Image, by Kamilla Earlywine, courtesy Granary Arts.
After more than a decade as a hub for contemporary art in central Utah, Granary Arts has closed its physical space in Ephraim and announced it will continue operations through a virtual, project-based model. “As we move away from our origin story and this place we have called home, we are energized by the possibilities ahead,” says Amy Jorgensen, Executive Director and Chief Curator.
Ephraim’s historic Relief Society granary was built in 1876 by the local LDS community and restored in the late 20th century by a coalition of artists who turned it into a home for local art. In 2005, Adam Bateman launched the Central Utah Art Center (CUAC), turning the space into a venue for contemporary art. After a dispute with the town of Ephraim over the management of their programming and the nature of their exhibitions, CUAC pulled up stakes and headed to Salt Lake City in 2012.
Amy Jorgensen and Kelly Brooks, a pair of contemporary artists living in the area, weren’t willing to let the space go and formed the Granary Art Center, later renamed Granary Arts, in late 2012. Operating as a nonprofit, the organization has presented more than 120 exhibitions, hosted hundreds of artists and educators, and provided free arts programming to thousands of community members and visitors. “Granary has been a labor of love in the truest sense—fueled by the belief that contemporary art belongs everywhere,” Jorgensen said in a press release.
As Laura Hurtado wrote of Jorgensen for Utah’s 15: The State’s Most Influential Artists (Vol. II), “Some may see the rural isolation of Ephraim as cultural exile, but Jorgensen has continually made space for contemporary art dialogue, exploration, and innovation in Sanpete County for well over a decade.” Granary Arts has been recognized for several impactful initiatives that expanded the reach of contemporary art in rural contexts. Its Critical Ground platform aimed to shift the focus of art criticism beyond metropolitan centers, encouraging deeper engagement with non-urban cultural landscapes. Through the Granary Arts Fellows program, artists were supported in developing extended, site-responsive projects that fostered meaningful connections with local communities and environments. The organization also hosted a Curatorial Workshop series in partnership with institutions across the Intermountain West, bringing together curators to share insights and shape innovative exhibition practices. Collaborations with the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street and Utah Humanities further enriched Granary’s offerings, which consistently prioritized accessibility—especially through free public workshops designed for youth and families.
Moving forward, Granary Arts will use its website, granaryarts.org, as a living archive to document the artists, exhibitions, and initiatives that have defined its history. The site will also become the central hub for upcoming projects, facilitating curated research and fostering purposeful collaborations that span disciplines and geographic boundaries.
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: Comings & Goings | Gallery Spotlights | Visual Arts
