Education Sponsors

UTAH SYMPHONY | UTAH OPERA IS GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION SPONSORS

About the Professional Outreach Program in the School (POPS)

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera are two of the fifteen nonprofit arts organizations comprising the POPS Cohort — a statewide arts education network that has been continuously funded by the Utah State Legislature through the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) for more than 40 years. Collectively, POPS member organizations serve over 500,000 Utah students and 25,000 teachers annually, representing one of the state’s longest-standing and most far-reaching legislative commitments to arts education. POPS is grounded in the belief that access to the arts makes Utah communities stronger.

Cohort membership is not self-designated. Each POPS organization is formally recognized through the legislative appropriations process and is subject to ongoing oversight by the USBE, which monitors compliance, educational alignment, and program impact across all member organizations.

Interested in POPS membership? Joining the POPS Cohort is a meaningful and deliberate process. It requires formal recognition through a separate legislative appropriation — meaning prospective organizations must pursue their own line-item funding through the Utah Legislature with the support of the full POPS Cohort. USBE guides this process, and organizations are encouraged to connect with a current POPS organization to learn more. You can also find additional information by clicking here.