Davis Arts Council

History of the Davis Arts Council

In 1979, the mayor of Layton asked a group of community-minded citizens to begin a program of cultural activities that would make the arts accessible to a wide spectrum of citizenry. At this time, the free Sunday night concerts in the park were started as well as a few isolated cultural programs at the local high school.

From those humble beginnings—first known as the Layton Arts & Humanities Council, Inc.—the Davis Arts Council (which changed its name in 1998 to better reflect the communities it serves) has now evolved into a fully operational and professional organization. Davis Arts Council (DAC) is now offering a wide variety of artistic and cultural opportunities for residents of Utah’s northern Wasatch Front (Davis and South Weber Counties).

Believing that culture and creativity are primary building blocks of civilization and are vital to human happiness and social progress, DAC, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, works on behalf of its constituency to foster excellence, diversity, and vitality in the arts. DAC’s basic mission is to connect people with the power of the arts to strengthen the community as a whole.

Independent of Layton City, a volunteer board of trustees along with a full-time executive director and two part-time staff (along with hundreds of volunteers) run the Davis Arts Council.

In 1995, the arts council partnered with Layton City, private donors, and business sponsors to build the beautiful Edward A. Kenley Centennial Amphitheater. Acquiring this venue, inaugurated the first of DAC’s successful Summer Nights with the Stars season, offering a variety of extraordinary ticketed performances. Free Sunday Night Concert Series; Free Wednesday Night Movies; Arts in the Park, a partnership for children with Layton City; Active Stages, our education program; theatrical productions, and adult and children’s educational/cultural workshops help round out the artistic offerings provided to the community by DAC.