Performing arts spaces were among the first structures built by settlers in the Salt Lake Valley after their arrival in summer 1947. A love of theater and live performance has remained a linchpin of the area’s culture as cities across the valley continue to grow.

The $45-million Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, now under construction in Taylorsville, about 10 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, seeks to fill a need for professional-level performances in the area and will become a key element in a larger outdoor-gathering space.