The first week of July 2016 delivered a lot of good news to Arizona’s nonprofit arts sector. In the space of 6 days, City of Phoenix Arts and Culture, Flagstaff Arts Council and the Arizona Commission on the Arts all made major announcements regarding increased investment through grantmaking.
On July 1, City of Phoenix Arts and Culture announced the recipients of the city’s Community Arts Support Grants for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Altogether, a total of $865,346 was awarded to 55 non-profit arts and culture organizations serving the residents of Phoenix through arts and culture activities. This total was $60,000 higher than last year’s.
“We can’t create a strong economy without a vibrant arts community, which is why we tripled our funding for the arts over the past four years,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “This year we were able to amplify that investment in the arts and culture sector through our grants program.”
Flagstaff also increased its investment this year. On Tuesday, July 5, 2016, Flagstaff Arts Council announced it would award General Operating Support grants to 27 nonprofit organizations and 12 project grants for a total of $334,500, a 20% increase over last year.
According to John Tannous, Executive Director of the Arts Council, “The arts are proven as an incredibly valuable investment for local economies around the country and especially in Flagstaff. This is in addition to the social, health and creative benefits programs provide to our residents and visitors. Simply put, Flagstaff is a better community because of this grant funding and the work of the agencies receiving funds.”
The increase in funding reflects an increase in the city’s Bed, Board and Beverage (BBB) tax revenues, a portion of which funds Flagstaff’s Art & Science Fund grant programs.
The day after Flagstaff made their announcement, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona, made their own announcement:
State of Arizona Increases Investment in the Arts, Awards $2,266,000 in Grants Statewide
239 grants were awarded to nonprofit arts organizations, local arts agencies, schools and community organizations across the state. The $2,266,000 total represents a more than 100% increase to total funding awarded during last year’s first grantmaking cycle. This increased investment in arts organizations, festivals and community-based programs was made possible through a one-time $1.5 million allocation in the state’s fiscal year 2017 budget to the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
“Even with the unprecedented funding challenges Arizona has faced in recent years, leaders in the House and Senate, on both sides of the aisle, fought for our communities, persistently making the case that a vibrant arts sector is a key ingredient of a healthy and improving economy,” said Mark Feldman, Chairman of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “Representative Kate Brophy McGee, Senator Bob Worsley, Senator Steve Pierce and Senator Steve Farley were particularly steadfast advocates, working with elected officials at all levels to ensure that arts funding was included in the final legislative budget presented to the governor. We are grateful to leaders in the State Legislature and to Governor Ducey for making this additional investment a reality.”
Arizona’s arts sector has a lot to celebrate this year and hopes are high that these trends will continue. For the state’s part, the additional $1.5 million investment is a one-time allocation. To learn how you can help build public value for the arts in your community and ensure future investment, check out the resource book “Building Public Value for the Arts.” You can also connect with Arizona Citizens for the Arts, a statewide network of arts champions who work tirelessly to promote arts-friendly public policy at the state level and in Arizona’s local communities.
Congratulations to all the arts organizations receiving grants this month and thank you for all you do to help the Arizona Commission on the Arts imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.
Photo: A member of the performing arts group, Bacchus Arts Collective, performs on Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff during the Flagstaff Arts Council’s Summer Nights on the Square. Photo by Nathan Clements.
