Britney Helmers, who served as the program director for The Blocks Arts District SLC for the past three years, has been appointed as the South Salt Lake Arts Council’s new Executive Director. Helmers officially took the helm in late November, becoming only the second leader for the organization since its formation in 2014, succeeding founding executive director Lesly Allen.

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in interior design, Helmers brings extensive experience in strategic design and development to her new role. A Cincinnati, Ohio native, she initially came to Utah for a project as director of design for real estate developer Drumbeat.

Within a short time, Helmers pivoted from property development to community engagement. 

“I realized development was not my forte,” she said. “I wanted to kind of get back into the arts, and I wanted to get into community development and realized quickly how the arts are a major part of community development in Utah. I think the arts always are the glue that bring people together in a fun and unique way.”

Vision for the arts in South Salt Lake

As executive director, Helmers will lead fundraising, develop and implement the arts council’s strategic plan, and manage operations and fiscal oversight. She will also advance the SSLAC’s mission to unite the community through art and culture while managing facilities, including the Arts Center at the Historic Scott School Community Center, and overseeing public art programs.

South Salt Lake Arts Council’s new Executive Director Britney Helmers. (Courtesy SSL)

Helmers’ background in development and execution positions her well to lead major initiatives like the city's annual Mural Fest (currently slated for its ninth year in 2026 as part of a 10-year initiative), Craftoberfest and managing the Creative Industries Zone.

Helmers sees immense potential for growth. 

“I think there is nothing but opportunities to grow the arts in South Salt Lake,” she said. “I think there is an amazing foundation here with what Mural Fest has done and what Craftoberfest has done. I think there are opportunities to bring other art forms and other types of art to South Salt Lake.”

Among her big-picture goals is leveraging art for economic growth and formalizing support for artists.

“I believe art is economic development, so how are we going to bring more people here to experience how amazing the art community is in South Salt Lake?” she questioned.

One of her immediate priorities is creating a framework for public art. 

“At the moment, we do not have a public art policy, so we will be working to develop that public art policy, and it would be phenomenal to have a 1% for art program, such as other cities do have, so we will be working on how can we create that over the next year,” she said.

A central, creative identity

Helmers aims to strengthen South Salt Lake’s community identity, even as it is challenged by its position between Salt Lake City and its suburbs.

“I look at that as such an opportunity,” she said. “It's a value for us to be sandwiched and in the middle of everything else that is happening,” including the artistic activity in downtown Salt Lake. “However, you have to pass through South Salt Lake to get there. So why not stop and enjoy some of the creative businesses that we have here and experience some of the murals that we have here?”

Helmers plans to focus on multiple scales of art, from large installations to neighborhood programs. 

“How do we create art in parks? How do we do large scale art? But also, how do we focus on art for our community and for the neighbors? So, potentially new art classes at all of our community centers. And then also, how do we work to bring more creative businesses to the neighborhood?” she said. 

South Salt Lake already hosts notable creative businesses like Workshop SLC and the Visual Art Institute.

“South Salt Lake also has a really strong identity with creative businesses already. I think we can continue bringing more unbelievable creatives here,” she said.

Helmers also hopes to advocate for the professionalization of artistic careers. 

“Art is a job,” she said. “Art is a career. Art is a business. And how do we start educating and advocating for those artists?”

In her personal time, Helmers is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys mountain biking, skiing, camping and hiking with her dogs.

“I'm just really excited to be here in South Salt Lake and build on everything that they have already created here,” she said.