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].
Learn about the Festival Grant! Program manager Brad Debiase will walk you through the guidelines and application process and take any questions you might have.
Learn about the Lifelong Arts Engagement Grant and Youth Arts Engagement Grant! Program manager Elisa Garcia Radcliffe will walk you through the guidelines and application process and take any questions you might have.
Learn about the Lifelong Arts Engagement Grant and Youth Arts Engagement Grant! Program manager Elisa Garcia Radcliffe will walk you through the guidelines and application process and take any questions you might have.
The Research & Development Grant will not be offered in Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) as the program undergoes planned periodic revision.
We are still offering Artist Opportunity Grants. Click here to learn more.
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.
Join us for a one hour detailed review of the application guidelines for Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants and Youth Arts Engagement Grants, followed by a brief Q&A.
The application period for FY2025 Creative Youth Grants is now closed.
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).
Narrative
(600 word limit, 5 minute audio/video limit)
Answer each of these questions.
- Tell us about yourself and your artistic practice.
- Describe how you will use the grant funds. Why are these activities or purchases important to you as a young artist?
- 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.
