Festival History

Escalante Canyons Art Festival 

Everett Ruess Traveling Exhibit

In 2003, the non-profit organization, Envision Escalante, local artists and art enthusiasts held the first Escalante Canyons Art Festival, a “Working Art Festival”, inspired by Everett Ruess.

In 1934 Ruess left behind a body of art – woodcuts, drawings, poetry and other writings from his travels through the Escalante Canyons and Red Rock country.

The festival is now a premiere art, music and literary gathering with the aim of welcoming people to the stunning landscape of southern central Utah and giving attendees an opportunity to learn some of its rich history.

We invite Utah and the rest of the world to come and experience the intense beauty in and around the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument. We hope an artistic spirit of adventure touches a special creative desire in all of us as we seek to express “Art Inspired by Place”, as Everett did all those years ago.