness, collaboration, and professionalism, creating inclusive and supportive spaces where creatives can learn, grow, and connect while uplifting Utah’s diverse creative community.
Craft Lake City’s Craft Workshops partner with local venues across Utah to offer affordable, high quality classes where local artisans teach and share their skills. These workshops provide paid opportunities for makers and invite the public to learn, create and connect.
Craft Lake City also offers curated workshops for private and corporate events!
The Annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market, held the first weekend in December at Ogden’s Union Station, is northern Utah’s premier holiday event.
This festive, two-day celebration features 170+ artisans, vintage vendors, craft & commercial foodies, indie game developers, performers and youth entrepreneurs, inspiring the community to shop local.
A Conference for People Who Love Handlettering
Held in the Midvale Main Arts & Culture District, The Annual Craft Lake City LetterWest is the nation’s leading conference celebrating calligraphy and modern hand lettering. It features keynote speakers, workshops and more from top lettering artists around the globe.
The Annual Craft Lake City Makers Mart aims to elevate Utah’s creative community by showcasing local artisans in a vibrant, high-traffic market setting. Created in partnership with Millcreek Common, this curated cash-and-carry event features handcrafted goods and special events, offering a dynamic platform for local makers.
Craft Lake City’s Craft Workshops partner with local venues across Utah to offer affordable, high quality classes where local artisans teach and share their skills. These workshops provide paid opportunities for makers and invite the public to learn, create and connect.
Craft Lake City also offers curated workshops for private and corporate events!
Launched in 2022, Craft Lake City’s Youth Entrepreneur Program offers free afterschool arts and entrepreneurship education for K–12 students, preparing them to showcase their work at Kid Row during the Annual DIY Festival.
Craft Lake City’s engaging STEM programs encourage adults and youth to explore science and creativity, including a popular water bottle rocket curriculum now offered in schools for grades K–12, where students learn concepts like variables, ratios, and motion through interactive activities that can be used for family nights or field days.
Celebration of the Hand is a public art exhibition by Craft Lake City, featuring visually inspiring works displayed in 14 large outdoor frames along Broadway in downtown Salt Lake City. Open 24/7 and free to the public, the exhibit highlights creativity, craftsmanship, and the expressive power of the human hand.
Local Voices is a seasonal public art installation by Craft Lake City that showcases the work of Utah-based organizations through large-scale outdoor displays in downtown Salt Lake City. Installed in 14 sidewalk-facing frames along Broadway, it highlights community stories and ideas in visually engaging formats and is free and open to the public 24/7.
The Craft Lake City Business Academy, offered each fall in partnership with Celtic Bank, is a series of professional development workshops designed to educate, inspire, and empower local makers as they grow their creative businesses.
Kid Row is Craft Lake City’s Saturday-only exhibition space for youth makers ages 18 and under. It offers young artisans the chance to sell, promote, and showcase their work while learning the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Originally part of the Annual DIY Festival, Kid Row will expand to the Annual Holiday Market in 2025.
Since 2016, this program has built an inclusive creative community by supporting refugees and underrepresented Utahns with opportunities to thrive. Guided by four goals—equal opportunity, business development, DIY culture, and digital access—it served nearly 900 participants in 2024.
Whether you’re looking for a year-round or seasonal role, interested in volunteering your time and talents or able to donate in support of our work, there are many ways to help us continue empowering creativity in our community!
If you’re passionate about community, creativity and DIY culture, explore our year-round and seasonal opportunities below!
Originally a 100% volunteer-run organization, we still thrives thanks to dedicated volunteers. Get involved and apply today!
Help us continue our mission to educate, promote and inspire local artisans and elevate the Utah arts community by donating today!
Elevate Utah’s creative culture and community by supporting our mission of educating, promoting and inspiring local artisans. Partner with us today!
