If you're at this weekend's performances of "Carmen," you'll probably see a lot more young people in the audience than you'd expect.

That's because of a new project funded by the Fresno County Office of Education. The Artist in Residence program is providing "Carmen" tickets to approximately 500 students from four local middle and high schools: Clovis East High, Selma High, Kastner Intermediate and University High.

In addition, about 400 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders attended the dress rehearsal prior to opening. (The youngsters got a slightly tamer version of the opera's more risqué adult moments.)

It's all part of an effort to expose more students to the arts.

"Something like the opera is unexplored territory for many of them," says Robert Bullwinkel, the visual and performing arts coordinator for the office of education.

Besides tickets to the opera itself, students receive both pre- and post-lectures about the experience.

The three-year program, announced last year by county superintendent Larry Powell, provides $50,000 in grants a year in $10,000 chunks. Besides Fresno Grand Opera, this year's recipients are four individual artists: dancer Amy Querin, visual artist William Raines, musician Evo Blustein and costume designer Elizabeth Payne. They'll be working intensively with students at a range of schools.

Other upcoming Fresno Grand Opera events related to the grant include an online youth singing competition in which high school and college students will compete for the chance to sing at the company's "Opera on Van Ness" March 11 concert, plus a chance to meet superstar Renee Fleming at her March 27 Fresno performance.