Blog
Ticket Tuesday at the Aviary
October 10, 2017
A winner has been chosen for this giveaway courtesy Tracy Aviary.
Congrats to Dawn N. in West Valley City!
Ticket Tuesday with SpyHop
October 03, 2017
Congrats to Andrew in SLC!
Ticket Tuesday to the Jewish Arts Festival
September 26, 2017
A winner has been chosen for this giveaway courtesy the IJ & Jeanne Wagner Jewish Community Center. Congrats to Cheryl T. in Salt Lake City!
Tier II Funding 2017
September 21, 2017
The Salt Lake County Council has unanimously approved the Tier II Advisory Board recommendations for 2017 funding. $1,982,900 of ZAP funds will be distributed to 171 Tier II organizations for the purpose of building organizational capacity and enhancing cultural offerings throughout Salt Lake County. The types of organizations funded include community symphonies, historical museums, dance, visual arts, theatre, art and ethnic festivals, natural history, folk arts, botanical gardens and more.
This year's application highlights include:
- 175 applications received – the largest number to date
- $3.26 million in funding requests from applicants
- 20 new applicants – a record for new applications in one year
- 27 organizations applied for over $15,000 with audited or reviewed financial statements - meaning that more groups are growing in Salt Lake County
Applicants reported an impressive breadth of work including:
- 13,592 events in Salt Lake County
- 30,525 volunteers utilized
- 1,479 full and part-time jobs provided
- 2 million free admissions (up from 1.3 million last year)
- $85 million in expenses - that's all money returned to the local economy!
The Zoo, Arts and Parks program continued to improve efficiency of fund distribution this year with an online grant application process, now in its second year of operation. By using ZoomGrants, the Tier II Advisory Board easily viewed videos and photographs submitted by the applicants, which allowed board members to make more informed evaluations.
With funding recommendations approved, the 2017 Tier II application process is now complete. Organizations funded in Tier II can expect to receive funding in two installments in January and May of 2018.
Applications for 2018 will open in January.
Want to learn more?
1. View a complete list of funded organizations.
2. Learn more about the ZAP funding process.
Ticket Tuesday to Edwin Drood
September 19, 2017
Winners have been chosen for this giveaway courtesy The Empress Theatre. Congrats to Ayumi and Sheri M. in Salt Lake City!
Ticket Tuesday to Perdida
September 13, 2017
Stay tuned for the next ZAP Ticket Tuesday.
Ticket Tuesday with NHMU
September 05, 2017
Natural History Museum of Utah is funded in part through a grant from Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP).
Ticket Tuesday to Sister Act
August 30, 2017
Stay tuned for future giveaways!
The Empress Theatre is funded in part through a grant from Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP).
ZAP Welcomes New Director
August 24, 2017

We are delighted to welcome Kirsten Darrington as the new Director of the Zoo, Arts and Parks program.
Kirsten joins us from the Utah Division of Arts & Museums where she has worked for the past six years as Assistant Division Director and Change Leader Program Administrator. She brings excellence to the position with a depth of experience in the Utah arts community. In her positions for the State of Utah she fostered leaders, worked with advisory boards, and managed the distribution of Federal and State arts funds. Prior to her time at the State, Kirsten worked with several local arts groups including Ririe-Woodbury, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Utah Symphony|Utah Opera.
In addition to Kirsten’s professional experience, she holds a Bachelor of Arts from Westminster and a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Utah University in Arts Administration.
Kirsten’s education and experience positions her well to lead ZAP. We are fortunate to gain her expertise and look forward to Kirsten’s contributions not only to our department, but to Salt Lake County as a whole.
-Holly Yocom, Community Services Department Director
Final Destination Celebration for ZAP Explorers
August 23, 2017
That's a wrap on the ZAP Kids Summer Passport! Did your explorer(s) earn five stamps from five different destinations or more? Make sure to bring your ZAP Passport back to your nearest Salt Lake County Library location, and they'll show you how to reserve your spot for the Out-of-this-World Final Destination Celebration on Wednesday, August 30.
The Celebration includes a private party at the Clark Planetarium, where ZAP Explorers and their families can enjoy the exhibits, a free IMAX movie, and the opportunity to win prizes from some of your favorite ZAP-supported organizations including:
- Hale Center Theatre
- Living Planet Aquarium
- Red Butte Garden
- Utah's Hogle Zoo
- Utah Museum of Fine Arts
- UtahPresents
The Planetarium is located in The Gateway at 110 S 400 W, Salt Lake City.
Parking and Transportation
- Underground parking is available at no charge for the first hour
- $1 for 1-2 hours
- Additional parking fees apply after the first 3 hours
ZAP and the Clark Planetarium will validate a portion of parking fees for Celebration attendees.
Taking public transportation is also an option- the UTA TRAX Blue Line is located right outside the Planetarium's front door. More details on planning your visit can be found here.
We hope to see you there!
Learn more about the ZAP Kids Summer Passport