Helper, Utah · Est. 1994
About the
Festival
Art, Music & Culture on Historic Main Street
@helperartsfestival on Facebook or Instagram!
Our Mission
The Helper Arts Festival has a rich history of bringing arts and culture to Helper and the surrounding region for more than thirty years. The Festival's mission is to encourage creativity and cultural expression in Carbon County, support local artists, strengthen the local economy, and expand access to the arts for people of all ages, backgrounds, income levels, and experience. Beyond hosting an exceptional annual festival, the organization strives to bring arts programming and creative opportunities to the community throughout the year.
A Brief History
The Helper Arts Festival
1970s–1993
Before the Festival
Like many coal mining communities in the West, Helper experienced significant economic and population decline during the 1980s and early 1990s. As storefronts emptied and investment slowed, a small group of artists began purchasing and restoring buildings along Historic Main Street.
Among the first were University of Utah art professor David Dornan and his artist wife Marilou Kundmueller, who established an art school in Helper and encouraged students and fellow artists to become part of the community. Soon after, artists Thomas Elmo Williams (a former coal miner) and David Richey Johnsen arrived and helped transform vacant buildings into galleries, studios, and creative spaces.
1994–2005
The Founding Years
In 1994, Thomas Elmo Williams and David Richey Johnsen founded the Helper Arts Festival with the goal of bringing artists and visitors to Historic Main Street while celebrating the region's unique culture and landscape.
What began as a small community arts event quickly grew into an annual tradition. The Festival became both a showcase for artists and a gathering place for residents and visitors from across Utah and beyond.
2006–2020
Growth and Expansion
As Helper's reputation as an arts community grew, so did the Festival. New programming was added, including live music, film screenings, children's activities, demonstrations, and workshops.
The event evolved into the Helper Arts, Music & Film Festival, attracting hundreds of artists, musicians, filmmakers, and thousands of attendees each year. By this time, the Festival had become one of the region's signature cultural events and an important contributor to the local economy.
2021–Present
A New Generation
Today, the Festival remains rooted in the vision of its founders while continuing to evolve. Organized by a dedicated volunteer board and supported by sponsors, artists, community partners, and volunteers, the Festival continues to celebrate creativity, support working artists, and bring people together in Historic Helper.
Today
Each August, Historic Main Street continues to fill with artists, musicians, filmmakers, families, and visitors from across the region. The Festival remains free and open to the public, reflecting a belief that arts and culture should be accessible to everyone.
More than thirty years after it began, the Helper Arts Festival continues to play an important role in the cultural life of Carbon County and in the ongoing story of Helper.
Explore the Festival