May 25, 2023

City of Phoenix Wins

2023 Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Award

This prestigious awards program has been Arizona's signature sustainability recognition event for over 40 years. The City of Phoenix was awarded the Crescordia Award in the Art in Public Places category that showcases creative works of art visually accessible to the public that contribute to aesthetic appreciation, add to a sustainable-based culture, and encourage sustainability.

The award-winning project was a City of Phoenix Well Site Reuse public art project called "A Time Machine Called Tinaja" at North 73rd Avenue and Crittenden Lane. The project is a collaboration of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Phoenix Water Services Department, Dig Studios, and artist Bobby Zokaites.

Arizona Forward is the state’s leading sustainability not-for-profit organization that has successfully worked on major environmental initiatives for Arizona since 1969. The organization leverages its collective power by forming solid partnerships with Arizona business leaders, local and state officials, state education leaders, and policymakers to drive how the state can best grow its communities, stimulate the economy, and enhance the environment. Arizona Forward has a prominent membership of 150+ public and private sector organizations that serve on issue committees and participate in events throughout the year. 

Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

Welcomes New Staff

Elida Acosta joins the staff as the new Community Programs and Engagement Manager. She will implement arts learning, capacity building, and community investment projects and programs for creative individuals, artists, professional staff, board members, and volunteers of arts and cultural organizations. She will also manage the agency's communications with community members and residents. Elida is a Chicana focused on creating a world where many worlds can exist, with Arts and Culture being the driving force of that mission. She is eager to apply her Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and over ten years of collective professional experience in the Nonprofit and Public sector with her community. Elida is excited about her new role with the Office of Arts and Culture to improve Phoenix's quality of life by efficiently delivering outstanding public service. Life partner to an Artist rooted in ancestral wisdom and daughter and granddaughter of Immigrants and Natives to our Desert in Phoenix, Arizona.  

Melodie Mendivil comes to the Office of Arts and Culture as the department's new Management Assistant. She will be directly responsible for overseeing the department’s procurement, contracts, accounts payable, and management services. A native Phoenician and first-generation college graduate, Melodie has a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in Art History and a Master of Business Administration. Her work history includes administrative roles at the Library, Phoenix Symphony, and the Phoenix Convention Center. She comes to the agency from the Street Transportation Department, where she is a Contracts Specialist with over 17 years of procurement experience. Melodie also volunteers with the City of Phoenix LGBTQ Employee Alliance, serving on various committees and as a board member. Melodie loves attending plays and concerts, singing karaoke, cooking, entertaining, playing board games, and cuddling her six cats and two Chihuahuas. She is eccentric and adores all things nerdy: Star Wars, Marvel Universe, Tim Burton films, SpongeBob, and 80’s pop culture, but she especially loves attending Phoenix Comicon with her two teenage daughters, Violet and Scarlett.

Mojgan Vahabzadeh joins the team as a Senior Public Art Project Manager, where she will coordinate and direct activities involved in implementing and completing Capital Improvement Program arts projects, programs, and contracts. Mojgan has over thirty years of municipal government experience working in arts, culture, and graphic design. She joins the Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture after spending fourteen years as the City of Glendale’s percent-for-art program administrator, managing public art projects, art grants, festivals, and events. Appreciation for the arts formed early for Mojgan with childhood travels to museums and cultural sites. Her love for the arts combined with a fascination with publishing and print technology led her to study mass communication, graphic design, and fine arts in college. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Louisville and a Master of Technology degree from Arizona State University. Mojgan actively networks with the local visual and performing arts community and enjoys every opportunity to engage the public through the arts.

Call to Artists

55th Avenue Promenade

The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation and Streets Transportation Departments, seeks to commission permanent artwork for the 55th Avenue Promenade, located between Camelback Road and Indian School Road in central Phoenix. The artwork must be made of durable materials that can survive the desert climate, provide shade in support of the City of Phoenix Cool Corridors Initiative, and enhance the pedestrian experience of this unique neighborhood amenity.​ The application deadline is July 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ​MST.

Become a Program Instructor

with Parks and Recreation

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department seeks talented people, including artists, to bring classes and events to our community.

Vendors must be registered in the City’s procurePHX Self-Registration System to respond to solicitations and access procurement information. The City may, at its sole discretion, reject any offer from an applicant who has not registered. The deadline to apply is June 13, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. MST.

Interested Proposers may download the complete solicitation and addenda from https://solicitationsadmin.phoenix.gov/.Prospective proposers may secure additional information by contacting the Procurement Officer, Martin Rodriguez at martin.rodriguez@phoenix.gov.

STATE

Arizona Citizens for the Arts commends the Arizona Legislature and Governor Hobbs for renewing $5 million in funding for the Arizona Commission on the Arts in the FY24 state budget. While the arts community appreciates this investment, it acknowledges that the needs of Arizona's creative economy surpass this amount. This year’s appropriation is another one-time investment and faces challenges with long-term planning and reliable commitments due to the lack of ongoing funding. However, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will strategically use the FY24 funds to support the artists, community festivals, and arts organizations that significantly contribute to the state's well-being, education, and economy.

FEDERAL

The President has requested a budget increase for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, setting both agencies to $211 million each for FY24. Americans for the Arts Action Fund is asking arts supporters to contact Congress to at least match the President’s request by appropriating this increased funding for both cultural agencies.

LOCAL

The City of Phoenix wrapped up eleven in-person budget hearings, plus one virtual hearing to gather feedback on the FY24 trial budget. Arts advocates came out in numbers, especially to the special "arts" budget hearing. There is an increase to the Office of Arts and Culture's grants program in the proposed trial budget. City Council will tentatively adopt the budget on May 31 and do a final adoption on June 14.

Artists Career Workshops

Now On-Demand

In partnership with Artlink, artists are invited to access this free on-demand series of workshops designed to support an artist's career. 

"Photograph Your Work" ​- Led by professional photographer Nader Abushhab, who demonstrates basic photography techniques for capturing work most effectively and efficiently. 

"Submit Your Work" - This workshop provides insights and tips on submitting your work to open calls and commercial businesses.

"Prepare Your Work" ​​- Experts provide insights and tips on preparing your work for exhibition in this workshop.

A "Promote Your Work" workshop will be coming soon that provides insights and tips on promoting your work.

Header Image: A Time Machine Called Tijana, Learn More

Artist: Bobby Zokaites