¡Sombra! Projects Kick Off this Saturday | | ¡Sombra! Experiments in Shade is an innovative public art project developed by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture to address extreme urban heat in Phoenix. Winner of a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge, this project showcases the extraordinary solutions that arise when artists partner with civic leaders. |
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Join artists Jose Benavides and Joe Ray for the unveiling of Rincón de Color at Cielito Park. Be among the first to see this vibrant installation featuring eight giant alebrijes—mythological folk animals from Oaxaca—supporting a colorful shade awning with solar-powered, motion-activated misters. Enjoy live music, free food, and refreshments as we celebrate this new, cooling, festive gathering space for the community!
Saturday, April 19, 2025
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Cielito Park
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Join us in helping to fabricate the AZ(LAND) Sombra Shades of Resilience structure to be installed at Steele Indian School Park. This series of workshops can accommodate up to 30 participants. Participants will dye corn husks that will be incorporated into the structure. With limited capacity, please RSVP.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
7:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Sagrado Galleria
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Celebrate Earth Day by getting hands-on at Roesley Park for a DIY Barrel Cactus Seating Design for The Burrow, a temporary art installation. Paint and repurpose tires into colorful, comfy spots under the shade of the desert tortoise. Bring fabrics or craft supplies you no longer need and give them new life! Free refreshing beverages will be provided.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Roesley Park
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Enjoy a fun-filled unveiling celebration of The Burrow, inspired by Arizona’s very own Desert Tortoise! Designed to provide a cool refuge from the sweltering heat, this larger-than-life abstract tortoise sculpture invites people of all ages to #sharetheshade and discover all that the desert and its inhabitants can teach us about climate resilience and adaptation.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Roseley Park
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Join us in helping to fabricate the AZ(LAND) Sombra Shades of Resilience structure to be installed at Steele Indian School Park. This series of workshops can accommodate up to 30 participants. During these workshops, participants will work with recycled plastics that will be incorporated into the structure. With limited capacity, please RSVP.
Saturdays, April 26 and May 3, 2025
7:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Sagrado Galleria
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Join artist Shomit Barua for the unveiling of this groundbreaking, environment-responsive sculpture that transforms sunlight, heat, and shadow into an ever-changing soundscape. Bring a yoga mat and immerse yourself in Environmental Listening, a meditative practice that seeks to create a deeper, personal connection to our world.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Los Olivos Park
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Step into the refreshing shade of the Botanical Canopy, a captivating sculpture by artist Bobby Zokaites. This vibrant, plant-inspired installation features leafy canopies crafted from over 10,000 feet of woven nylon parachute cord, creating a stunning visual and functional space for visitors to cool off and enjoy the park.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cortez Park
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| | Two Calls for Artists with April Deadlines | | |
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Street Transportation Department, Neighborhood Services Department, and the Bell Road Business Alliance, seeks to commission a professional artist or artist team to design 6 to 8 site-specific artwork panels. The designs will subsequently be fabricated as 2’-6”W by 6’-0”H laser-cut metal banners installed on street light poles along the south side of Bell Road from Black Canyon Freeway (I-17) east to 7th Avenue. The image below shows the project area. The deadline to apply is April 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture also seeks qualifications from muralists to develop a prequalified roster. The intention of this Roster is to invite Artists interested in working with the City of Phoenix or Arizona residents and businesses to commission murals. Accepted submissions from artists will be able to create meaningful artworks that can be incorporated into a specific site, area, or context, both on public or private property. Muralists selected for the Muralist Pre-qualified Artist Roster will be eligible for City-funded projects over the next three years. The Artist Roster will be made publicly available for residents and businesses to utilize at their discretion. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
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| S'edav Va'aki Museum After Dark Program | | Join the S'edav Va'aki Museum and Jim Turner for the next Museum After Dark Program, as he discusses the Colorado River and its Wonders: A Study in Water Use and Conservation. Jim Turner has worked with more than seventy local history museums. He co-authored the 4th-grade textbook The Arizona Story, and his pictorial history, Arizona: Celebration of the Grand Canyon State, was a 2012 Southwest Books of the Year selection. The program is on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. | | Arizona State Parks Artist Residency Program | | The Arizona State Parks Artist Residency Program is a collaborative initiative between Arizona State Parks and Trails and the Arizona Commission on the Arts, funded by the Arizona Community Foundation. It is designed to immerse Arizona-based artists in the state’s natural ecosystems. The program provides artists with dedicated time, space, and resources to create work inspired by local landscapes in State Parks, promoting aesthetic appreciation, environmental education, and community engagement. By bringing artists to parks like Patagonia Lake State Park, the program fosters creative exploration that connects art with the environment, while encouraging the preservation and appreciation of Arizona’s unique natural and cultural heritage. The deadline to apply is May 6, 2025. | | The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), reduced its staff substantially, cut the agency’s grant programs, and rescinded grants already awarded. In addition, the administration issued an executive order (EO), continuing the reduction of the federal bureaucracy and directing further cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Act Now and Support America’s Museums with advocacy resources from the American Alliance of Museums. Stand up for libraries in America with more advocacy resources from the American Library Association. Advocate for the National Humanities Alliance with its resources. |
| The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture is the city's designated local arts agency. It supports, champions, and promotes the local arts, culture, and educational community to make Phoenix a great place to live, work, and visit. In addition to the department’s flagship programs, the agency oversees and supports the City's Youth and Education Office, Archaeology Office, and the S'edav Va'aki Museum. | | | | |
