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Arizona Arts Congress, February 2,
2009
Arizona Arts Congress is an annual event
held at the Arizona State Capitol. The value and impact of
public funding for the arts and arts policy are discussed
and debated between legislators and arts advocates. As a
key part of the democratic process, the Arizona Arts
Congress connects the role of state funding with arts
programs in schools and communities throughout the state.
Sponsored by
Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the non-profit
statewide arts advocacy organization; and
Arizona
Commission on the Arts.
Images from this year's event
Staff greet participants at the Arizona Arts Congress. Ioannis Goudelis, pianist and composer, entertains participants as they arrive for Arizona Arts Congress. Members of the Glendale Arts Commission. Marilu Knode, Future Arts Research at ASU and Kathryn Henneman, Arizona Arts Community Sen. John Huppenthal and Brenda Sperduti, Executive Director of Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts Phoenix Artist Claudio Dicochea talks with an arts advocate. Ben Monrad of Stray Cat Theatre. Sandy Um, Phoenix Theatre Company and David Aguirre, Dinnerware Gallery, Tucson speak with Commission staff Jennifer Tsukayama. Members of PrismTheatre and Arizona Students for the Arts. Cari Koch, stage manager and her team Connie Henry, from ProMusica Chorale and Orchestra speaks with a fellow attendee. The Kultala's, representing Glendale Visitors Center and Glendale Arts Commission. Burt Harclerode and Ed Ingraham from Chamber Music Sedona. Commission staff with Rep. Patricia Fleming, Sierra Vista An attendee chats with Judy Waigula of Art League West Robert Breunig, Commissioner, Flagstaff and Robert Booker, Executive Director, Arizona Commission on the Arts. Shirley Chann, Commissioner, Tucson and Tucson advocates. Donna Valdes, Xico, Inc. Chandler and David Aguirre, Dinnerware, Tucson. Commission staff Adriana Gallego speaks with a constituent. Jessica Andrews, Board President, Arizona Citizens for the Arts. Essay Winner, Zach Heltzel, Ironwood High School. Essay Winner Lindsay Zollinger, Chapparral Elementary School Heather Lineberry, Acting Director, ASU Art Museum and Shelley Cohn. Brenda Sperduti, Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts addresses the crowd. Danita Rios, Arts Commissioner, Phoenix. Robert Booker, Arizona Commission on the Arts. Robert Booker, Arizona Commission on the Arts, addresses the Arts Congress. Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Arizona Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Arizona addresses the audience. Brenda Sperduti, Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts shows off cards to thank legislators for coming to Arts Congress. Roberta Ukura, Board Member, Arizona Citizens for the Arts, Yuma Attendees enjoy a delicious lunch with legislators. Flamenco Guitarist Chris Burton Jacome plays for participants Rep. David Stevens, Sierra Vista Dianne Cripe, City of Goodyear and Rep. Jerry Weiers, Glendale Sen. Barbara Leff, Paradise Valley Sen. Barbara Leff address the Arizona Arts Congress. Allen Afeldt, AZCA Board Member and Sen. Sylvia Allen, Snowflake. Rod Castillo of Mesa Unified School District addresses the crowd. Sen. Barbara Leff and Bill Sheppard, Arts Commissioner, Phoenix Rep. Chad Campbell, Phoenix Rep. Robert Meza, Phoenix Marilu Knode, ASU and Rep. Chad Campbell, Phoenix Sen. Rebecca Rios, Apache Junction; Rep. Barbara McGuire, Kearny; and Rep. Russ Jones, Yuma pose with attendees. Sen. Thayer Verschoor, Gilbert talks with Kathie McMahon of East Valley Children's Theatre Connie Myren and Sen. Al Melvin, Tucson Barbara Levy of Tucson Symphony and Shirley Chann, Arts Commissioner, Tucson Tom Chapman, Arizona Citizens for the Arts, Phoenix and Gold Canyon advocate Rex Ijams, Yuma Arts and Roberta Ukura, Yuma Parks and Recreation A constituent and Sen. Sam Crump, Anthem Rep. Steve Farley, Tucson Rep. Steve Farley, Tucson energizes the crowd. Rep. Cloves Campbell Jr., Phoenix Local TV Personality Pat McMahon Pat McMahon entertains the audience. Megan Jefferies, Ballet Arizona Members of Fuschiko Daiko. Rep. Doug Quelland, Phoenix Rep. Steve Montenegro, Litchfield Park Sen. Debbie McCune Davis, Phoenix Sen. Debbie McCune Davis and Natalia Ronceria of Great Arizona Puppet Theatre Julie Richard, West Valley Arts Council and Mayor of Goodyear Jim Cavanaugh Essay Winner Zach Heltzel listens to Arts Congress speakers. Teniqua Broughton, of Free Arts of Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, Phoenix and Jose Gibran Villalobos, City of Glendale Arts Commisssion Essay winner and Pat McMahon Essay winner Victoria Rodriguez AZ Students for the Arts, John Morgan Rep. Rae Waters, Ahwatukee AZ Students for the Arts, John Wheeler Rep. Lynne Pancrazi, Yuma and attendees. Rep. Lynne Pancrazi, Yuma Julie Richard, West Valley Arts Council Bill Sheppard, Arts Commissioner, Phoenix and Rep. David Lujan, Phoenix Mayor of Goodyear Jim Cavanaugh Pam Wanser, Ballet Arizona Sen. John Nelson, Litchfield Park and West Valley Fine Arts member. Sandi McCullough-Jones, Voices of the Desert Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill, Tempe Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill, Tempe talks with a student. Robert Booker, Arizona Commission on the Arts. Rep. Andy Tobin, Paulden talks with a constituent. John "JT" Tannous, Flagstaff Cultural Partners Rep. Chris Deschene, St. Michaels Pat McMahon and Brenda Sperduti, Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts. Robert Booker and Jaime Dempsey, Arizona Commission on the Arts. Robert Booker, Arizona Commission on the Arts and Brenda Sperduti, Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts. Members of Arizona Theatre Company. Sam Campana, Robert Breunig, Arts Commissioner, Flagstaff, and Shelley Cohn Arizona Citizens/Action for the Arts Staff Members Adriana Gallego, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Eileen Bagnall, ArtAbility and Mitch Menchaca, Arizona Commission on the Arts. Thank you for coming to the 2009 Arizona Arts Congress!
States can use the arts to boost their economies in a variety of ways, from incorporating arts into economic development and community development plans to supporting arts education and promoting arts assets as boosts to cultural tourism.
—National Governors Association, Arts and the Economy, 2009 Senator ____,
Thank you so much for your interest in the arts. As a parent with a child at Cocopah Middle School and 2 children in band for Chaparral that graduated, art has been an important facet in our house! Thanks again for all you do. Representative ____,
Thank you for making the time to visit with all of us at Arts Congress 2009. Your support is vitally important to youngsters, adults, and communities and PSA Art Awakenings participants affected by serious behavioral illnesses. Thank you!
”No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.”
—Edward Hopper
Dear Representative ____,
As managing Director for Desert Foothills Theatre, I represent over 2,000 people from the Carefree, Cave Creek, North Scottsdale, and North Phoenix area who attend our shows, perform (or work) on our shows or are reached through our education program in CCOSD. First, I want to thank you for your work for our area. I also wanted to share with you the importance of the arts and artists in our communities. As you are aware, the arts are imperative to the economic value of our tours whether through the art galleries, individual artists/entrepreneurs or through the people of the arts business of the area to support other businesses. When you are struggling fiscally, I’m sure you are considering ways to stimulate the economy and create jobs and support the businesses that exist and the arts do that. Thank you for all you do and come see a show any time!
1.6 million—Average number of Arizona students reached by Commission-sponsored activities and programs each year.
Dear Representative ____,
Thank you for everything you do for our wonderful community. Prescott loves the arts—it helps define who we are as a people. Your representation helps give us the opportunity to express our dreams. $166.2 billion—Amount generated nationally in economic activity every year by the nonprofit arts and culture industry.
—Arts and Economic Prosperity III, Americans for the Arts
Rep. ____,
I would like to thank you for your support of the arts in Northern AZ, and statewide. A Theatrikos Theatre Co. in Flagstaff will serve an audience of over 10,000 per year, of all colors, creeds and races, and we could not do so without the support of our elected officials! Please come and see a show!
1.6 million—Average number of Arizona students reached by Commission-sponsored activities and programs each year.
Dear Rep. ____,
On behalf of myself and my students, thank you for your hard work and support for education and the arts. Without your efforts, what we do would not be possible. Best of luck to you and your family, and I look forward to meeting you in the future.
”No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.” —Edward Hopper
Dear _____,
Thank you so much for coming to speak and sit with us at the Arts Congress! Your experience and heart are so valuable in AZ government, and I likewise thank you for taking on that part of our mission.
93% of Americans believe the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education. —Harris poll
Rep. ____,
I voted for your advocacy of health care for all. I know in your experience you have been exposed to the value of art therapy in the healing process. Crafts as a way for range of motion to improve or brain activity to be stimulated. Art for expression, celebration, community unity is so critical in times of strife. Let us take our skills into the community—Thank you for continual support and do no harm Legislation.
"An elementary school that treats the arts as a province of a few gifted children, or views them as recreation and entertainment, is a school that needs an infusion of soul. The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic." —William J. Bennett Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Dear Legislator,
The arts stimulate the economy and enrich the lives of all communities. In a time when solutions are needed to resolve complex issues, artists are ready to think out of the box and build a cultural infrastructure that is sustainable and thriving.
Representative _____,
Thank you for joining us at Arts Congress this week. As a voter in Dist. 20 and employee of KSD#28 and as managing director of Stray Cat Theater in Tempe I appreciate your commitment to helping guide Arizona through the current crisis and on into the future, knowing that you’ll be doing your utmost to protect the vital interest of arts education, and the combination of the two. Stray Cat theater has been a stable steadily growing organization for over 8 years and could not have done so and can not continue to do so without the support of the legislative and the ongoing health and strength of the commission.
Senator _____,
Thank you for giving us your time to talk with us today. We greatly appreciate your continued efforts in the senate. Thank you for serving our country and our State. Dear Senator ____,
Thank you so much for coming to the Arts Congress. I know it has been an exhausting time in the legislature, so I appreciate your taking the time to attend. The Drawing Studio is a visual arts center for people 9 to 99+ from all walks of life. Unlike some arts organizations we are almost entirely supported by earned income and individual business gifts. Yet the small portion of public money we receive is a drawing engine to generate our other support. We serve thousands of people with life changing programs with only a modest investment. The Arts are “Ganga” deal.
Representative _____,
I wanted to personally thank you for your participation in Arts Congress 2009. It was also wonderful meeting you. I do hope you will continue to vote with the Arts in the coming sessions. Although this is a difficult time for all, the Arts are proven to generate revenue, enhance quality of life for AZ residents and improve the education of Arizona’s children. Thank you again for your support and I wish you the best in 2009.
Staff greet participants at the Arizona Arts Congress.
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