The Summit County Council last week denied grant funding to the Sundance Institute after the committee tasked with reviewing applications said it could not find “solid evidence” that the organization is committed to Park City or the Summit County community.
The Recreation, Arts and Parks Tax, more commonly referred to as the RAP tax, funds a variety of cultural and recreational nonprofits and agencies along the Wasatch Back. The RAP Cultural Advisory Committee oversees the grant application process, interviewing organizations and making an annual recommendation to the County Council for final approval.
Sharon Serpico Hanson, chair of the RAP Advisory Committee, said there was a “record number” of applicants in 2026, with 36 nonprofits angling for funding. However, the committee recommended the County Council offer grants to only 27 of the organizations.
The Sundance Institute was one of nine nonprofits denied funding. Specifically, the Sundance Institute claimed it was “committed to Park City” in its application and interview, but the advisory committee said it “could not find solid evidence of this commitment to either Park City or Summit County” in a staff report provided to the County Council.
Hanson said the committee was also unimpressed by the Sundance Institute’s proposal for what it would do with the money.
“Sundance, in its application through its Local Lens program, promised ‘year-round independent film’ to residents of Summit County; however, during the Zoom interview, the Sundance representative confirmed that Sundance was only committing to ‘summer programming’ and that Sundance would not commit to specifics about film dates or showings or director events yet because they were ‘waiting to hear from RAP Cultural re: funding request,’” the staff report said.
Hanson said county attorneys eliminated three other organizations from consideration, and another five were denied because they were not technically eligible for RAP funding.
For example, Boundless Park City’s application was rejected because it’s too new, and the state statute governing RAP tax grants does not allow funds to go toward a startup. Chabad Lubavitch of Park City was similarly denied funding because RAP tax money can’t go toward a religious organization.
Park City Gallery Association, Song Summit Foundation and Utah Film Center were also denied funding.
In total, the RAP tax is providing Summit County groups with $1.64 million this year. RAP tax recipients include:
- Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation, granted $100,000 for community outreach programming.
- Arts Council of Park City & Summit County, granted $1,500 to install a piano in the Henefer Civic Center.
- Arts Council of Park City & Summit County, granted $30,000 to host the Latino Arts Festival.
- Arts Council of Park City & Summit County, granted $112,000 for ongoing operations, services and exhibits.
- Arts Council of Park City & Summit County, granted $8,500 to build and install a Don Weller sculpture of a cowboy and a farmer in Oakley.
- Ballet West, granted $25,000 to perform in local elementary schools and provide educational materials to students.
- KPCW, granted $145,000 to support the Back Alley Bash, general operations and programming.
- Echo Community & Historical Organization, granted $14,000 to pay insurance and maintenance costs for four historic structures.
- Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, granted $9,800 to create an audio guide, with GPS tracking, for hikers interested in learning about the area’s mining history while recreating.
- Grassroots Shakespeare Company, granted $3,500 to perform William Shakespeare’s plays in schools, parks and other public spaces in Summit County.
- Henefer Camp of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, granted $3,000 for ongoing operating costs, utilities, insurance and programming.
- Kamas Valley Community Foundation, granted $5,000 to support Arts Fest 2027, including rental fees for a venue, infrastructure to hang art, educational materials and insurance.
- Kamas Valley History Group, granted $7,000 to develop a website and create a “community cultural calendar.”
- Kimball Art Center, granted $160,000 for exhibit curation, educational programs, salaries and general operating expenses.
- Mountain Town Music, granted $134,000 to help with artist fees, audio engineers, production staff, supplies, transportation and other operating expenses.
- North Summit Unite, granted $30,000 to host a community theater performance with local talent.
- North Summit Unite, granted $1,800 to create Fiesta Friday, a new cultural event intended to celebrate Latino heritage through music, dance and food.
- Park City Film, granted $150,000 to fund various film screenings and cover operational costs.
- Park City Museum, granted $119,000 to support programming and fund salaries.
- Park City Opera, granted $30,000 to pay singers, musicians and dancers.
- Egyptian Theatre, granted $160,000 to support main stage productions, YouTheater, general operations and celebrations for the venue’s 100th birthday.
- Park City Performing Arts, granted $100,000 to pay artists, cover production costs and compensate outreach coordinators.
- Park City Singers, granted $1,400 to cover the artistic director’s contract.
- Park Silly Sunday Market, granted $40,000 to fund the weekly open-air market, including the cost of paying performers and marketing materials.
- Summit Community Gardens and EATS, granted $1,500 to support educational outreach, provide a stipend for staff and fund a community meal.
- Swaner Preserve & Eco Center, granted $140,000 for its educational efforts and marketing push.
- Utah Symphony & Opera, granted $110,000 to cover guest artist and conductor fees for this year’s Deer Valley Music Festival.