The 2022 Red Rock Arts Festival (RRAF) is a four-day multimedia, participatory arts festival inviting creative connectedness and activating public spaces in vibrant Moab, UT. 
Designed to feed the public imagination, incite playfulness, and build community, the weekend will be stacked with free workshops and events for all ages. 

 
The festival schedule includes events such as a chalk drawing competition with categories for kids and adults, a poetry workshop lead by local author Shari Zollinger followed by a reading at Back of Beyond bookstore, a western-themed short film competition put on in partnership with the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission, a songwriting workshop with local author and musician Brian Laidlaw of The Family Trade, a family-friendly pottery workshop at Desert Sun Ceramics, a small plein-air competition and art sale, a block-party-style street fest with live music and artisan vendors, and a paper maché mask-making workshop to prepare for a post-festival performance with the historic group of rabble-rousers, Bread and Puppet, on October 14th. 
 
This year, folks of all skill levels are invited to participate in workshops leading up to festival events—opportunities to learn and polish creative skills, and then share your efforts with the public. For example, two free workshops will take place in advance of the film competition that will help filmmakers to establish a conceptual framework in addition to the basic skills necessary to create a successful short western film. Filmmakers will then screen their shorts during the festival, with the chance to win prizes based on audience vote. A poetry workshop will precede the poetry reading, and plein air workshops will be scheduled in advance of the competition. By holding (free!) space for learning together, building bonds, and gaining confidence, we hope to encourage as much participation as possible.
 
Additionally, the festival will enliven public space with temporary installations and pop-up performances. If that sounds intriguing and you’d like to participate in a public art project, we want to hear from you! Email marcadmin@moabcity.org with your wild ideas - our open call for proposals is now open.