Arts groups in Orem get long-awaited CARE grants

OREM — For several cultural arts groups in Orem, receiving CARE tax dollars has been like graduating from a minimum-wage job to a salaried position and finally getting a bit of financial breathing room.

"This tax, that is hardly noticeable, is (helping) these organizations that scrape literally in the red to keep going and bringing them up to a level that's somewhat sustainable," said Adam Robertson, CEO of SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.

SCERA was one of a half-dozen organizations that recently received a long-awaited check for thousands of dollars gathered by a special tax in Orem.

It will use the money to create two new youth programs, including a youth speech society, and augment the programs already in place, Robertson said. The center is definitely not rolling in money, but it's a nice boost.

The CARE, or Cultural Arts and Recreation Enrichment, tax was approved by voters in the November 2005 election and allowed the city to collect one-tenth of 1 percent of each sales tax dollar spent in Orem.

The nearly $2 million each year would then be allocated to approved cultural arts and recreation opportunities in the city, but only after a thorough application process and adherence to certain rules.

The groups must be nonprofit and recreation facilities must be owned by Orem city.

The tax had been pooling up since the ordinance was enacted in April of last year and the checks were finally distributed last week.

Not a moment too soon, said Ann Swenson, publicist for Hale Center Theater.

She had hired a full-time set designer and an additional costumer designer and and was waiting for the grant to pay them.

Swenson said they've been running a thank-you note in their playbills, to express their appreciation to Orem residents for the financial support.

"I want people to know where (the money) is and what it's doing," Swenson said.

Before the CARE tax, the theater company could only pay actors $10 a day, which was just enough to cover gas. Now they can pay the cast members who perform every day $30.

They'll also be producing a children's version of "A Christmas Carol" for the holiday season — something they couldn't have done without the extra funds.