Craft Lake City — Local services in Salt Lake City

We’ve supported Craft Lake City for years now by purchasing VIP tickets, supporting vendors etc. as we feel buying local is the best way to support our community. It was a rather miserable experience this year when they moved their platform online, and frankly felt like a complete waste of time & money for the VIP option of the virtual festival. From surprisingly late notices on what to do and how to shop, frustrating glitches in the system, the inability to access links, I would say it was an attempt to move something online that far over reached the creators ability to keep up with. At one point, there was no way to even purchase products as I’m fairly certain the system went down. Such a poor choice in platforms. Sadly, I was not alone in feeling the frustration as so many patrons and vendors themselves that I talked to expressed deep frustration over the whole process. And unfortunately I have yet to receive a response from CLC after emailing them my concerns. I know things have to change with COVID; simplifying the virtual process is key to keep CLC’s DIY festival a...

I’ve attended multiple Craft Lake City events, and unfortunately, I’ve been consistently disappointed. It feels like the organization is more concerned with lining their own pockets than genuinely supporting the community or the incredible artists involved.The events lack heart and authenticity, and it’s hard to ignore how unhappy the employees and volunteers seem. It’s disheartening to see such a talented pool of creators being overshadowed by poor leadership and a hollow facade of community care.As a nonprofit, Craft Lake City enjoys certain benefits, but it’s clear they are not acting in alignment with the responsibilities that come with that status. They should be looked at closely to ensure they’re living up to their mission and truly benefiting the community they claim to serve.The people involved in these events deserve a platform that uplifts them and fosters genuine connection, not one that uses the community as a prop. I sincerely hope to see a change in leadership or at least a shift in priorities toward what really matters: the people...

I attended the first Craft Lake City DIY festival in 2009 and have been an avid participant ever since. Every year, the festival pushes to improve and welcome a talented and diverse group of artisans. I've collected and gifted so many treasures from the DIY festival over the years-- pottery, jewelry, sculpture, paintings, vintage apparel, graphic t-shirts-- I'm constant getting compliments on my finds. Not to mention, their community outreach in developing STEM programs and amplifying minority voices. I've also discovered some fantastic local music through the DIY fest. Last year's Sunday dance party was so fun-- so many great DJs! Can't wait to see what...