The calendar below features upcoming Arts Commission deadlines, events, information sessions and workshop opportunities. Times, dates and event details may be subject to change. For more information, please email [email protected].

 

May
25
Thu
Panel Review Meeting: Creative Capacity Grant
May 25 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This is a Public Meeting.

This meeting will be broadcast live online at https://azarts.gov/panels/grant-review-panel-meeting/.

Applications under review:

  1. Aliento
  2. Arizona Musicfest
  3. Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona
  4. Ballet Tucson
  5. Chandler Cultural Foundation
  6. Childsplay, Inc.
  7. Creative Flagstaff
  8. Del E Webb Center for the Performing Arts
  9. Desert Caballeros Western Museum
  10. Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
  11. i.d.e.a. Museum Foundation
  12. Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
  13. KXCI
  14. Loft Cinema, Inc.
  15. Phoenix Boys Chorus
  16. Phoenix Center for the Arts
  17. Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children, Inc.
  18. Sharlot Hall Museum
  19. Shemer Art Center & Museum Association, Inc.
  20. SOUNDS Academy
  21. Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance
  22. The Drawing Studio, Inc.
  23. The Mini Time Machine Inc.
  24. The Nash
  25. The Rogue Theatre
  26. True Concord Voices & Orchestra
  27. Willcox Theater and Arts, Inc.
  28. Xico, Inc.
May
31
Wed
Panel Review Meeting: Creative Capacity Grant
May 31 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This is a Public Meeting.

This meeting will be broadcast live online at https://azarts.gov/panels/grant-review-panel-meeting/.

Applications under review:

  1. Arizona Opera
  2. Arizona Theatre Company
  3. Ballet Arizona
  4. Children’s Museum of Phoenix
  5. Children’s Museum Tucson
  6. Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation
  7. Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
  8. Heard Museum
  9. Herberger Theater Center
  10. Mesa Arts Center
  11. Museum of Northern Arizona
  12. Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
  13. Phoenix Art Museum
  14. Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture
  15. Rialto Theatre
  16. Scottsdale Artists School, Inc.
  17. Scottsdale Arts
  18. Scottsdale Museum of the West
  19. Sedona Arts Center
  20. Sedona International Film Festival & Workshop
  21. The Be Kind People Project
  22. The Phoenix Symphony
  23. The Phoenix Theatre Company
  24. TheaterWorks
  25. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
  26. Tucson Symphony Orchestra
  27. Valley Youth Theatre
Jun
1
Thu
Panel Review Meeting: Creative Capacity Grant
Jun 1 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This is a Public Meeting.

This meeting will be broadcast live online at https://azarts.gov/panels/grant-review-panel-meeting/.

Applications under review:

  1. Almost Famous Theatre Company
  2. Cave Creek Museum
  3. Dancing In the Streets Arizona (DITSAZ)
  4. Flagstaff Pride
  5. Foothills Community Foundation, Desert Foothills Theater
  6. Great Arizona Puppet Theater
  7. Mexican-American Heritage and History Museum
  8. Oracle Piano Society
  9. Phonetic Spit
  10. Romero House Potters
  11. Shining Light Foundation
  12. Skyes the Limit Foundation
  13. Society for Bevel Intentions
  14. Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre
  15. The Mountain Artists Guild
  16. The Vista Center for the Arts
  17. The Walter Hive
  18. Tucson Regional Ballet
  19. Xerocraft
  20. Yuma Art Center
Panel Review Meeting: Youth Arts Engagement Grants
Jun 1 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

This is a Public Meeting.

This meeting will be broadcast live online at https://azarts.gov/panels/grant-review-panel-meeting/.

Applications under review:

  1. Ottawa University
  2. Paradise Valley Unified School District Dance
  3. Phoenix Youth Circus Arts
  4. Places! Productions
  5. Silvestre S Herrera School
  6. Stage Left Productions
  7. Tetra String Quartet
Jul
20
Thu
Deadline: Research and Development Grant
Jul 20 @ 11:59 am – 11:59 am

Research & Development (R&D) Grants provide funding support to Arizona artists as they work to advance their artistic practice, expand their creative horizons, and deepen the impact of their work.

Who’s it For?

Whether you’re just getting started or you have already experienced many career successes, the R&D Grant is available to help you take your artistic practice to the next level, including:

  • exploration of new techniques
  • experimentation with new materials or technologies
  • creation of new work
  • development of new strategies for engaging your community of practice

This grant is available to Arizona artists working in any discipline. Applicants must be individuals and may submit only one application per year. Organizations are not eligible to apply. At the time an application is submitted, and the grant is awarded, an applicant must be:

  • 18 years of age or older;
  • not enrolled for more than three credit hours at a college or university;
  • and a resident of Arizona.

Recipients of the R&D Grant must wait 4 years to reapply and may receive a maximum of 4 awards in their lifetime.

Award Amount

Applicants may request a minimum of $3,000 and a maximum of $5,000.

Up to 20 grants will be awarded this year.

Eligible Expenses

Grant funds may be used for any of the following (this list is not comprehensive):

  • Stipend to grantee
  • Stipends to collaborators
  • Materials
  • Travel costs

  • Technology
  • Equipment
  • Space rental
  • Marketing costs

  • Production costs
  • Documentation
  • Rehearsal time
  • Registration fees

The funding period is January 2024 – January 2025. Proposed activities may be underway prior to the time of application but must be completed by January 31, 2025.

The R&D Grant application is split into two stages. All applicants submit a Proposal Narrative and Work Samples. Applications determined to be most competitive according to evaluation criteria move on to Stage 2.


Application: Stage 1

Proposal Narrative & Work Samples

Due 11:59 pm, July 20, 2023

Notification of Stage 2 Advancement

September 15, 2023

Application: Stage 2

Process Map, Experience List, & Expense List

Due 11:59 PM, October 12, 2023


Panel Review

November 16, 2023

Grants Awarded

December 15, 2023

Funds Delivered

No later than
April 12, 2024

Applicants are encouraged to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing this application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact Director of Artist Programs Kesha Bruce at [email protected] or (602) 771-6530.

Prepare Narrative Responses

You can type your proposal narrative or you can upload audio recordings of your responses. For each narrative question you will find a maximum word count (not character) and a maximum recording length. If you share your proposal narrative via audio recordings, keep it simple and to the point. Don’t worry about impressing the panelists with your recording technique, just make sure we can hear and understand you. All audio files must be uploaded as MP3 files (.mp3). Some applicants find it helpful to develop the narrative portion of the application using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to thoughtfully draft their responses and monitor their word counts for each question.

Create an Account

In the interest of improving the user experience for applicants and reviewers, the Arizona Commission on the Arts has transitioned to a new submission platform this year: SurveyMonkey Apply. Whether you are a new or returning applicant, you will need to create an account on our new platform at https://azarts.smapply.io/.

When you’re ready, click on “Apply Now” below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

CLOSED

The application for Fiscal Year 2024 Research & Development Grants is now closed.

The Application

Narrative Proposal Details

You can type up your proposal narrative (1200 words),

or

You can upload it in a anudio recording (8 minutes in length).

  1. Describe the work you propose to do with the grant funds.
  2. What are your specific proposed activities?
  3. Tell us about your community of practice as it relates to (or is specific for) your proposed activities.
  4. How will the work you propose to do reflect, impact, or otherwise respond to your community of practice?
  5. How does this proposal relate to the work you currently do? How would receiving this grant deepen your overall artistic practice?
  6. If you have collaborators, who are they and how do they contribute to your proposed work? (For the purposes of this application, collaborators are people with whom you will be working in close creative partnership on the proposed activities. If you have no collaborator(s), you do not need to address this question.)

Do not include links to external websites or video hosting platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo.

If you share your proposal narrative in an audio recording, keep it simple and to the point. The recording should be just you, describing your proposal and answering the five questions listed above. Please do not include edits of your work samples. Production quality of this recording will not be considered in your review. Just make sure we can hear and understand you and keep editing and post-production embellishment to a minimum.


Work Samples

Submit work samples you’ve completed in the last 5 years. From the list to the right, please choose the most appropriate artistic work sample format to represent your discipline:

Artist Work Samples

  • 5 minutes of recorded audio
  • 5 minutes of recorded video
  • 10 images
  • 5 pages of double-spaced text
  • Combination of materials listed above. Please edit accordingly for no more than a total of 5 minutes of reviewing time (2 images=1 minute. 1 page = 1 minute.)

If you have collaborators you may include one work sample per person, for up to 3 collaborators:

Collaborator Work Samples

  • 1 minute of recorded audio
  • 1 minute of recorded video
  • 2 images
  • 1 page of double-spaced text or 1-2 poems
  • Combination of materials listed above: Please edit accordingly for no more than a total of 1 minute of reviewing time (2 images=1 minute. 1 page = 1 minute.)

Remember to test your work samples as you upload them. Please do not submit promotional materials, exhibition posters, event program, or published reviews as work samples. Do not include URL links to external websites or video hosting platforms.


Work Sample Descriptions

Provide a brief description explaining how the submitted work sample(s) relate to your proposal. Why did you choose them?

Include the following for each work sample:

  • Artist’s name
  • Title of the work
  • Date completed/premiered

If applicable:

  • Location/site of exhibition or presentation
  • Dimensions and medium of the work

Your application materials will be reviewed according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion. Application merit is based upon strength of responses in relation to the following review criteria:

Potential Impact to Artist 

The application clearly describes the potential impact to the artist’s personal craft and/or body of work. 

Potential Impact to Artist’s Community of Practice 

The application clearly defines the artist’s community of practice and describes how the proposed activities will impact, reflect, or respond to the applicant’s artistic discipline, audience, field of study, place-based community, or broader community.

Artistic Strength

The submitted work samples reflect the artist’s distinct vision and originality. The work sample description  conveys a clear understanding of the artist’s craft—the techniques you use and the intention behind them—and a commitment to artistic achievement.

Integrity of Proposal

Viewed as a whole, the application demonstrates the integrity with which the artist approaches their artistic practice and their defined community of practice. The application materials demonstrate a commitment to high ethical standards and equitable professional practices in regard to the proposed actions, values, methods, and goals.

All applications submitted by 11:59 pm, July 20, 2023 will be reviewed by a panel of independent arts professionals from communities throughout the state. Applicants whose applications are determined to be most competitive according to evaluation criteria will be invited to submit additional materials and move on to Stage 2 of the application process.

You will be notified whether or not your application will advance to Stage 2 no later than September 15, 2023.

Applicants who advance to Stage 2 of review will be invited to submit additional information including a process map, an experience list, and an expense list. Panelists will review the application as a whole and convene for a public panel meeting to make final funding recommendations.

Process Map

Map the course of your creative process for this proposal by identifying 3 to 5 specific steps you will take during the funding period. These steps may include research, travel, activities or events, achievements, or anything else you will use to organize and track your artistic process and progress.

You will be asked to upload a 1-page Process Map (.jpg or .pdf) describing the specific steps you will take to complete your proposed work. You can provide a numbered list of steps, a timeline (with or without specific activity dates), a flow chart, drawing, sketch, other visual, or simply a written narrative.


Experience List

Provide 3 to 5 personal, professional, and/or community-based experiences you have engaged in within the past 5 years that are relevant to your proposal. You may include 1-2 experiences that took place more than 5 years ago so long as they are especially relevant to your current proposal.

Briefly describe how each experience has prepared you for the work you propose to undertake.

Collaborator’s Experience List (if applicable)

Provide 1 to 3 personal, professional, and/or community-based experiences that each of your collaborators engaged in the past 5 years.

Briefly describe how each experience is relevant to your proposal and has prepared your collaborators for the work you propose to undertake.

Please do not simply include a list of highlights or accomplishments from your CV or resume. Instead, include experiences that clearly demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skill set necessary to complete the activities you’ve proposed in your application.


Expenses List

List total eligible expenses (artist stipends, including your own artist stipend, materials, travel costs, equipment, space rental, production costs, documentation, marketing, rehearsal time, childcare, etc.) related to your proposal.

Please include expenses even if you are not seeking funding for them and tell us about any additional income in the Budget Narrative section below.


Grant Amount Requested

Indicate the grant amount you are requesting, between $3,000 and $5,000.


Budget Narrative

Describe anything in the expenses list that would benefit from additional clarification. For example, if your expenses exceed $5,000, please tell us how you will fund the rest of your proposed activities.

As you develop your application materials for Stage 2, consider that the panelists will be thinking about Stage 1 Application Materials and Evaluation Criteria in addition to the following:

Feasibility

The application provides substantial evidence that the proposal will be realized within the funding period. The application includes a reasonable expenses list for the scope and scale of the proposed activities. The process map and experience list provide evidence of the applicant’s ability and capacity to successfully realize the proposal. The experiences described in the experience list are relevant to the proposed activities. The process map presents a clear path to the completion of the proposed activities.

Stage 2 application materials must be submitted by 11:59 pm, Wednesday, October 13, 2022.

After the October 13 due date, your Stage 1 and Stage 2 application materials will be evaluated by each member of the review panel individually, according to the evaluation criteria. 

On November 18, 2022, the panelists will convene in Phoenix to discuss the applications as a group. This meeting is open to the public and applicants being reviewed will be notified of listening options. At the conclusion of the meeting, panelists will finalize their scores and recommend up to 30 applications for funding. These recommendations will then be sent to the Arts Commission’s Governor-appointed board of commissioners for approval. 

Grantees will be notified by December 15, 2023, and will receive grant funds by April 12, 2024. 

Applicants must be individuals and may submit only one application per year. Organizations are not eligible to apply. At the time an application is submitted, and the grant is awarded, an applicant must be:

  • 18 years of age or older;
  • not enrolled for more than three credit hours at a college or university;
  • and a resident of Arizona.

Recipients of the R&D Grant must wait 4 years to reapply and may receive a maximum of four (4) awards in their lifetime. This also applies to recipients of the previously-named Artist Research and Development Grant and previously-offered Artist Project Grant. Applicants who failed to submit a Final Report for a previous award are not eligible to apply.

This program does not fund the following:

  • Support for activities, or projects which would otherwise be eligible for another Arts Commission grant, such as: Career Advancement Grant; Lifelong Arts Engagement Grant.
  • Teaching artist residencies.
  • Documentation of existing arts projects.
  • Costs related to activities for which the applicant is employed or contracted.
  • Costs related to academic research or formal study toward an academic or professional degree.
  • Expenses incurred in the presentation of final work, such as self-publishing, promotion, catalogs published by the artist(s), exhibition expenses, and self-presenting. Such expenses may be one component of the proposal but cannot be the sole purpose of the requested funds.
  • Fundraising projects
  • Food and beverages for any purpose.
  • Scholarships, awards, and competitions.
  • Grant administration, overhead, or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization.

This list is not comprehensive.

Kesha Bruce
Artist Programs Manager
Phone: (602) 771-6530
Email: [email protected]

Grantwriting 101

Over the course of three sessions, previous R&D Grantees will share tips, tricks, and insights on crafting your best application.

Session 1: Proposal Narrative

Attendees will learn insider tips on crafting a compelling narrative that communicates who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

This session was presented on Thursday, June 10, 2020.

Session 2: Communities of Practice

Attendees will learn how to identify your communities of practice, tips for describing your community of practice in the R&D Grant application, and how thinking about your contributions to a community of practice can lead to more authentic and ethical engagement.

This session was presented on Thursday, June 17, 2020.

Session 3: Work Samples

Attendees will learn how to choose work samples that reflect your distinct vision; the best ways to convey the techniques you use and the intention behind them; and tips for putting your best foot forward and avoiding common mistakes.

This session was presented on Thursday, June 24, 2021.

Oct
23
Mon
Deadline: Artist Opportunity Grant
Oct 23 @ 11:59 am – 11:59 am

Artist Opportunity Grants support Arizona artists as they take advantage of specific, unique opportunities that have the potential to significantly impact their professional growth.

The application period for Fiscal Year 2024 Artist Opportunity Grants is now closed. The information below is provided only for reference.

Applicants must be individuals and may submit only one application per cycle. Organizations are not eligible to apply. At the time an application is submitted and the grant is awarded an applicant must be:

  • 18 years of age or older and
  • a resident of Arizona.

Full-time faculty at a college or university are not eligible to apply. Adjunct faculty are eligible to apply. An individual may receive only one Opportunity Grant in any category each fiscal year. 

As this grant is available to artists working in all disciplines and at any stage in their career, a wide array of opportunities could be considered eligible, so long as there is potential for significant impact in one or more of these three categories:

Introduce Your Work to New Audiences
An opportunity to present your work in a significant way that will expose your work to new audiences or raise your artistic profile.

Develop New Skills
An opportunity to develop new artistic skills though participation in activities such as conferences, artist residencies, workshops, fellowships, master classes, or apprenticeships.

Develop Your Artistic Entrepreneurship
An opportunity to expand your entrepreneurial capacity, such as the production of marketing materials, website development, payment of professional fees (lawyers, accountants, etc.), and any practice-related capital expenses (like equipment purchases, materials, services, rental fees for equipment or facility, etc.)

Keep in mind you will be asked to describe how engaging in the proposed opportunity will advance your work. Further, the opportunity should not duplicate previous work or experiences, but should represent a new or further developing professional endeavor.

Grant funds may be used for any of the following (this list is not comprehensive):

  • Equipment purchases, materials, or services needed to fulfill/engage in the opportunity
  • Rental fees, including equipment, instruments, facility (including short-term space and studio rentals), etc., which support the artistic opportunity Preparation, freight, and/or shipping costs
  • Costs associated with documentation of the opportunity
  • Travel necessary to engage in the opportunity (see Funding Restrictions for more information)
  • Registration fees
  • Professional fees which support the artistic opportunity
  • Grant funds cannot be used for any projects, or days of a project, that take place before the start date of the cycle in which they are submitted, and/or after the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2024). If your full project timeline starts before or ends after the funding period, you are still eligible to apply and should articulate the full timeline in your application, but should only request and use grant funds for project activities taking place within the funding period.

Applicants are encouraged to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations
If you require accommodation in completing this application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact Director of Artist Programs Kesha Bruce at [email protected] or (602) 771-6530.

Prepare Narrative Responses
You can type your proposal narrative or you can upload audio recordings of your responses. For each narrative question you will find a maximum word count (not character) and a maximum recording length. If you share your proposal narrative via audio recordings, keep it simple and to the point. Don’t worry about impressing the panelists with your recording technique, just make sure we can hear and understand you. All audio files must be uploaded as MP3 files (.mp3).

Some applicants find it helpful to develop the narrative portion of the application using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to thoughtfully draft their responses and monitor their word counts for each question. A Word document version of the narrative questions can be downloaded here.

Create an Account
In the interest of improving the user experience for applicants and reviewers, the Arizona Commission on the Arts has transitioned to a new submission platform this year: SurveyMonkey Apply. Whether you are a new or returning applicant, you will need to create an account on our new platform at https://azarts.smapply.io/.

click/tap the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

CLOSED

The application period for Fiscal Year 2024 Arts Opportunity Grants is now closed. The information below is provided only for reference.

Narrative Proposal

  1. Describe the opportunity you will engage in with the grant funds. What are your specific proposed activities? (250 words)
  2. Tell us about your artistic practice and why this opportunity is appropriate and vital to your work at this stage of your career. (250 words)
  3. How will engaging in this opportunity address at least one of the eligible opportunity categories (introduce your work to new audiences, develop new skills, or develop your artistic entrepreneurship)? (250 words)
  4. What next steps in your artistic career would be made possible after completing this opportunity? How does it tie to your future artistic goals and trajectory? (250 words)

If you share your proposal narrative in an audio recording keep it simple and to the point. The recording should be just you, describing your proposal and answering the four questions listed above.

Please do not include edits of your work samples. Production quality of this recording will not be considered in your review. Just make sure we can hear and understand you and keep editing and post-production embellishment to a minimum.


Timeline of Proposed Activities

Include a timeline that details the proposed activities related to your opportunity in the table provided in SurveyMonley Apply.

This may be a single date, such as “Day of Workshop – April 12, 2024” or a list like the following:

  • Preparing Sheet Music for Printing & Rehearsing Flute Solo. – January-February 2024
  • Record with Jane Doe at AZArtsy Recording Studio Solo Pieces – March 3, 2024
  • Record with Jane Doe at AZArtsy Recording Studio Finalized Group Compositions – March 6-8, 2024

Work Samples

Submit work samples you’ve completed within the last 10 years which are relevant to the opportunity. From the list to the right, please choose the most appropriate artistic work sample format to represent your discipline:

  • 3 minutes of recorded audio, or
  • 3 minutes of recorded video, or
  • 6 images, or
  • 3 pages of double-spaced text, or
  • Combination of materials listed above: Please edit accordingly for no more than a total of 3 minutes of reviewing time (2 images = 1 min. 1 page = 1 min.)

You will be asked to provide the following information (as applicable) for each work sample you submit.:

  • Title of work
  • Date completed/premiered
  • Location/site of exhibitions or presentation of work
  • Dimensions of work
  • Medium of work
  • Collaborators

Please do not submit promotional materials. Panelists can’t assess your work based on an exhibition poster, an event program, or a published review. Remember to test your work samples as you upload them.


Work Samples Description

Provide a brief description for each work sample as it relates to your opportunity.


Experience List and Description

Provide 3 to 10 arts-based experiences you have engaged in over the past 10 years that relate to the opportunity you want to engage in and briefly describe how each experience demonstrates progression of your artistic trajectory leading to the opportunity.

The experience list helps the panel situate the opportunity you propose in a broader context; please briefly describe the overall relevancy of the experiences you listed to the opportunity. (up to 200 words)


Expenses List

List only eligible expenses (see list on page 2 of the Artist Opportunity Grant guidelines) related to your proposal. Include any additional information you’d like the panel to know. If your eligible expenses exceed $1,500, please tell us how you will fund the rest of your proposed activities. If some expenses are outside the funding period, indicate which line items the grant funds would cover.


Grant Amount Requested

Indicate the grant amount you are requesting, based on eligible expenses, between $500 and $1,500.


Budget Narrative

If your eligible expenses exceed $1,500 please tell us how you will fund the rest of your proposed activities. (up to 200 words)

Your application materials will be reviewed by agency staff members according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion. Application merit is based upon strength of responses in relation to the following review criteria:

Quality of Proposed Opportunity
Application clearly outlines the specific details of the opportunity and outlines how the opportunity is unique, relevant, and specifically important in relation to applicant’s current artistic trajectory.

Is the opportunity clear and consistent throughout? Is there an understanding of the past work in relation to the current opportunity and intended future goals?  

Potential Impact to the Artist
Application clearly describes the potential impact to the artist’s work, including what next steps would be possible and its ties to their future artistic goals and clearly describes the potential of the opportunity to address at least one of the three eligible opportunity categories.

Is it clear what next steps are possible after the opportunity? Is there a clear set of activities that will allow the applicant to develop & advance their artistic trajectory? Is the potential to introduce work to new audiences, develop new artistic skills, or support the development of the entrepreneurship connected to the proposed activities? 

Feasibility
Application demonstrates substantial evidence that the proposal will be realized within the funding period and includes a reasonable expenses list for the scope and scale of the proposed activities. The experiences described in the application are relevant to the opportunity proposed.

Do the materials demonstrate that the opportunity will be completed by June 30th? Is the expense list clearly connected to the opportunity described and logical to what is proposed? Does the experience list demonstrate ability to complete the opportunity and connect to trajectory shared in narrative? 

Integrity
Application demonstrates a commitment to high ethical standards and equitable professional practices regarding proposed actions, values, methods, and goals.

Is there connection or relationship with proposed communities, collaborators, or mentors, and is there intent to compensate these parties for their contributions? Are potential barriers to access being discussed openly and intentionally within the application? 

Evaluation Rubric

To assist in their evaluation, reviewers will use a rubric. This evaluation tool can be found here. Applicants may find it helpful to refer to the rubric as they prepare their applications.

Eligible opportunities must take place during the funding period dates of the cycle in which they are submitted.

Cycle A

Application Due
June 22, 2023, 11:59 pm

Grant Review Panel
July 2023

Grantees Notified
August 21, 2023

Funding Period
July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024

Cycle B

Application Due
October 23, 2023 11:59 pm

Grant Review Panel
November 2023

Grantees Notified
December 15, 2023

Funding Period
December 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024

Funds are delivered approximately 6-8 weeks after all necessary paperwork has been submitted by the grantee. This includes the award agreement, state W-9 and payment form. 

This program does not fund the following:

  • Support for opportunities, activities, or projects which would otherwise be eligible for another Arts Commission grant, such as the Research & Development Grant or Festival Grant;
  • Teaching artist residencies;
  • Opportunities that take place outside of the funding period;
  • Ongoing studio or space rental;
  • Equipment not related to the opportunity;
  • Costs related to activities for which the applicant is employed or contracted;
  • Opportunities related to academic research or formal study toward an academic or professional degree, such as capstone projects;
  • Fundraising projects, food and beverages for any purpose;
  • Grant administration, overhead, or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization.
  • Costs for nonrefundable travel expenses which are cancelled or postponed beyond the funding period end date.
  • Organizations or individuals debarred or suspended from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 180 Subpart C).

Due to the continuously evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, please be aware that if travel plans are cancelled or postponed for beyond June 30, 2022, grantees will need to adjust their project budget accordingly to redirect awarded funds to other eligible expenses and/or return a portion of the grant funds.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in desecrating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.

Oct
31
Tue
Panel Review Meeting: Youth Arts Engagement Grants, Panel A
Oct 31 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Nov
1
Wed
Panel Review Meeting: Youth Arts Engagement Grants, Panel B
Nov 1 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Nov
14
Tue
Panel Review Meeting: Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants
Nov 14 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Nov
16
Thu
Panel Review: Research & Development Grants
Nov 16 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Apr
4
Thu
Deadline: Creative Youth Grant
Apr 4 @ 11:59 pm – 11:59 pm

Created and reviewed by the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ AZ Youth Arts Council, the Creative Youth Grant is a funding opportunity for young artists ages 12 -17.

What does it fund?

To support young artists as they develop new skills or advance their artistic practice outside the traditional school day. This may include paying for lessons, attending a workshop, or paying for supplies and equipment.

Who is it for?

Eligible applicants for the Creative Youth Grant include Arizona young artists ages 12-17.

Applications that are developed by adults will be ineligible for funding. Parents, guardians or teachers may not apply for the young artist.

Award Amount

Individuals can request between $250 and $500 based on eligible expenses.

Grant funds may be used for any of the following (this list is not comprehensive):

  • Fees for private lessons or workshops.
  • Materials or supplies related to your artistic practice.
  • Equipment, instruments or technology related to your artistic practice.
  • Travel costs.

Applicants are encouraged to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing the application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact the Director of Arts Learning, Elisa Radcliffe, by phone at (602) 771-6528 or by email at [email protected].

Prepare Narrative Responses

You can type your proposal narrative, or you can upload audio or video recordings of your responses. The narrative has a maximum word count (not character) and a maximum recording length. If you share your proposal narrative in a video or audio recording keep it simple and to the point. The recording should be just you, describing your proposal and answering the questions listed above. Please do not include edits of your work samples or special effects. Production quality of this recording will not be considered in your review. Just make sure we can hear and understand you and keep editing and post-production embellishment to a minimum. All audio files must be uploaded as MP3 files (.mp3).

When you’re ready, click on the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

APPLY NOW

CLOSED

Narrative

(600 word limit, 5 minute audio/video limit)

Answer each of these questions.

  1. Tell us about yourself and your artistic practice.
  2. Describe how you will use the grant funds. Why are these activities or purchases important to you as a young artist?
  3. Provide a timeline of the proposed activities or purchases. All activities or purchases must take place July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Work Sample

Submit a work sample you’ve completed. All levels of artists are encouraged to apply. The panel will use the work sample to support the narrative you have provided. They will not be judging the quality of the work sample as a part of their review.

From the list below, please choose the most appropriate artistic work sample format to represent your discipline:

  • 3 minutes of recorded audio
  • 3 minutes of recorded video
  • 6 images
  • 3 pages of double-spaced text or 3 poems

Work Sample Narrative
(200 word limit, 2 minute audio/video limit)

Provide a brief description explaining how the submitted work sample relates to your proposal. Why did you choose them?

Budget

Expenses 

List all expenses related to your proposal and provide a short explanation of the expenses.

Grant Amount Requested 

Indicate the grant amount you are requesting, based on eligible expenses, between $250 and $500.

Budget Narrative (200 word limit, 2 minute audio/video limit)

If your total expenses exceed the grant amount requested, explain how you will pay for the remaining costs.

Your narrative responses will be evaluated by AZ Youth Arts Council members based on the following criteria.

Quality of Proposal
Did you clearly outline your artistic form and how you will spend the grant funds?

Potential Impact 
Did you describe how these funds will impact you as a young artist?

Viability 
Are the expenses you describe appropriate for the grant? Does the application demonstrate substantial evidence that the proposal will be realized within the proposed timeline?

  • Food and beverages for any purpose.
  • Fundraising projects.
  • Opportunities that take place outside of the funding period.
  • Equipment not related to the opportunity.
  • Opportunities related to academic research or formal study toward an academic or professional degree, such as capstone projects.
  • Applications that are developed by adults will be ineligible for funding.
  • Grant administration, overhead or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors.

This list is not comprehensive.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in desecrating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.

Deadline: Festival Grant
Apr 4 @ 11:59 pm – 11:59 pm

Festival Grants support the presentation of quality arts and culture programming through festival activities, connecting artists and culture bearers (or their artistic work) with communities.

What does it fund?

Festival grants support in-person, virtual, and hybrid festivals.

For the purposes of this grant program, a festival is defined as a periodic celebration or gathering that…

  • happens in a condensed period of time,
  • features a varied and curated program of events, and
  • has an easily identifiable and unifying theme or specified focus.

Festivals eligible for Festival Grants must…

  • demonstrate a thematic emphasis on arts and culture in their programming,
  • last a minimum of one four-hour day, and
  • only span the duration of two consecutive weekends

Seasonal series of presented works, as well as freestanding productions or exhibitions, are not eligible activities for this program. Festival activities can include juried processes, but scholarships, pageants or standalone award ceremonies are also ineligible. Please see a more detailed list of ineligible expenses at the end of this document.

Who is it for?

Eligible applicants for Festival Grants include Arizona-based…

  • nonprofit organizations* with tax-exempt status
  • Units of government (local or Tribal)
  • Local arts agencies
  • Tribal cultural organizations
  • University/college departments
  • *An organization without tax-exempt status may apply through a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

Please note, while an organization or unit of government may be eligible for more than one grant program, the Arts Commission limits the number of applications that may be submitted across programs to one application per entity per funding period. Organizations applying for a Festival Grant in Fiscal Year 2025 may not apply for any other Arts Commission grants for organizations.

Applicants may request grant award amounts ranging from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $5,000.

There is no cash match required for this grant opportunity.

How many Grants Will Be Awarded?

In 2012, the Arizona Commission on the Arts was removed from the State’s General Fund as an ongoing budget line-item. Since that time, the agency’s annual grantmaking budget has been especially volatile, dependent on one-time legislative appropriations, which have ranged from $0 – $5 million. The agency’s grantmaking capacity for Fiscal Year 2025 will not be known until the State’s budget is passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. This typically happens in late spring.

The number and size of grants the agency will award in Fiscal Year 2025 will depend on the outcome of this legislative budget session.

For more info on Arts Commission funding, visit https://azarts.gov/about-us/who-we-are/budget/.

Contracted Artistic Services and Artist Fees

Includes guest artist contractual fees including travel, and lodging.

Production Expenses

Includes insurance, sound, lighting, and equipment rental and operation for the artistic project only.

Space Rental

Includes stage, space, or venue rental for the artistic project only.

Marketing/Promotion

Includes contracted graphic design services the purchase of advertising space and creation of digital and printed promotional materials for the entire event.

Accessibility Services

Includes closed captioning, interpretation, and translation services, visual enhancements, and listening guides.

Public Health and Safety Compliance

Includes personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitation services, and equipment/structuring to support distancing.

Digital Operations

Includes fees related to video live-streaming services, access to webinar and conferencing platforms, closed captioning, translation and interpretation services, and digital ticketing/event management systems

Funds are delivered approximately 6-8 weeks after all necessary paperwork has been submitted by the grantee. This includes the award agreement, state W-9 and payment form.

Applicants are encouraged to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing this application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact Organizational Programs Manager Brad DeBiase at [email protected] or (602) 771-6534.

Prepare Narrative Responses

You can type your proposal narrative or you can upload audio recordings of your responses. For each narrative question you will find a maximum word count (not character) and a maximum recording length. If you share your proposal narrative via audio recordings, keep it simple and to the point. Don’t worry about impressing the panelists with your recording technique, just make sure we can hear and understand you. All audio files must be uploaded as MP3 files (.mp3).

Some applicants find it helpful to develop their responses using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to draft responses with team members and monitor their word counts for each question. A Word document version of the narrative questions can be downloaded at https://azarts.gov/grant/festival.

Create or Update the SurveyMonkey Apply Account for Your Organization

You will submit your application through an online submission platform called SurveyMonkey Apply. Prior to applying, all new applicants will need to register their organization at https://azarts.smapply.io/.

If your organization already has an account, we encourage you to confirm that all information is up to date and add/remove any team members as needed.
For instructions on how to create or update your account, visit our applicant resources page: https://azarts.gov/grants/applicant-resources/.

When you’re ready, click/tap the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

APPLY NOW

Organization Information

  • Information collected in this section of the application is used for internal and reporting purposes only.
  • Organization name and (if applicable) DBA
  • Secondary contact info
  • ADA Coordinator contact info
    Grants from the Arts Commission require compliance with the regulations of Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA Coordinator is the person who can answer questions about or facilitate requests for accessible programs and services; no special training or certification required.
  • Festival website
  • Nonprofit status (and file upload)
    You will be required to upload an IRS determination letter OR a fiscal sponsor letter of agreement in the “Nonprofit Status” section. Units of government are exempt from this requirement.

Festival Overview

  • Festival name
  • One sentence description (150 words max)
  • Festival dates and times (or usual calendar placement)
  • Projected number of participants (or average annual attendance)
  • Organization mission statement (150 words maximum)

Festival Format

  • In-person
  • Virtual
  • Hybrid

In-person festivals that possess virtual components (e.g. livestreaming performances) would be considered “Hybrid”, and applicants should select the “Virtual” option if their festival activities will be produced and attended exclusively through digital platforms.

Narrative

  1. Describe your festival in its entirety. Be as specific as possible about the festival’s arts and culture programming. How are contributing artists identified, and what will participants gain, learn, and/or access through festival activities? (400 words maximum or 3-minute audio limit)
  2. Provide an outline of your festival’s timeline, detailing your processes for planning, outreach, implementation, production, and post-production work. (400 words maximum or 3-minute audio limit)
  3. What communities will you engage through your festival, and how? Please define these communities, considering “community” broadly, beyond simple age- or location-based groups. What demographics and sociocultural identities would you expect to be represented among festival producers, personnel, and participants? (400 words maximum or 3-minute audio limit)
  4. In addition to ADA compliance, please describe how your organization will create the conditions to support the participation of people of all abilities. How will your organization ensure that your festival’s programming, facilities, and venues accommodate wide-ranging accessibility considerations? (300 words maximum or 2-minute audio limit) See FAQ for additional details.
  5. Please describe how you will evaluate and define the success of your proposed festival activities. What methods will you use to assess community engagement and impact, and how will these findings inform future festival projects? (300 words maximum or 2-minute audio limit)

Festival Budget

Grant Amount Requested

Enter the grant amount you are requesting. Applicants may request between $1,000 and $5,000.

Budget Form

All applicants must submit a complete project budget using the form embedded in the application.

Budget Narrative

Please use this space to describe the festival budget, including eligible fees, any anticipated income, and any substantial in-kind support. This is your opportunity to bring your festival budget to life, as if you were explaining it to the grant review panel. You may also use this Budget Narrative section to explain how you have arrived at certain itemized dollar amounts. (300 words maximum) See FAQ for additional details.

Your organization’s application materials will be reviewed by an independent panel according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion. Application merit is based upon strength of response in relation to the review criteria.

Quality Arts and Culture Programming

Does the application clearly describe the festival’s arts and culture programming and the artist/culture bearers who will be engaged? Does the application make a compelling case for what it hopes to make available to festival participants and attendees and how? Does the application outline in detail the structure and timeline of the festival’s programming/activities?

Community Benefit

Does the application define the communities the festival hopes to directly serve, interact, and engage with? Does the application clearly outline how this will happen? Does the application thoughtfully address access and participation for people of all abilities?

Viability

Does the application demonstrate substantial evidence that the festival activities will be realized within the funding period? Does the proposed budget appropriately reflect the scope of work described in the application? Does the application clearly explain how project activities will be produced and delivered?

All applications are subject to a public review process. First, Arts Commission staff review each application for completeness and eligibility. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the due date are considered ineligible for panel review and funding. Eligible applications are then evaluated by independent review panels made up of individuals from communities throughout the state who work in or adjacent to the arts. They evaluate each application on its own merits and solely on the basis of the published evaluation criteria.

Panelists first review applications individually. They then meet as a body to discuss the applications and finalize assessment as a group. This meeting is open to the public and while applicants are not permitted to participate in the discussion, they are encouraged to attend or listen-in online. Applicants being reviewed will be notified when panel dates are set. At the conclusion of their deliberations, the panel submits their funding recommendations to the Arts Commission’s Governor-appointed board of commissioners for approval

This program does not fund the following:

  • Applicants that received Arts Commission funding in fiscal year 2024, but failed to file a final report by Monday, September 16, 2024.
  • Entities submitting an application for an FY2024 Creative Capacity Grant, Youth Arts Engagement Grant, or Lifelong Arts Engagement Grant (see FAQ for more information).
  • Applications submitted by businesses and for-profit organizations. School districts that would otherwise be eligible for Arts Learning grants.
  • An organization’s season or seasonal series of presented work.
  • Projects involving construction of facilities.
  • Debt reduction.
  • Food and beverages for receptions and hospitality functions.
  • Fundraising projects.
  • Scholarships, pageants, competition prizes, or standalone award ceremonies.
  • Producing organizations to tour or present themselves.
  • Conferences, symposiums and the like.
  • Religious institution-led or religious group-sponsored projects not open to participation by non-congregants.
  • Religious institution-led or religious group- sponsored projects whose primary purpose is the religious socialization of individuals, or which exist as parts of religious sermons or services.
  • Equipment/capital expenditures.
  • Lobbying expenses.
  • College or university-sponsored projects not open to participation by the community outside the university setting.
  • Staff or board member salaries of the applicant organization.
  • Re-granting.
  • Indirect costs.
  • Grant administration, overhead or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors.
  • Any costs other than eligible fees.

This list is not comprehensive.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in desecrating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling, or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of    Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.

  1. How can I be sure that my project is eligible for this program?
    If you have reviewed the eligibility criteria listed earlier in this guidelines document and are still unsure if your festival is an appropriate fit for this program, we recommend that you reach out to the program manager to determine if your project is a good fit for the Festival Grant program. Arts Commission staff will provide consultation to determine if your proposed festival activities warrant submitting an application.
  2. My organization is eligible for other Arts Commission grants. Can I apply to those too?
    No. Across grant programs, the Arts Commission limits the number of applications that may be submitted by a given organization or unit of government to one (1) application per funding period (July 1 – June 30 of the following year). While an organization or unit of government may be eligible for more than one grant program, they may only apply for one of them in a given funding period. As an example, an applicant who applies to the Festivals Grant program in Fiscal Year 2024 may not apply for the Creative Capacity Grant program or a Youth Arts Engagement Grant that same year.
  3. What is meant by “a thematic emphasis on arts and culture” regarding programming?
    While eligible applicant organizations may not have an expressly arts and culture-focused mission, eligible festival projects must include arts and culture programming as part of the festival’s main goals and objectives. Arts and culture programming must be centrally featured as part of your festival’s activities and should not be peripheral add-ons to the festival’s main emphasis.
  4. What is meant by “In addition to ADA compliance” in the fourth narrative question?
    Applicants are encouraged to consider how their festival activities and venue create accessible programming beyond baseline needs related to physical mobility. How are intellectual, physical, sensory, and neurodivergent/cognitive needs being addressed for attendees of all ability levels and how is this reflected in your festival’s structure? How are interpretation, captioning, and/or visual aid resources being provided? Accessibility considerations may also include bilingual/translation services for printed materials, emergency preparedness plans, tactile resources, and proper disability access symbols included in your festival’s marketing and publicity.
  5. My festival utilizes a lot of in-kind volunteer support. How should I reflect this in our budget?
    The Arts Commission recognizes the significant role of volunteers at festival events. While you are not asked to itemize the dollar value of in-kind support in your budget, you are encouraged to discuss in your Budget Narrative how any substantial in-kind volunteer support helps offset other expenses and contributes to the overall viability of your festival. There are a variety of estimations regarding the dollar value of a volunteer work hour, and the Arts Commission suggests a range of $20.00 to $30.00 per hour based on your festival’s need for personnel and the scope of volunteer work. Please contact Arts Commission staff if you would like to further discuss how to account for in-kind support.
  6. My festival isn’t taking place until late in the funding period and we are still in a planning phase. Can we still apply for a Festival Grant?
    Yes. If you are still in a planning phase for your festival activities and do not have certain specific details finalized at the time you are submitting your application, we advise that you offer insight as to how you are making your decisions, what your options may be for a particular unknown, and what your desired outcome(s) may be for items still in development. Offering a high level of detail surrounding your organization’s planning and decision-making will at least help a panel understand how your festival will likely come into existence even if certain logistics and details are still in development.

Applicant Resources

Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present a webinar-style information session to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.

Friday, March 8, 2024
10:00 am – 11:00 am

How do I register on behalf of an organization?

  1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
  2. Click the “Register” button at the upper-right corner of the window. (If you are using a mobile device, tap the “Sign Up” button.)
  3. Choose the option to “Register as an Organization”
  4. Enter your name, email address, and a password. (The person who registers the organization in SMApply becomes the organization’s first “member” and the administrator of the organization’s account. Additional members may be added later and/or made an account administrator.)
  5. Click/tap the “Create Account” button
  6. Enter the requested information about your Organization, such as the organization’s name, mailing address, and general contact information.

Video Walkthrough


How do I add members to my Organization?

Once you have created your organization you can add additional members to assist with applications and account maintenance.

  1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
  2. Login as an organization administrator
  3. Click “Manage Organization” in the top right corner
  4. Click “Members”
  5. Click the “Add Member” button
  6. Enter the First Name, Last Name, and Email Address of the member
  7. Select whether the member will have Administrative or Non-Administrative Access
  8. Click the box to “Notify member by email” (This is useful if the user does not already have an account in the system as they will receive an invitation email and be able to create a password to log in.)
  9. Click “Add”

For instructions on adding members in bulk, click here.

How do I update my Organization’s Profile?

  1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
  2. Login as an organization administrator
  3. Click on “Manage Organization” in the top right corner
  4. Click “Profile”
  5. Update your profile information
  6. Click “Save”

Additional Guides

SurveyMonkey Apply provides a comprehensive FAQ for applicants; in addition to the “how tos” above you can find more information and resources on accounts, completing an application, and managing your organization at https://help.smapply.io/hc/en-us/articles/360032514674-General-Account-FAQ.