The Art Institute of Salt Lake City is conveniently located right off I-15 in Draper, Utah, roughly 16 miles south of Downtown Salt Lake City. Known as “Crossroads of the West” for its central geography of the western United States and the fact that the first intercontinental railroad went through the Salt Lake Valley, Salt Lake City is the most populous city in the State of Utah and is the State’s political, economic and cultural center. The city is internationally well-known for its headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as for hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Additionally, the City is known for its namesake, the Great Salt Lake. This “inland sea” with salinity levels of up to 27% is six times saltier than any of the world’s oceans.

The modern economy of Salt Lake City is service-oriented. Traditionally, nearby steel, mining and railroad operations provided a strong source of income. The major industries today include government, trade, transportation, tourism, utilities, and professional and business services. In recent years, the city has developed a strong recreational industry and become the industrial banking center of the US.

The climate of Salt Lake City is characterized by four distinct seasons, with summer and winter being long and spring and fall serving as brief, comfortable transitions. All year around, the Salt Lake City area is full of outdoor recreational opportunities; visitors and residents explore the beauties of the mountain ranges surrounding the Great Salt Lake Valley. In the long winter season, residents as well as visitors from all over the country and the world enjoy the fun on the numerous slopes of the many nearby ski resorts. In other seasons, climbing, hiking, and biking are but a few of the popular recreational activities in the picturesque mountains.