On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, an expansive $1.9 trillion stimulus package intended to deliver federal relief throughout the nation as it enters the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to report that the package includes provisions that direct vital support to the nation's arts sector.

Aliyah Chutkan, a junior at Xavier College Prep in Phoenix, is Arizona's 2021 Poetry Out Loud state champion. Next month, Chutkah will compete against high school students representing each US state and territory for the title of National Champion. The national semi-finals of the poetry recitation competition will be streamed online on May 2, 2021.

Interested in trying out watercolor painting? How about taiko drumming? Looking for fun, creatively stimulating activities for small children? Do you know an older adult looking for ways to keep their bodies and minds active? Our new Virtual Mini-Lessons (VML) page has something for everyone!

According to new data released on March 30, 2021, by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Arizona's arts and culture industries contributed $10.87 Billion to the state's economy in 2019, employing nearly 89,033 Arizonans who earned a combined $5.59 Billion, contributing more to the State's economy than mining, agriculture, and forestry combined.

According to new data reported by the Arizona Department of Education and Arizona Commission on the Arts, 89% of K-12 students in the state have access to education in at least one arts discipline. Participation, however, dropped 5% between the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years.

Research-a-palooza is a capacity-building program for teaching artists, arts organizations, and health/aging organizations with a serious and committed interest in strengthening existing Creative Aging programs through research and development efforts.

Nominations for our annual Master-Apprentice Artist Award are now open! NOMINATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2021 These awards provide direct support for master traditional artists living in Arizona to pass on art, culture, and heritage practices to apprentice learners through the annual SFA Master-Apprentice Award. The award is made possible in part by the National Endowment ...

Artwork Archive's Art Business Accelerator Grant provides visual artists with unrestricted funds, resources, and a curriculum to help establish, grow and manage their art careers. The grant is designed to arm artists with the necessary business skills to succeed as artists and entrepreneurs-and to make a living through their artwork.

The Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center and Arizona Barrio Stories partnered to bring a television series featuring local artists and stories from the barrios. This program called "Arizona Barrio Stories" releases episodes every Sunday telling the stories of about two to three people a week.

In 1968, a group of artists and their families, many affiliated with the University of Arizona, created an independent community in the desert south of Oracle. The legacy of what they built continues to this day, inspiring author Paul Gold to spend fifteen years of research to create his book, "Bend in the Wash: The Rancho Linda Vista Artist Community".

The winners of the 40th annual Arizona Governor's Arts Awards have been named. Nominated by community members, the esteemed award is presented to individuals, businesses and organizations that have made an impact on arts and culture in Arizona. Presented by Billie Jo and Judd Herberger, the awards show took place Friday night.