Our unique setting on the Colorado Plateau and our residents inspire us to not only discover but to create – create art, cultural experiences, and community. Flagstaff has a long scientific and cultural legacy — one that intersects with our art and creative practice.

Interdisciplinary creativity not only differentiates Flagstaff as one of the southwest’s most creative cities, it is critical for community discourse and will help us solve the challenges and embrace the opportunities facing us as a diverse community in the high desert.

For time immemorial, people have gathered at the base of San Francisco Peaks. These sacred mountains are deeply embedded in ancient and modern culture. They define our landscape and ground us as stewards of the land entrusted to us.

Gathering is a recurring theme. Through creative placemaking, artmaking, and community discourse we hope to further strengthen the cultural bonds between the diverse peoples that call Flagstaff home.

Flagstaff’s nonprofit cultural sector is the driving force of $90 million of the economy supporting more than 3,000 jobs. More broadly the creative economy includes STEM and STEAM professions and for-profit businesses including festivals and galleries. Flagstaff welcomes nearly 6 million visitors each year. As visitors engage in cultural and heritage tourism, they linger longer thus spending more. They also invest in our artists and cultural nonprofits helping to offer robust cultural programming more commonly found in larger cities.

A hallmark of Flagstaff’s cultural sector is collaboration. How we continue to build the sector and enhance the community through creativity is by focusing on providing opportunity and reducing barriers. Flagstaff has a growing diversity of organizations and people dedicated to the accessibility of creative experiences and cultural equity. Together we are building upon and strengthening our communities educational resources and investing in placemaking.