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Srilatha Singh is excited about exposing more Utahns to a classical form of Indian dance performed by her ChitraKaavya Dance group and the artists it brings to town.
Over at Sugar Space Arts Warehouse, 132 S. 800 West, Brittany Reese is eager to keep using that space to advance the skills and careers of local and visiting artists.
Both saw their prospects of success elevated last week when the Salt Lake County Council signed off on a recommendation to include them among 153 small arts organizations receiving funding from the Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) program.
The groups will divide an estimated $1,915,450 next year. The final amount depends on how much money is raised this year by the tenth-of-a-cent sales tax.
Last year's ZAP tax total represented the most money available to small arts groups since 2007 — just before the onset of the Great Recession. It's also about $100,000 more than the groups split this year, averaging about $12,500 per organization.
The variety of recipients, said advisory council chairwoman Elizabeth Giraud, "was so amazing, from applicants with a highly professional cadre of musicians or dancers to ones that are more grass roots, where everyone can participate."
"They're all good," she added, noting that 160 applications were submitted seeking $3.25 million. One applicant withdrew and six others were rejected because they didn't have a clear arts or cultural purpose, Giraud said.
As usual, the Sundance Institute received the largest chunk of money ($90,000) among the small arts groups. It will use the funds to help run film-festival-related activities in Salt Lake County and other events during the year.
Not far behind were two cities with a lengthy history of supporting community arts, Murray and Sandy, and the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City.
This year there were also 18 new applicants.
Singh's ChitraKaavya Dance group was among those. Only 1½ years old, the group's name means "visual poetry." Its goal is to share its classical movements to serve as a bridge between people of Indian ancestry and those of other origins, Singh said.
"There is a reasonable Indian diaspora in the Salt Lake Valley, but we want to encourage a wide audience to come in to observe this dance," she said. "There's a lot of technical and classical training behind it, but we haven't had a chance to expose it and build a discerning audience."
"Without ZAP," Singh added, "we wouldn't be able to."
The $2,200 her group gets also will help support a performance with other local dancers to open a Nov. 12 performance at Kingsbury Hall by the visiting Ragamala Dance Company.
Although it has existed for nine years, Sugar Space became eligible for ZAP funding only recently upon earning nonprofit status.
Reese said Sugar Space's $3,000 grant will go toward hiring a programmer to keep facility arts programs "at a professional level" and a curator for its art gallery. Some funding also will pay room and board for visiting artists who perform at the facility.
"The ZAP money helps us build a sustainable business plan," Reese said, noting her group receives money from others "but none of them defer overhead. To have some organizational funds, which is rare, is great."
If next year's tax receipts do not meet projections, each funded group will take a cut, said ZAP program director Vicki Bourns. If there's extra money, it will go to an initiative to help smaller valley cities develop expertise like Sandy and Murray.
Riverton is entering the program this year, Bourns said, joining Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, South Salt Lake and Holladay.
"We provide training at regular meetings where arts agencies discuss best practices" that those cities can follow to promote arts education, she added.
County Council members readily approved the advisory council's recommendation.
"When you look down this [four-page] list, you see how many organizations are being helped through this and it really does your heart good," said Council Chairman Max Burdick.
"We all take pride in this program," added Councilwoman Jenny Wilson.
Biggest recipients
Among the small arts groups that will receive ZAP funding next year, the 10 largest amounts will go to:
Sundance Institute • $90,000
Murray City Cultural Arts • $77,000
Sandy Arts Guild • $77,000
Utah Cultural Celebration Center • $70,000
Grand Theatre Foundation • $65,000
The Leonardo • $65,000
Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation • $48,000
Bad Dog Arts • $45,000
This Is the Place Foundation • $45,000
Plan-B Theater Company • $40,000
Wasatch Community Gardens • $40,000
Source: Salt Lake County —
Smallest of the small
Utah Tamil Sangam • $500
Ulhaas Bengali Association of Utah • $500
Telugu Association of Utah • $500
Brighton Institute • $500
Utah Flute Association • $1,000
Sinfonia Salt Lake • $1,000
Maud May Babcock Reading Arts Society • $1,300
Source: Salt Lake County