In a recent move designed to bolster the arts and cultural scene, the Salt Lake County Council has greenlit the allocation of a cool $26 million to an array of non-profit organizations that help make the county a hotspot for arts and zoological enthusiasts. The cash influx, part of the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program, is set to spread amongst 244 arts, cultural, and zoological nonprofits in 2025. The specifics of the disbursement show a $16.5 million slice heading to 22 organizations through Tier I, $5.9 million to a trio of Zoological bodies, and $3.4 million scattered across 219 smaller groups through Tier II, according to Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson tipped her hat to the county's residents for backing the voter-supported program. “We are continually grateful to the community, for our voter-supported ZAP program,” Wilson said, as per Salt Lake County. The funds are anticipated to act as nourishment, enabling the arts and cultural sector to blossom, thus adding depth to an already vibrant cultural atmosphere.
Encompassing everything from symphonies to botanical gardens, Salt Lake County’s cultural cornucopia will now include 23 organizations new to this year’s ZAP roster. This expansion highlights a thirst for arts and cultural programming that seems to be growing steadily in the region. The ZAP program’s inclusivity shines, too: In 2023, it supported north of 33,000 events and welcomed close to eight million attendees, almost half of whom could attend without reaching for their wallets.
Samantha Thermos, ZAP’s program director, reflected on the reach of these funds. "In 2023 alone, ZAP-funded organizations held more than 33,000 events, and welcomed nearly eight million attendees, with nearly half attending free of charge," she said, as noted by Salt Lake County. These events spill across the county map, putting arts and culture on full display without heed to one’s socioeconomic standing.
The financial ripples of the program can't be ignored, either. A Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute analysis highlighted earlier this year points to an annual economic influx of over $36 million stemming from the ZAP program. Residents typically invest $8-12 per year into the program, yet the cultural return on that modest outlay is significant. Roughly 80 percent of county dwellers grace a ZAP-funded event annually, with about 70 percent of that crowd doing so multiple times over the year.
Laurie Stringham, the County Council Chair, sees these grants as more than a financial boon, they’re a societal catalyst. "These grants go beyond just supporting individual organizations. They enrich the lives of residents, foster creativity, and spark community engagement across the county," Stringham said, as obtained by Salt Lake County. The program not only fuels organizations but also ignites a collective community spirit that stitches together residents from all walks of life.
The work behind the scenes is no small feat. Volunteer ZAP Advisory Boards poured approximately 1,000 cumulative hours into vetting and scoring applications, ensuring that the selected beneficiaries stand out in terms of artistic contributions, public benefits, and organizational integrity. Such intensive scrutiny underscores the Council's commitment to sustaining a thriving ecosystem for the arts and zoological experiences across Salt Lake County.
