Exclusive: City gets public art grant for Great Salt Lake awareness

Mendenhall said the grant couldn't come at a more crucial time.

• The Great Salt Lake's surface water elevation dropped to its lowest level on record last year amid drought, climate change and population growth.
• Its environmental collapse would have major consequences for the state's environment and economy.

The big picture: Salt Lake City was one of eight U.S. cities selected for the grant.

• The funding is part of the philanthropic organization's Public Art Challenge which awards cities that want to elevate civic issues through art.
• Salt Lake City's proposed project is called "Wake the Great Salt Lake."

What's next: The city plans to launch an application process to solicit artists, project ideas and proposals for the installations that will freckle all seven council districts and near the lake.

• The city will execute the project over the next two years.

What they're saying: Stephanie Dockery, who manages the Public Art Challenge, told Axios she looks forward to seeing how the art installations draw attention to the dwindling Great Salt Lake.

• "We're really excited to see how this can help the city strengthen [its] messaging and build a broad coalition," she said.

Flashback: Salt Lake City was selected as a finalist in the Public Art Challenge in June.