SALT LAKE CITY -- The future of the Twilight Concert Series is up in the air.
This summer will mark 29 years of dirt cheap concerts at Pioneer Park, but it's unclear for how long that tradition will continue.
The Twilight Concert Series has attracted thousands of music lovers for years, but putting it on costs about $1.6 Million every year, and, this year, the Salt Lake City Arts Council had to ask the city for help.
City Council Vice Chair Stan Penfold says the they were asked for an additional $150,000.
“The council gave a favorable initial vote," Penfold said. "It was just a straw poll, so it’s not binding, but all indications are that, yes, that will be part of our budget amendment in April."
The council has agreed to pay up this year, but they said it’s time to evaluate if they should continue to support the concert series in the long run.
“During the series they will gather a lot of statistical information that they will report back to the council in September or October,” Penfold said.
Executive Director of the Salt Lake City Arts Council, Karen Krieger, agrees that it’s the right time to evaluate the event.
“They want to make sure their investment is going to reap the kinds of rewards and impacts that a program like that should,” Krieger said.
If the series continues next year, the one thing that won’t change is the price. You will still be able to see nationally known bands play in the park for just five bucks.
“That’s a value that the arts council board and our staff holds near and dear," Krieger said. "We’re a public entity doing public programming, and we feel it needs to be accessible to as many people as possible."
The Salt Lake City Arts Council will announce the first band later this month and the rest of the line-up in April.
If you want to weigh in on the future of the Twilight Concert Series, the city council will have a public hearing on April 19.
