Back then, “in uncertain times” was the refrain of daily life, and we were told to prepare for a “new normal.” Yet as the years have shown, uncertainty itself may be the new normal. Through it all, art continues to stand as one of our most enduring unifiers.
To mark the five-year anniversary of the original Art for Hope campaign, the CRA has reimagined the project—installing temporary banners featuring the original artwork on fencing near McCarthey Plaza at 154 South Regent Street. The refreshed display invites residents to reflect on how far we’ve come while celebrating the creativity that helped carry us through challenging times.
The original Art for Hope project was launched in 2020 as a collaboration between the RDA and local artists. More than 30 Utah-based artists were commissioned to create 4-by-4-foot “message squares,” each offering a visual message of optimism, solidarity, and recovery. Installed on CRA-owned properties in Downtown, Sugar House, and along North Temple, the artwork transformed blank fences and facades into beacons of color and hope when the city needed it most.
Today, visitors can walk past the Art for Hope banners and continue into McCarthey Plaza, where public art has become a defining feature of this downtown space’s creative revival. The plaza now features a large permanent installation, several murals, and a new photo exhibit titled Sonder—a striking collection of portraits highlighting Salt Lake residents who are making change in their communities.
For those who can’t make it in person, the full Art for Hope SLC gallery remains available online.
Even as the city evolves, the message remains the same: art connects us, strengthens us, and reminds us that hope, like creativity, is meant to be shared.
