Additional Services and Programs
The Arizona Commission on the Arts offers additional services and programs for arts organizations and individual artists, often in tandem with local, state and regional entities. Programs and services are designed to have a long-term impact in underserved, urban, rural and emerging communities.
On this page you will find information about additional services and programs offered by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, or in partnership with other organizations.
Cultural Tourism and Economic Development
Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism focused on a destination’s arts and culture. Cultural tourism includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums and theatres. It can also include tourism to rural areas; for outdoor festivals, the houses of famous writers and artists, sculpture parks, and landscapes made famous in literature.
Economic Development is the process of developing and maintaining suitable economic, social and political environments, in which balanced growth may be realized, increasing the wealth of the community and improving the economic well being of a community through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements and quality of life.
The Arts Commission supports cultural tourism and economic development through workshops, technical assistance and quick turnaround grants.
Visit the Grants section for guidelines and instructions to apply for the Fast-Track Grant.
Festivals
Festivals allow communities to share cultural traditions which can create vibrant opportunities and experiences for citizens and visitors. A festival is often a person’s first experience and point of entry with the arts. Festivals can be multidisciplinary in scope and include music, dance, art, food and traditional demonstrations, but may also be specific to an artistic discipline. The Arizona Commission on the Arts is dedicated to fostering the professional development and sustainability of festivals around the state and provides support through a Festival Project Grant program.
Visit the Grants section for guidelines and instructions to apply for a Festival Project Grant.
Museums
The Arts Commission is committed to supporting Arizona museums which offer visual arts, performing arts, literary arts or multidisciplinary programming; provide educational or experiential youth programs; or focus on historic or cultural preservation. As a part of this service, the Arts Commission maintains active membership in several local, statewide, regional and national museum associations.
Many Arizona museums are eligible for Arts Commission funding support. In order to be eligible for most grant programs, organizations must be dedicated to producing, presenting or serving the arts as their primary mission. Multidisciplinary or multipurpose organizations are eligible for Arts Commission funding if they are able to demonstrate that the arts comprise at least 50% of the organization’s public programming.
Tribal Museums and Projects
Arizona is home to 21 federally recognized tribes of indigenous peoples, and is home to one of the largest populations of Native Americans in the United States. Through its grant programs, the Arts Commission maintains a strong commitment to tribal museums, which aim to preserve the cultural traditions and history of native peoples. Arts Commission programs also support traditional and contemporary native artists, who contribute to the rich cultural diversity of Arizona.
Can’t find what you are looking for? The Arizona Commission on the Arts has many programs and services that may benefit you as an individual artist, educator or arts organization. If you have questions regarding the programs and services available to you through the Arizona Commission on the Arts, please call 602-771-6501.
