“As the growing number of small arts groups reflects the county’s increasing diversity and population, some supporters of the arts question whether it’s time to reexamine how the millions raised by” Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) sales tax are divided, writes Taylor Stevens in Monday’s (2/17) Salt Lake Tribune. “About two dozen arts nonprofits with the biggest budgets—including the… Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Ballet West, and Pioneer Theatre Company—have a lock, by law, on … 45% of the total. Nearly 200 smaller groups jockeyed last year to share 9% of the revenue…. Max Chang, former chairman of the ZAP board that oversees large arts groups, is calling for a ‘thoughtful revamp’ of the formula…. Others worry that opening up the law to any changes at the state Legislature could diminish financial support for the county’s arts organizations…. While more than half the money raised by ZAP goes to the arts, county recreation facilities get 30%…. Patricia A. Richards, interim president and CEO of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera … would love to see funding for small arts groups grow but that it shouldn’t come at the literal expense of the large arts nonprofits.”
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