Arts Council to receive continued city support

Midvale, Utah - The Midvale City Council, along with Mayor JoAnn Seghini, decided to continue their support of the Midvale Arts Council during the city council meeting on Oct. 4. 

Support was necessary for the arts council to turn in their application to the Levitt Foundation, who helps put on the Levitt AMP Music Series by awarding matching grants to cities across the country. After the application is turned in, cities are voted on from Nov. 1 to Thanksgiving to see which cities are awarded the matching grants. Midvale hosted the music series at Midvale City Park this past summer.

“The grant helped turn our city park into a thriving destination through the power of free live music,” Melanie Beardall said to the city council. Beardall was the concert chair. 

Three letters were needed from the city for the arts council to submit their application with the letters outlining what the city does for the arts council. That support includes free use of the stage and facility at Midvale City Park as well as the Midvale Performing Arts Center. 

Midvale city contributes $20,000 a year to the arts council, $10,000 of which is a matching grant to a Salt Lake County grant as part of a three-year deal. The other $10,000 is meant for the arts council to put on a yearly musical or play. 

Councilman Wayne Sharp said during the city council meeting that he’s spoken with people who think the arts council should be self-funded with no city support. 

“I have leaned heavily to that side, is that something we should be doing with tax payer dollars is funding the arts council program? But I’ve seen a lot of the good things that they are doing,” Sharp said. Not opposing support for the arts council, Sharp acknowledged the contribution the council makes with its youth productions. 

Councilman Paul Glover said enough people enjoy the arts that it’s money well spent and that it improves the perception of Midvale. 

“It just creates a better image for our city,” Glover said. 

Beardall said one of the benefits of providing a rich, artistic experience for small communities was supplied by the Levitt AMP Music Series.  

Beardall is the treasurer on the arts council joining just over three years ago and began free concerts in the park shortly thereafter. She is also the concert chair and said the summer concert series brought in more than 10,000 people to the park. 

 Volunteers play an important role, too. Beardall said during the city council meeting that there was more than 700 hours of volunteer work for the summer concert series which added up to “an in-kind value of $14,000.” 

Beardall said it was more than just the music she enjoyed. 

“The fun part of the whole series…was seeing the community come together in the park, join that park setting and enjoying that feeling of community,” Beardall said.