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None of the small arts and cultural groups received all of the money they wanted, but 138 will divide $1.5 million in ZAP tax funds next year from Salt Lake County.
After a lengthy review, the County Council signed off this week on the allocation of Zoo, Arts & Parks funds to so-called Tier II organizations, whose annual expenditures are less than $319,000.
A few are fairly sizable groups, such as the Sundance Institute, but almost 90 percent are run solely by volunteers and have budgets under $15,000 a year, said Victoria Panella Bourns, the county's ZAP program manager.
"We are fortunate to live in a community that understands how the arts and recreation enhance our lives," she added, commending residents for voting more than a decade ago to develop "cultural, artistic, zoological, botanical and recreational opportunities" with a penny tax on every $10 spent in the county.
The benefits are obvious, Bourns said, noting that more than 6 million people have attended functions funded fully or in part with ZAP funds. Admission for almost half those guests was free.
One of this year's largest recipients, Murray City, will use its $52,049 allocation to help fund an array of summer musicals and concerts, many oriented to children, as well as visual arts shows and literary competitions.
"We put on nine different musicals," said Murray Cultural Arts Director Mary Ann Kirk, estimating about 32,000 people annually are involved in her city's programs. "We do a lot of things with that money that benefit people from all over Salt Lake County. We even have people coming in from outside of the county who want to be part of our shows."
The largest recipient of Tier II funding was the Sundance Institute at $66,244, while the smallest grants — $946 apiece — went to a diverse group: the Western Military History Association, StageRight Theater Company, Wasatch Community Symphony and Samoan Youth for Tomorrow.
Bourns said 145 organizations applied for $2.7 million in funding. Five proposals were rejected, two were withdrawn and the remaining 138 received less money than requested because tax revenues are down.
Final funding amounts may be adjusted up or down, she added, if revenue totals for the rest of the year deviate from current projections.
The county has a separate allocation system for 23 Tier I applicants, such as Ballet West and the Utah Humanities Council, with annual budgets exceeding $319,000.
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Advancing the arts
Recipients of the largest Tier II grants of Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) tax funds from Salt Lake County are:
Sundance Institute: $66,244
VSA Arts of Utah: $56,781
Murray City Cultural Arts: $52,049
Sandy Arts Guild: $52,049
Utah Cultural Celebration Center: $47,317
Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation: $47,317
Salt Lake Film Society: $37,854
This Is the Place Heritage Park: $37,854
Wasatch Community Gardens: $37,854
Source: Salt Lake County