A one-time legislative appropriation of $2 million in support of Arizona’s arts & culture sector is reaching communities throughout the state with today’s announcement of grants awarded to nonprofit organizations, festivals, and arts learning programs.
On Aug. 21, 2025, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona, announced 375 grant awards totaling $2,5456,273. Grants were awarded to a diverse array of organizations and programs spread across the state, from a community theater in Bullhead City to a pottery festival in Douglas, from world-class museums to after-school arts programs.
“The arts are an essential expression of Arizona’s vibrant communities and diverse cultures,” said Christina You-sun Park, Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “Through the Arts Commission, the State invests in a thriving statewide nonprofit arts sector that drives local economies, contributes to the vibrance and livability of our communities, enhances the education of our young people, and promotes the health and well-being of our residents.”
A full list of grantees and their awards can be found at https://azarts.gov/grants/grantees-fiscal-year-2026/
Grants were awarded in four categories:
Creative Capacity Grants provide general operating support to arts and culture organizations of all sizes whose primary mission is to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts.
This year, 259 organizations were awarded Creative Capacity Grants in amounts ranging from $800 to $24,000. Award amounts are based on the organization’s size and its application’s performance in the competitive review process.
Festival Grants support organizations in their efforts to provide quality arts and cultural programming through community festival activities. Grant awards range from $2,000 – $5,000.
69 arts festivals received grants in this round of funding.
Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants support projects that foster meaningful arts learning experiences in community settings for adult learners of any age, while Youth Arts Engagement Grants support programs focused on young people ages 24 and under that occur outside of traditional school hours.
Between the two programs, 47 arts engagement programs received grants of up to $5,000.
Application and Review Process
In accordance with the Arts Commission’s strategic plan and governing statutes, applicants are awarded grants based on such factors as organizational capacity, public benefit, and fiscal practices.
Grant applications are reviewed through a rigorous and open panel process which is open to applicants as well as the broader public. Review panels are chaired by Governor-appointed Commissioners and are composed of community leaders, educators, arts administrators, and working artists from rural, urban, and suburban areas throughout Arizona.
Funding the Arts in Arizona
Positioned as a one-time appropriation from the State’s General Fund, the $2 million appropriated to the Arts Commission for Fiscal Year 2026 augments the agency’s most reliable funding streams: the Arts Trust Fund, which contributes an average of $1.2 million to the agency’s annual budget, and a state partnership grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which contributes $1 million on average.
Additionally, the Arts Commission administers a $50,000 grant from the Flinn Foundation (https://www.flinn.org/) dedicated to the support of arts festivals in rural and remote Arizona, and through a partnership with the Burton Family Foundation (https://www.burtonfamilyfoundation.org/), funds 11 arts learning programs for young people in rural Arizona communities.
Looking to the Future
In anticipation of the agency’s 60th anniversary in 2027, the Arts Commission’s staff and board are currently engaged in an extensive strategic planning process that will plot the course for the agency’s next 5 years. During the first of three phases, the agency solicited feedback from over 1,000 Arizona residents through a public input survey and hosted listening sessions in 19 Arizona communities throughout the state, including Kingman, Nogales, Prescott, Safford, and Tuba City. In the second phase of the process, the agency will convene various topic-specific focus groups for more intensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing Arizona’s arts sector. In early 2026, the agency will transition to the third and final phase, drafting and submitting a strategic plan for public review.
For more information about the Arts Commission’s strategic planning process and how you can get involved, visit https://azarts.gov/azartsgps/.
One of 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the United States, the Arizona Commission on the Arts is a 58-year-old agency of the State of Arizona and a leading force in the creative and professional development of Arizona’s arts sector. Through robust programs, research initiatives, and strategic grantmaking, the Arts Commission catalyzes arts-based partnerships that strengthen Arizona communities through the arts.
We imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.
