SALT LAKE CITY — Utah arts and community groups recently received more than $80,000 from the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning to help broaden and preserve worthwhile cultural programs. The PacifiCorp Foundation, which serves as the charitable arm of Utah Power, assists organizations’ projects that help further learning.

“We know how critical it is to help broaden an appreciation for the value of arts, particularly at a time when many of the budgets for these types of programs are shrinking,” said Rich Walje, chair of the Foundation’s evaluation committee. “We are pleased to help provide quality arts education for communities throughout Utah.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah public schools rank last in the nation for the amount of money spent on each student.   Contributions from the PacifiCorp Foundation and other organizations help to shrink the void in arts education created by the lack of funding.  

The following Utah organizations received support from the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning:

Ballet West – Support for “Inspiring Children About Not Dropping Out” (I CAN DO), which encourages students to stay in school and teaches the art of dance through hands-on movement training.  Funding will help provide weekly dance classes to 5th grade students in eight at-risk elementary schools in Salt Lake and Davis counties.

Salt Lake Art Center – Funding for “KidsmART”, which provides art education for elementary school students in low-income neighborhoods; and “ArtWORKS”, which provides art education classes taught by professional artist-instructors for high school students from Central High School, Granite School District’s alternative school.

The Children’s Museum of Utah – Salt Lake City – Support for “Reaction Time”, a hands-on chemistry experience teaching the scientific method to fifth grade students, offered through the Utah Outreach Program in Schools (POPS).

The Leonardo at Library Square – Salt Lake City – Funding for The Leonardo Online, a new Web-based science outreach program to increase science-based learning for students and teacher education. 

Utah Symphony & Opera – Salt Lake City – Support for education outreach programs, including a five-day residency program bringing performances and workshops to schools and rural communities that may not otherwise have access to music education.

Hale Centre Theatre – West Valley City – Support for eight daytime performances of “To Kill a Mockingbird” for students in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Summit and Utah counties. 

ARTS-KIDS, Inc. – Park City – Support for an after-school art program to encourage positive expression through artwork, for a diverse group of students including at-risk youth.

Orchestra of Southern Utah – Cedar City – Funding will assist in providing reduced family ticket prices for the Orchestra’s “Children’s Carnival”, to help expose children to classical music. 

Utah Shakespearean Festival – Cedar City – Support for the annual “Shakespeare in the School” tour, which provides a 75-minute adaptation of a Shakespearean play to approximately 60,000 students in rural, urban and at-risk schools throughout the intermountain and southwest regions of the state.  The program also includes ‘Talk Back’ sessions with the actors and a series of student workshops.

American West Heritage Center – Wellsville – Funding for a preparatory and follow-up CD ROM to support 2nd thru 7th grade learning in history, math, science and literature – for use prior to and after a site visit to the Heritage Center. 

Since the PacifiCorp Foundation was established in 1988, it has awarded more than 6,300 grants totaling more than $37.3 million to communities served by Utah Power, Pacific Power and PacifiCorp.