The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture is pleased to announce the recipients of the Community Arts Support Grants Program for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
The Office of Arts and Culture will award a total of $805,346 to 47 nonprofit arts and culture organizations serving the residents of Phoenix through arts and culture activities. Grant funds support the general operating costs of major, mid-size and small arts and culture organizations, specific arts projects related to festivals, as well as arts education activities. Funds also are allocated to a rental support program operated by the Office of Arts and Culture in partnership with the Phoenix Convention Center.
Approved by the Mayor and Council earlier this month, the funding allocation remains the same as was made available in 2013.
“In Phoenix, we recognize and highly value the importance of arts and culture to our economy and to our quality of life,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “I am especially proud that our City Council agreed to maintain the level of funding to arts and culture organizations that was provided last year.”
According to Office of Arts and Culture Executive Director Gail Browne, arts and culture organizations in Phoenix provided more than 8,000 performances, 250 exhibitions, 2,000 classes and workshops, and 2,500 school programs last year.
“We know that these grants provide critical operational support to many of our arts and culture organizations, and for others this funding enables essential community outreach programs to flourish,” she said. “With 5.1 million attendees, the arts and culture sector in Phoenix is a $300 million economic engine that generates $14 million in tax revenue. That’s a return of $20 for every $1 invested through the arts and culture grant program.”
All grants are dollar-for-dollar matching grants, requiring grantees to raise funds from corporations, foundations and/or individuals in the city of Phoenix. Organizations that received general operating support provide substantial outreach and education programs to the community. General operating support grant recipients include: Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Alwun House, Arizona Opera, Arizona Science Center, Arizona Theatre Company, Ballet Arizona, Black Theatre Troupe, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Desert Botanical Garden, Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Heard Museum, iTheatre Collaborative, Jazz at AZ/The Nash, Musical Instrument Museum, Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Boys Choir Association, Phoenix Center for the Arts, Phoenix Chorale, Phoenix Symphony Association, Phoenix Theatre, Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children, Roosevelt Row CDC, Rosson House Heritage Square Foundation & Guild, Shemer Art Center & Museum Association, Xico, Valley Youth Theatre, and Young Arts Arizona.
Arts education grant recipients partner with schools, school districts, after-school programs, or other community-based organizations that serve youth, seniors, or special target populations. Festival projects advance, preserve, or celebrate cultural expressions of diverse populations or present multiple performances dedicated to a specific art from, such as theatre, dance, film, etc.
Festival and arts education grant recipients include African Association of Arizona, Arab American Festival, Arizona Matsuri, Center Dance Ensemble, Childsplay, Cultural Coalition, Free Arts of Arizona, Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, Movement Source, Phoenix Blues Society, Phoenix Chamber Music Society, Phoenix Children’s Chorus, Phoenix Chinese Week, Phoenix Conservatory of Music, Phoenix Film Foundation, PSAArt Awakenings, Red Rocks Music Festival, Release the Fear and Rising Youth Theatre.
Through the Rental Support Program, a total of $250,000 is awarded to major cultural organizations that help revitalize the Phoenixdowntown corridor through their presentations in city-owned performing arts facilities. Grantees include: Arizona Opera, Arizona Theatre Company, Ballet Arizona, Center Dance Ensemble, iTheatre Collaborative, Phoenix Symphony and Valley Youth Theatre.
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, established by the Phoenix City Council in 1985, works to foster a sense of cultural identity, celebrate diversity and ensure an outstanding quality of community life. The Office is advised by a 27-member Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission. For more information on the Office of Arts and Culture, visit phoenix.gov/arts or call 602-262-4637. Follow the Office of Arts and Culture on Facebook: facebook.com/phxofficeofartsandculture.
A listing of the total amounts awarded to all grant recipients follows. Asterisked organizations also receive rental support.
Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix – $9,799
African Association of Arizona – $2,800
Alwun House – $5,000
Arab American Festival – $3,150
Arizona Matsuri – $3,500
*Arizona Opera – $ 32,018
Arizona Science Center – $ 41,284
*Arizona Theatre Company – $ 74,329
*Ballet Arizona – $72,399
Black Theatre Troupe – $6,604
*Center Dance Ensemble – $13,208
Children’s Museum of Phoenix – $23,352
Childsplay – $3,500
Cultural Coalition – $3,150
Desert Botanical Garden – $ 47,827
Free Arts of Arizona – $ 3,150
Great Arizona Puppet Theatre – $15,209
Heard Museum – $ 27,876
*iTheatre Collaborative – $8,374
Japanese Friendship Garden – $1,875
Jazz in AZ/The Nash – $17,618
Movement Source – $2,450
Musical Instrument Museum – $43,640
Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix – $5,000
Phoenix Art Museum – $32,560
Phoenix Blues Society – $2,700
Phoenix Boys Choir Association – $17,771
Phoenix Center for the Arts – $ 13,898
Phoenix Chamber Music Society – $2,550
Phoenix Children’s Chorus – $3,150
Phoenix Chinese Week – $3,500
Phoenix Chorale – $15,886
Phoenix Conservatory of Music – $2,625
Phoenix Film Foundation – $3,500
*Phoenix Symphony Association – $113,835
Phoenix Theatre – $ 28,610
PSA Art Awakenings – $700
Red Rocks Music Festival – $2,465
Release the Fear – $2,800
Rising Youth Theatre – $2,805
Roosevelt Row CDC – $5,000
Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children – $ 20,214
Rosson House Heritage Square Foundation – $5,000
Shemer Art Center & Museum Association – $5,000
*Valley Youth Theatre – $ 43,665
Xico – $5,000
Young Arts Arizona – $5,000