Salt Lake County Launches New Cultural Facilities Support Program

Salt Lake County Launches New Cultural Facilities Support Program
Salt Lake County boasts a thriving arts community and strong public support for arts and culture activities, as documented in the recently completed Cultural Facilities Master Plan. Creating and supporting facilities to house such events are important factors in community planning across the County.

One key recommendation of the Plan was for the County to provide a framework for developing and sustaining facilities across the county to meet the current and future needs of its arts and cultural organizations, residents and visitors. The new Salt Lake County Cultural Facilities Support Program is the fulfillment of that recommendation.

The Cultural Facilities Support Program (CFSP) encourages any qualified Salt Lake County-based arts group, cultural organization or business to apply and be considered for possible County matching support, based on available funding, for the construction, renovation, or study of an arts or cultural facility.

Philip Jordan, CFSP administrator and Division Director for Salt Lake County’s Center for the arts says he is thrilled to launch the new program. During the research phase of the Cultural Facilities Master Plan, Jordan visited with a number of communities and arts organizations hearing ideas for new or renovated facilities

“This Support Program will help those communities and organizations develop comprehensive plans to help them move forward,” Jordan said. “The application is comprehensive and requires applicants to have documented public support and funds in-hand prior to making application.”

Without a dedicated funding stream for arts and culture facilities, applicants will need to make a compelling case for funding in their documentation. “To that end, we are creating an online database of information that anyone can use to help strengthen their application,” Jordan added.

Eligible applicants complete a comprehensive application. Project applications undergo two thorough reviews by an internal County team and a citizen’s Advisory Board. The review process will analyze feasibility – can the project be built and operated at the cost presented – and demonstrated need – do the community and county need the project. Those projects passing both reviews will be forwarded to Mayor Peter Corroon with a favorable recommendation for inclusion in the annual County budget, depending on available funding.

The Support Program will accept applications from Wednesday, October 20, 2010, through February 28, 2011, for consideration in the 2012 County budget cycle. For complete details on the Program and to download an application, go online to www.slccfa.org and click on the Cultural Support Facilities Program link.
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