On June 28^th, the state of Arizona legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2023 budget securing a historic investment for the arts in Arizona. The $5 million appropriation to the Arizona Commission on the Arts is the largest investment in the arts in the history of Arizona. Arizona’s per capita funding for the arts is now comparable to neighboring states such as New Mexico and Nevada.

Anne L’Ecuyer, Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, (who presented at the 14^th Annual Viola Awards on April 30, 2022) shared that these funds will not only benefit artists and art organizations but expanded support will include community members such as children, seniors, and veterans.

Several northern Arizona organizations and artists, including Creative Flagstaff, have been awarded grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Upcoming grant opportunities can be found here: https://azarts.gov/grants/. Thank you to Arizona Commission on the Arts for their advocacy and work in furthering creative opportunity throughout Arizona.

Sources & further reading:

https://southwestcontemporary.com/arizonas-new-budget-doubles-arts-funding/

https://azarts.gov/news/arizonas-fy2023-budget-includes-historic-5-million-investment-in-the-arts/