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].

 

Jun
3
Thu
Online Info Session: R&D Grants
Jun 3 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Thursday, June 3, 2021
5:00 – 6:00 pm

REGISTER

This session will provide an overview of the Research & Development Grant application, eligibility requirements, and review process.

Jun
10
Thu
R&D Grant Webinar: Proposal Narrative
Jun 10 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Thursday, June 10
4:00 – 5:00 PM

REGISTER

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

Jun
17
Thu
R&D Grant Webinar: Communities of Practice
Jun 17 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Thursday, June 17
4:00 – 5:00 PM

REGISTER

Attendees will learn…

  • How to identify your communities of practice
  • Tips for describing your community of practice in the R&D Grant application
  • How thinking about your contributions to a community of practice can lead to more authentic and ethical engagement

Jun
24
Thu
R&D Grant Webinar: Work Samples
Jun 24 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Thursday, June 24
4:00 – 5:00 PM

REGISTER

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.
  • Tips for putting your best foot forward and avoiding common mistakes.

Oct
13
Wed
Due Date: Research & Development Grant, Stage 2 application
Oct 13 @ 11:59 pm – 11:59 pm
Nov
19
Fri
Panel Review: Research & Development Grants
Nov 19 @ 11:30 am – 6:30 pm
Jun
15
Wed
Info Session: R&D Grants for Artists
Jun 15 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Join Artist Programs Manager Kesha Bruce for an online information session about the Research & Development (R&D) Grant for artists.This session will provide an overview of the 2023 Research & Development Grant application, eligibility requirements, and review process.

REGISTER

Jun
25
Sat
Info Session: R&D Grants for Artists
Jun 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Join Artist Programs Manager Kesha Bruce for an online information session about the Research & Development (R&D) Grant for artists.This session will provide an overview of the 2023 Research & Development Grant application, eligibility requirements, and review process.

REGISTER

Nov
18
Fri
Panel Review: Research & Development Grants
Nov 18 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
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.

Nov
16
Thu
Panel Review: Research & Development Grants
Nov 16 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Apr
4
Thu
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.