Community members recently came together for the grand opening of the Dumke Arts Plaza including a community art center, a vibrant outdoor gallery and an intimate performance venue. Sasaki was tasked with designing a space that serves as the centerpiece of the developing creative district in downtown Ogden and further transforms the area. The Dumke Arts Plaza design seeks to promote creativity and to create a space where a diverse set of artists can share their work and establish Ogden, Utah as a contemporary art hotspot. Major art pieces, as well as community-led arts programs, will be included in the plaza. The plaza design was led by Sasaki, in partnership with Ogden-based firms IO LandArch and Union Creative Agency.
On December 3, 2021, the grand opening event illuminated the plaza with colorful lights, live music, and an inaugural sculpture exhibition. Speakers included Jeremy Dunn, Weber County RAMP; Claire Dumke Ryberg, President of the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation; Lydia Gravis, Director of Art Exhibitions & Public Programs, Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery, Weber State University; Cori Anderson, Board President of Ogden Contemporary Arts; and Mark Johnson, Chief Administration Officer of Ogden City.
“The Dumke Arts Plaza is a place that positions Ogden as a global destination for art while putting the community at the center. This design challenge, while daunting, was also thrilling. It meant we got to work closely with the community, closely with artists, art curators, the city, the community, the Dumke Foundation, fabricators—the list goes on and on. We were able to blur the lines between landscape, architecture, and art to uncover a design that had never been thought of before.” Anna Cawrse, associate principal and co-director of Sasaki’s Denver office
Ogden City encourages community members and organizations interested in hosting arts programming and events or for more information about the Dumke Arts Plaza to visit ogdencity.com/DumkeArtsPlaza.
Dumke Arts Plaza
Landscape Architect: Sasaki
Photography: Weber State University/Ben Zack