Earlier this month, staff members from the Arizona Commission on the Arts were invited to present at the Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) annual conference in Houston.

The presentation, titled Business Unusual: Moving the Field from "Best Practices" to "Next Practices," used the Commission's Arizona Art Tank funding initiative as a case study in a broader discussion of how to advance the field through leading-edge initiatives.

In related news, the Denver Foundation's Arts Affinity Group, a Colorado-based giving circle, has launched its own Colorado Art Tank funding initiative based on Arizona's model.

News

Joint Arts Education Conference Recap

The biennial Joint Arts Education Conference (JAEC) convened at the Phoenix Art Museum on Monday, October 20, 2014. Presented through a partnership between the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Arizona Department of Education, the conference attracted over 170 attendees, including arts educators, school administrators, teaching artists and arts learning professionals from across the state. Click here to learn more.

Do You Vote smART?

Election Day is almost here! To help you learn more about where the candidates stand on issues important to the Arts & Culture sector, our friends at Arizona Citizens for the Arts have created Vote smART Arizona, a candidate and voter education campaign. The Vote smART Arizona website features a wealth of information and resources especially for the arts-focused voter. Click here to visit the Vote smART Arizona website.

Arizona Arts Spotlight

Founded in Scottsdale in 2003, MusicaNova Orchestra has quickly established itself as one of Arizona's most exciting professional symphony ensembles by taking a chance on new, young talent. Click here to read more.

Provide Your Feedback on the Draft Arizona Arts Standards

Revisions to Arizona's State Standards in the Arts are currently under way and on Monday, October 20th, the Arizona Department of Education released draft 2015 Arizona Arts Standards for review by the field.

If you would like to review the draft standards and provide your feedback in their development, you can respond in one of two ways. Click here to read more.

Opportunities

ArtPlace Grants

ArtPlace America is now accepting applications for the fifth round of its National Grants Program. While the program welcomes applicants from across the country, approximately 50% of the $10 million to be disbursed in 2015 will be restricted for use in specific communities, including rural Arizona communities. All applicants must register by 12:59pm Friday, October 31, 2014. Click here to read more.

Chamber and Tourism Membership Grants

Chamber and Tourism Membership Grants for Organizations (CTM) are designed to assist Arizona nonprofit arts and culture organizations with funding support for one- or two-year memberships in/with business or tourism industry chambers/bureaus/associations in their communities. Click here to learn more.

Artists Engaging in Social Change

The Surdna Foundation is now accepting proposals for one- or two-year support to extraordinary artist-driven projects as part of its Artists Engaging in Social Change funding area. All artistic disciplines will be considered, including cross-disciplinary work. Click here to learn more.

Public Art Challenge

Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge will grant at least three cities up to $1 million each over two years to support temporary public art projects that celebrate creativity, enhance urban identity, encourage public-private partnerships and drive economic development. Click here to learn more.

Arizona Commission on the Arts

417 West Roosevelt Street |Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1326

p 602.771.6502 | f 602.256.0282 |info@azarts.gov | www.azarts.gov

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We imagine an Arizona where everyone can

participate in and experience the arts.