A new year means new events for the arts community in West Jordan. 

The Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan has been around for 30 years. The organization used to be part of the city but in 2016 they asked Vic Groves and his wife Michelle Groves to break off the arts from the city and become an independent arts 501(c)(3) organization. In 2019 it officially became the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan. 

The city is very supportive and CASWJ receives grants, non-government grants and donations. The city supports 75% of their operations besides building usage. CASWJ is the primary occupant of the new community arts center. The city does huge amounts of funding for the new Community Arts Center. Previously they used to share space in Midvale at their Midvale Performing Aats Center. They now have a home for the arts in West Jordan. A place that recently hosted the Wasatch Improv Festival in January. 

The Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan has grown a lot since 2019. The growth includes theater, youth theater, band, symphony, literary and visual arts. Leadership changed when Vic Groves stepped down three years ago. 

They are doing their first Shakespeare show, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” They are in the process of casting, having just recently finished auditions. 

Dillon Workman has been the executive director of the Cultural Arts Society for three years, and has also been playing violin with the symphony for three years. 

“This organization has a way of bringing people in, and they want to stay around and make friends. That is very special about this community, the arts in general, it’s so welcoming of everybody,” Workman said. 

There are a lot of opportunities to volunteer, find employment and perform. West Jordan is the third biggest city in the state and CASWJ is one of the biggest cultural arts programs in the state. 

The West Jordan community band exceeded 100 players within the last year. They are one of the largest concert bands in the nation. Because they are so large they just founded West Jordan Winds. All new theater groups perform at the Canyon View Credit Union Community and Arts Center along with jazz bands and the symphony. 

One of their biggest projects is Art in the Park which is done at the Veterans Memorial Park. This event is coming up on May 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be tents, food trucks, booths, art work is displayed, chalk art, performances on the pavilion and on the stage. There will be a new dedicated stage for performances. There is a youth group that performs with large numbers.

They have the junior show age 4-16, and the senior youth 12-18. They have auditions for the youth shows because there are so many who want to perform. They like to include as many kids as they can, so they overcast the show. 

“No matter what the organization's arts are, like dancing, literary arts, theater or visuals, it gives performers the opportunity to meet friends and enjoy performing,” Vic Groves said, director of Sugar House Factory Playhouse. 

To find out about all of the performances go to wjarts.org 

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” performed by Sugar Factory Playhouse. (Photo courtesy Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan)