PHOENIX, AZ (December 2, 2009) – The Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) and Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) have awarded one-time American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support economic stimulus in Arizona’s creative sector. In total, 27 Arizona arts organizations have or will receive support from one of these three agencies. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a federal stimulus program designed to aid the economic recovery of our state and nation, included a $50 million investment in the recovery of the arts and culture sector, in recognition of the sector’s unique contributions to local economies and lifelong education. This investment in the arts is administered by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Arizona’s state arts agency, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, will grant $273,000 to support the state component of the program, focused exclusively on the preservation of existing jobs that are in jeopardy or have been eliminated as a result of the economic downturn.
This funding is being delivered at a critical time. The ongoing recession and continuing reductions to public, corporate and charitable arts support have been devastating to the arts industry. According to Arizona Commission on the Arts’ quarterly surveys of the arts sector, the majority of Arizona arts organizations which employ paid staff are utilizing layoffs and significant program reductions in order to survive this fiscal year. The damage to the arts industry has created a domino effect in Arizona communities, adversely affecting the earnings of small businesses, including restaurants, shops and hotels, as well as earnings which support local municipal services – all of which negatively affect efforts to diversify Arizona’s ailing economy.
Applications to the Arizona Arts Jobs Preservation Program were reviewed by 7 panelists representing the North, South and Central parts of our state. Panelists were selected for their breadth of knowledge related to the creative sector’s impact in Arizona communities, as well as for their experience with nonprofit arts and culture organizations. Arizona Arts Jobs Preservation Program panelists included Jacky Alling, Vice President of Programs, Arizona Community Foundation; Darryl Dobras, Governor-Appointed Commissioner, Tucson; David Drennon, Director of Community and Public Affairs, Arizona Department of Commerce; State Representative Doris Goodale, R-District 3, Kingman; Diane Prescott, Governor-Appointed Commissioner, Cottonwood; Danita Rios, Governor-Appointed Commissioner, Phoenix; and Bill Sheppard, Governor-Appointed Commissioner, Phoenix.
Out of 36 applications to the Arts Commission, 21 arts organizations were selected to receive Arizona Arts Jobs Preservation Program grants of $13,000 each. Jobs preserved or recovered through this program directly relate to the mission and community services of the applicant organizations. Recipients represent the Arizona arts industry’s diversity of discipline and service, organization size, focus and geographic location.
Of the program, State Representative Doris Goodale (R-District 3) of Kingman said, “I believe strongly in the arts as a vibrant part of Arizona, they play a critical role in economic development and bring an enrichment to our cities and communities. It is very sad that, in these economic times, unfortunately funding for the arts has been cut, but I am thrilled that this program will preserve arts jobs and programs in our state. I was also thrilled that rural Arizona will receive funds from this grant program. A lot of times we think of the arts just being in Phoenix and Tucson. This program provides essential funding to support programs that benefit all of our communities.”
Two Arizona arts organizations have been recommended to receive support from the regional arts organization that serves 13 western states, the Western State Arts Federation (WESTAF). These are Childsplay, Tempe ($30,000) and Tucson Pima Arts Council, Tucson ($40,000).
Four Arizona arts organizations received support directly from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through a highly-competitive grant opportunity managed by the federal government. Awarded support directly from the NEA were Arizona Theatre Company, Tucson ($50,000); Ballet Arizona, Phoenix ($50,000); Borderlands Theater Teatro Fronterizo, Inc., Tucson ($25,000) and Drawing Studio, Inc., Tucson ($25,000).
The following is a list of organizations receiving support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts Arizona Arts Jobs Preservation Program:
Organization, City
Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Phoenix
Arts for All, Inc., Tucson
Business Volunteers for the Arts/Phoenix, Inc., Phoenix
Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Phoenix
Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Flagstaff
Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (DBA) Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, Oro Valley
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff
Odaiko Sonora, Tucson
Opening Minds through the Arts Foundation, Tucson
Phoenix Theatre, Inc., Phoenix
Sedona Chamber Music Society dba Chamber Music Sedona, Sedona
The Bead Museum, Glendale
Theatrikos Theatre Company, Flagstaff
Tucson Museum of Art & Historic District, Tucson
Tucson Symphony Society, Tucson
Valley Youth Theatre, Phoenix
Voices Community Stories Past and Present, Inc., Tucson
West Valley Fine Arts Council, Avondale
Wickenburg Foundation for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg
Yuma Fine Arts Association, Inc., Yuma
About the Arizona Commission on the Arts
One of 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the United States, the Arizona Commission on the Arts is an agency of the State of Arizona that supports a statewide arts network. The Arizona Commission on the Arts supports access to quality arts and arts education opportunities for all Arizona citizens; the development and retention of statewide jobs in the nonprofit arts, culture and education sectors; and increased economic impact in local communities through arts-based partnerships that develop tax and small business revenue.
We imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.
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