For Immediate Release
October 31, 2016

Contact: Steve Wilcox
602-771-6536
[email protected]

State of Arizona Awards Grants to Arts Learning Collaborations and Lifelong Arts Engagement Programs

On October 31, 2016, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona, announced 19 grants awarded to Arizona schools and nonprofit organizations in support of programs that establish or enhance opportunities for Arizona residents of all ages to learn through or about the arts.

In total, $41,500 was awarded through this, the second round of fiscal year 2018 Arts Learning Collaboration Grants and Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants. The grants are awarded three times each fiscal year. The grants announced today bring the total awarded through these programs this fiscal year to $130,000.

Arts Learning Collaboration Grants enhance the work of arts educators, classroom teachers and school-based arts programs through collaborative projects taking place in-school (during regular school hours), after-school, or during summer/inter-session and in-services.

Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants support a wide range of projects which increase access to participatory, meaningful arts experiences; link creative experiences in the arts to youth development outcomes; use the arts and creative expression to improve quality of life for older adults (Creative Aging); engage intergenerational communities; and/or provide sequential, hands-on learning in, through, or about the arts for learners of any age.

In accordance with the Arts Commission’s strategic plan and governing statutes, schools and nonprofit arts organizations are awarded grants based on such factors as quality of programming, potential impact and responsible stewardship of public funds. Grant applications are reviewed within rigorous panel processes and approved by the agency’s board of Governor-appointed Commissioners.

Grant funding is provided by the State of Arizona and funding awarded annually to the Arts Commission by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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 a 49-year-old agency of the State of Arizona and a leading force in the creative and professional development of Arizona’s arts sector. Through robust programs, research initiatives and strategic grantmaking, the Arts Commission catalyzes arts-based partnerships that strengthen Arizona communities through the arts.

For more information about the grants, services and programs of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, visit www.azarts.gov.

We imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.

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To request this or any other agency publication in an alternative format, contact the Arts Commission offices at (602) 771-6502.

Images available upon request.

Fiscal Year 2018 Arts Learning Collaboration Grants (Cycle B)

Academy with Community Partners, Mesa: $2,500

Bridging Possibilities Character Building workshop – The workshop teaches underserved youth life skills to help them confront the daily issues they face, such as bullying, peer pressure, gangs, and conflict, as well as helping them with school work.

Anza Trail School, Sahuarita School District, Sahuarita: $2,000

Anza Trail Third Grade Dance Residency is a collaboration with FunHouse Movement Theater for a 10 day intensive of movement, team work, creativity, and performance.

Continental Elementary School District, Green Valley: $2,500

Continental Third and Fourth Grade Dance Residency is a collaboration with FunHouse Movement Theater for a 10 day intensive of movement, team work, creativity, and performance.

Copper View Elementary School, Sahuarita School District, Sahuarita: $2,000

Copper View Third Grade Dance Residency is a collaboration with Funhouse Movement Theater for a 10 day intensive of movement, team work, creativity, and performance.

Desert Star School, Cornville: $2,000

“Celebrating The Art In Earth” is an innovative program where 5 experienced and trained Gardens for Humanity (GfH) Teaching Artists present environmental education using art techniques, skills and materials to 3rd graders in this under-funded rural school in Sedona with a total impact of 450 child hours of art and earth learning, thus increasing essential environmental and arts education including social development by 50% as evidenced by the pre & post tests, collected evaluations and comments

Hancock Elementary School, Chandler Unified School District, Chandler: $2,500

Instructors will work with Hancock students to explore cross-cultural and engaged learning through the history of Polynesian migration through language, dance, and instrumental works, to be integrated into a final performance piece sharing the culture through knowledge gained through traditional hula and tahitian dancing, language/song, and Tahitian drumming.

Keystone Montessori, Phoenix: $1,500

The project is intended to engage 32 students in 7th-9th grade in the process of producing a live performance of Robin Hood using a published script. Skills and learning opportunities that align with state standards and the Montessori pedagogy, including all aspects of theatre production will be embedded throughout. The project will involve a residency with artist, Debra K. Stevens, from Childsplay.

Kyrene School District, Tempe: $2,000

Arts Integration strategies and implementation ideas will be studied, learned, and implemented by Kyrene regular classroom teachers, school administrators, arts and special areas teachers, special education teachers and special education personnel of Kyrene de la Paloma and Kyrene del Pueblo schools.

Rivera Elementary, Sunnyside School District, Tucson: $2,500

UpBeat will collaborate with Rivera Elementary to provide students with a rigorous and fun instrumental music education.

Sedona Charter School, Sedona: $2,000

“Celebrating The Art In Earth” is an innovative program where 5 experienced and trained Gardens for Humanity (GfH) Teaching Artists present environmental education using art techniques, skills and materials to 3rd graders in this under-funded rural school in Sedona with a total impact of 440 child hours of art and earth learning, thus increasing essential environmental/arts education and social development by 50% as evidenced by the pre & post tests, collected evaluations and comments.

St. John the Evangelist School, Tucson: $1,500

Exploring 5 Regions of Mexico through Dance and Art. This project will guide 2nd & 3rd grade students through an exploration of 5 regions of Mexico through Folklorico dance and visual arts. The students will learn/study a dance and create art projects based on the region.

Fiscal Year 2018 Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants (Cycle B)

City of Phoenix, Phoenix: $2,500

Creative Aging: Readers Theatre is an innovative pilot partnership between the City of Phoenix Human Services Department, the Herberger Theater Center, and Essential Theatre that will provide City of Phoenix seniors with two engaging Readers Theatre programs, culminating with public presentations at the Herberger’s Kax Stage.

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff: $2,000

NAU’s undergraduate and MFA graduate programs are deeply enriched by the writing and performance of that writing by visiting authors. This year the school will invite exclusively Native American writers to read for their students to address issues of intersectionality, advancing sometimes difficult, political work, and to connect students with some of the region’s most talented writers.

Oakwood Creative Care, Mesa: $2,500

This grant will provide support in providing additional training and education to staff in achieving specialized training in delivering quality art based programs in areas such as storytelling, poetry, visual art, and culture engagement with for club members in addition to specialized dementia care training.

Phoenix Day, Phoenix: $2,500

In partnership with the Phoenix Conservatory of Music (PCM), Phoenix Day contracts with an artistin-residence to facilitate an every-other-week music program for our seven classrooms of children, ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years. Most of these children are classified as “at-risk” students.

Prescott Meals On Wheels, Prescott: $2,500

Arts on Wheels is a pilot-project to engage homebound adults served by Prescott Meals On Wheels with movement, poetry, and visual arts to reduce isolation and build on our existing relationships to support and sustain a vibrant, creative, high-quality of life.

Primavera Foundation, Tucson: $2,500

ArtMoves at Primavera fosters creative agency and well-being among children, women, and men living in Primavera’s emergency shelters by providing visual art instruction, combined with creative movement, storytelling, and theater games, designed to ignite participants’ artistic expression, engage them in the cultural life of the larger community, and bring public visibility to them as artistic creators.

Tonatierra Community Development Institute, Phoenix: $2,500

This project entails inviting Maestro Juan Campechano Yan of El CasĂłn Centro Cultural of Veracruz, Mexico as Resident Artist to mentor musical and community-oriented growth with a series of workshops and culminating fandanguitos (small informal, community gatherings in which participants play various improvisational roles framed through son jarocho expression and relationship building).

VALLEYLIFE, Phoenix: $1,500

Working with Muralist John Gardner and teaching artist Christy Puetz, VALLEYLIFE clients with developmental and physical disabilities will be engaged in helping to paint a mural to replace the peeling mural on a very visible small building on their main campus.