Both 12 Minutes Max and the Performance Art Festival seek to provide a platform for artists in many disciplines. Salt Lake City has a thriving arts community, but most art venues in the city cater to only a small fraction of art disciplines. Additionally, many local venues do not typically provide a space where more than one type of art can be enjoyed at the same time. 12 Minutes Max and the Performance Art Festival utilize The City Library’s versatility as a venue to allow art fans to experience a wide variety of art forms —including dance, music, film, writing, performance art, and theatre—in one setting.

Performers and performances in both events are carefully curated by City Library staff and partners in order to pack the most variety into each showcase. 12 Minutes Max specifically invites local performers, creating a program that is exclusive to Salt Lake City. The Performance Art Festival features both local performance artists and well-known out-of-state performance artists whose works are varied in duration, audience involvement, and intention.

12 Minutes Max and the Performance Art Festival each offer audiences exposure to art forms they might not have experienced before. The Main Library of the Salt Lake City Public Library System provides a central, unique setting for these programs, allowing patrons to be immersed in a diverse art experience and to develop an appreciation for art. These programs also draw in audiences that include many young adults, college students, and those just out of college. This helps The City Library reach individuals who otherwise wouldn’t normally engage with the Library.