SALT LAKE COUNTY, UT — Salt Lake County Arts & Culture (Arts & Culture) is pleased to announce the official inauguration of Launchpad, a dynamic new artistic incubation program.
The program is designed to support emerging to mid-career artists to create, rehearse, and perform original evening-length works by providing expanded access to Arts & Culture venues, professional artistic mentorship, skills-building workshops, technical services, and production resources.
“Launchpad represents an important step in our commitment to empowering local creatives,” said Matt Castillo, Division Director at Salt Lake County Arts & Culture. “By reducing the financial and logistical barriers to our rehearsal and performance spaces, providing production support, and bringing in top-tier artistic mentorship, we are creating a foundation for a strong, dynamic artistic ecosystem across Salt Lake County.”
Arts & Culture’s Launchpad program will:
- Empower Artists by removing financial and logistical barriers at Arts & Culture venues, allowing artists the freedom to create and perform new works.
- Nurture Talent by sharing knowledge through mentorship, curated workshops, and production opportunities.
- Strengthen Artists by offering creative collaborations between Launchpad participants and seasoned professional artists.
Launchpad is a structured nine-month program running from January through September 2027, pairing a cohort of three artists or artist collectives (Artist Cohort) with a program Fellow. Over the nine months, each artist/collective within the Artist Cohort will create, rehearse, and perform an original evening-length work under the mentorship of the Fellow and with production support from A&C.
Launchpad’s Inaugural Fellow
Arts & Culture is pleased to introduce Robert Scott Smith as Launchpad’s first Fellow. As a multidisciplinary theatre artist, director, actor, producer, and educator, Smith brings a wealth of expertise, artistic vision, and mentorship to the program.
In the Fellow role, Smith will guide the Artist Cohort through artistic mentorship and skill-building opportunities while also creating and presenting two original performances of his own with production support from Arts & Culture.
“My work is centered on interdisciplinary collaboration, devised performance, new work development, and creating spaces where artists can experiment, take risks, and bring new ideas to life,” said Robert Scott Smith. “I am thrilled that through Arts & Culture’s Launchpad, I have the opportunity to foster a curious, collaborative, and supportive environment where artists can challenge their practices, develop their voices, and create bold new work.”
As Head of the BFA Actor Training Program at the University of Utah, mentorship and artist development are central to his work. Smith is also Co-Artistic Director of Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory. Through Flying Bobcat and the U, he has supported emerging artists in developing original work that has gone on to local, national, and international festivals and stages.
Call for Applications: Join the 2027 Artist Cohort
Arts & Culture invites Salt Lake County-based emerging and mid-career artists and artist collectives to apply for the inaugural 2027 Artist Cohort. Selected participants will receive venue access, rehearsal space, technical backing, direct mentorship from Robert Scott Smith, and production funding to bring their original works to life.
The Artist Cohort Application Deadline is Friday, September 18, 2026 at 5pm. Launchpad runs from January – September 2027. The application, eligibility, program schedule, and guidelines are available on the Salt Lake County Arts & Culture website (saltlakecountyarts.org/arts-reach/launchpad-artistic-incubation-program).