Today the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona, announced the recipients of its latest round of grants in support of arts learning programs throughout the state. Grants of up to $10,000 were awarded to 25 programs serving populations across the aging spectrum.

Recipients include a youth-driven program integrating the arts into community health and wellness education for residents of South Phoenix; the Native American Composer Apprentice Project, which pairs professional Native American composers with young Navaho and Hopi musicians; and Operation Enjoyable Employment (OEE), which offers veterans artistic and creative job-skills development.

Youth Arts Engagement Grants

Youth Arts Engagement (YAE) Grants support programs focused on young people ages 24 and under that occur outside of traditional school hours, and which provide creative expression in safe and nurturing environments, are rooted in youth voices, narratives, and perspectives, and utilize the assets of the community being served.

In alignment with the Arts Commission’s values regarding arts learning for young people, YAE grants prioritize youth voice, asset-based approaches, and arts programming that serves the whole person.

Grantees

  • AZ Eagles Nest Presents, Keystone Montessori Charter School, Phoenix
  • Mariposa Art Outside, Studio Mariposa, Bisbee
  • Rehearsal for Success: Practice of Accountability, The U-Turn Foundation, Mesa
  • Art After Dark, Children’s Museum Tucson, Tucson
  • Youth Art Education Programs, Santa Cruz Valley Art Association, Tubac
  • Healing with the Homies, Re:Frame Youth Arts Center, Phoenix
  • DanceAZ School Residency Program, Ballet Arizona, Phoenix
  • Media Content Creation Program, The Drop Dance Studio, Tucson
  • Harmony Project Phoenix – Mariachi Ensembles, Harmony Project Phoenix, Scottsdale
  • Devising Social and Emotional Wellbeing with Youth People, Grey Box Collective (GBC), PHOENIX
  • Grads in Focus Photography Mentoring Program, Kids in Focus, Phoenix
  • Art Immersion Experience, GEM Charter School, Mesa

Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants

Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants support projects that foster meaningful arts learning experiences in community settings for adult learners of any age. Projects can include, but are not limited to, using creative expression to improve quality of life for older adults (Creative Aging), intergenerational projects, and/or providing sequential hands-on learning in, through, or about the arts for adult learners.

While the ultimate beneficiaries of this grant are defined as “adult learners,” intergenerational programming is also eligible for support.

Grantees

  • MindSong Music and Songwriting Lab for Special Needs Arizonans, Civitan Foundation, Inc., Phoenix
  • Operation Enjoyable Employment — Developing Artistic Careers for Disabled Arizona Veterans, Creative Drill Sergeants | Technical Assistance Partnership of Arizona, Phoenix
  • Creative Interventions, Rising Youth Theatre, Phoenix
  • De Colores Domestic and Sexual Violence Healing Arts Studio, Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC), Phoenix
  • Grandma’s Hands: Community Sewing Lessons, MAA Global Group, Mesa