The Fine Arts Outreach program enables Utah's non-profit professional arts organizations to provide their expertise and resources in the teaching of the state's fine arts core curriculum. Participating organizations support and enhance the state curriculum by providing educational services such as demonstrations, performances, presentations, teacher professional development, and activities in the public schools.
The Fine Arts Outreach Program contains three operating-programs that collectively provide educational opportunities in the public schools. These programs include the Professional Outreach Program in the Schools (POPS), Fine Arts Request for Proposals (RFP), and the Fine Arts Subsidy.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $4,175,000 from all sources for Fine Arts Outreach. This is an 18.4 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $4,175,000 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 18.4 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
For more than 40 years, the Legislature has appropriated funding to assist the state's professional arts organizations in providing educational programs in the public schools. The origins of the Fine Arts Outreach program date to the 1960s with the Utah Symphony, specifically, when funding was appropriated ". . . To finance concerts in the public school districts. The appropriation is given to the Department of Public Instruction who will reimburse the orchestra for the cost of these programs" (Appropriations Report, 1970-71). In the years succeeding the original appropriation, the program has developed from its "concerts in the public schools" roots to providing direct informal instruction to students in the fine arts by practicing professionals.
Program participants collaborate with the State Office of Education and the school community in planning the content of art education in the schools. The participants extend professional performances and presentations to students in the schools and at professional venues. The program ensures that each of the school districts receive services in a balanced and comprehensive manner over a three-year period. Charter schools also can participate and receive art outreach services if they choose.
With the inclusion of Ballet West in 1972-73 (S.B. 17, 39th Legislature), the Legislature established that" . . . The school district[s] and the students shall not be charged for these concerts" (Appropriations Report, 1972-73). The free participation of students remains one of the central tenets of the program.
The appropriation to the Fine Arts Outreach program comes entirely from the Education Fund. Funds are appropriated to the State Board of Education. The Board executes contracts with the private arts organizations to provide services in the schools.
Each participating organization is required to provide private matching funds to support their education outreach program. These matching funds are in addition to the state funds received through the program. Most recently, participating organizations have collectively provided $1.70 to the program for each dollar provided by the Legislature.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.