Summit County Opens 2026 RAP Cultural Grants, $1.64M; Apply by March 30

Roughly $1.64 million is set aside for Summit County’s 2026 RAP Cultural Tax Grant cycle, with applications posted March 2 and a firm deadline of 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 30 for online submissions, county guidance says. "Completed applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday, March 30. Late submissions will not be accepted," the grant materials state, and only 501(c)(3) nonprofits registered with the State of Utah or municipal or county cultural councils may apply.

The grant covers projects and operations that run between May 2026 and May 2027, the county’s application packet specifies. Eligible disciplines include arts education, dance, history, music, visual arts, theatre, folk arts and other cultural pursuits; the county emphasizes the program is not intended to be an organization’s sole source of support and gives priority to applicants who can demonstrate matching funds, community connections and stable financial histories.

Applications will be evaluated on a published rubric: "Applications are scored across three categories — artistic/cultural vibrancy, public benefit/outreach, and organizational capacity — for a total of 18 possible points," the county materials state. Applicant interviews are scheduled for April 20, April 21 and April 23, with committee deliberations set for April 27 and formal recommendations due to the Summit County Council on May 13 for final action.

Applicants must complete and submit materials through the county’s online grant portal, and county staff advise creating a website account to save form progress and manage notifications. Amy Jones is listed as the county contact for additional information at (435) 336-3042. The RAP Cultural Grant Committee that will hear applications includes Chair Sharon Serpico Hanson, reachable at (510) 435-5944, and members JaNae Blonquist (435-640-4614), Julie Hooker (435-647-6644), Katie Lindsay (917-572-2105), Les Kratter (650-759-5066), Vincent Novack (714-357-9364), Gail Rose and others listed on the county grant page.

Last year’s cycle provides context for applicants: for 2025, $1,653,000 was approved across 26 applications, and local outlets reported that KPCW received the largest single award at $140,000. Smaller organizations also received awards; Summit Community Garden & EATS requested $14,590 for a La Milpa/Born from Corn partnership and three traditional workshops and was awarded $1,000. Summit County Councilmember Tonja Hanson summed the program’s intent simply: "It's funding for arts and recreation."

The county’s guidance lists explicit exclusions applicants must not propose for RAP funding, including debt retirement, capital improvements, lobbying, scholarships or cash prizes, activities held outside Summit County, fundraising-first events, social service programs and rodeos. County lawyers have in prior cycles reviewed applications for the legal test of whether an activity is "primarily cultural," a review that previously led to denials for the Park City Library and Mental Health FiT.

Committee interviews in April and the May 13 County Council presentation will determine awards for the May 2026–May 2027 funding year; applicants should review the county’s RAP Cultural grant packet and prepare requested financial documentation and evidence of matching funds ahead of the March 30 deadline.