Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts
Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts acts as the eyes, ears and voice of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Arizona – at the State Legislature, in local city halls and in conversations with business and community leaders involved in building and supporting quality of life in Arizona.
Nonprofit arts organizations represent more than a half billion dollars of economic activity in communities all across Arizona. And they help support a larger creative industries sector that employs more than 50,000 individuals statewide.
Arts and culture contribute to local tourism, support job attraction efforts and contribute to excellence in education in our schools. Get Connected to Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts, visit our Legislative Action Center or review Arts and Public Policy to learn more about what we’re doing to support arts, culture and arts education in Arizona.
SUMMER 2013
GOVERNOR’S ARTS AWARDS INSPIRE ARTS SUPPORTERS AND ENERGIZE ADVOCACY
“Over the years I have seen tremendous growth in Arizona’s cultural community and I have experienced, along with everyone else, the setbacks of recessions and downturns. We are severely challenged right now, but I know in the next few years we will see growth again. We all must be ready for that moment and seize the momentum.”
Jim Ballinger, Sybil Harrington Director, Phoenix Art Museum.
Ballinger’s inspirational words in accepting the Shelley Award at the 32nd Governor’s Arts Awards, March 6, set the tone for the evening and for the future of arts in Arizona. ” Preparing to seize the momentum” summarizes the agenda of Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts for the rest of 2013.
Spring brings the budgeting season in Arizona cities, towns and school districts. We encourage advocates across the state to contact their local elected officials to tell them to hold the line against cuts to arts programs, and to restore what’s been lost in recent years.
And we promise to make support for arts and culture an issue in city council elections later this year, and as state candidates prepare to run in 2014. There’s plenty to do, but we need your help to deliver our messages about the power of arts and culture in Arizona’s economy and community life.
Make sure you signed up to receive timely action alerts about arts and culture issues at the State Legislature and in the U. S. by visiting our LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER.
Then visit the website for your local city or town to find out when your mayor and city council will hold public hearings on your city budget. Contact your local school district to find out whether arts programs will be impacted by budget proposals. Make your voice heard.
More than 200 arts advocates spoke up for the arts February 4 at the State Capitol during ART CONGRESS.
Congratulations to the 2013 Governor’s Arts Awards Honorees
In addition to the Shelley Award, recognition was given to six other honorees on March 6 for their work and contributions to our cultural life: Arts Executive Dick Bowers, Phoenix (Individual); painter and teacher Jim Waid, Tucson (Artist); committed corporate citizen Southwest Ambulance, Mesa (Business); the innovative Marshall Magnet Elementary School, Flagstaff (Arts in Education – Community); dance legend and professor Marion Kirk Jones, Tempe (Arts in Education – Individual), and neighbor-based arts center Alwun House, Phoenix (Community).
For the full text of Jim Ballinger’s remarks accepting the 2013 Shelley Award, click here.
And thank you again to the evening’s major sponsors Resolution Copper Mining, SRP, The Arizona Lottery and The Herberger Theater Center.
See how much fun we had at the Governor’s Arts Awards by visiting our picture gallery on Facebook.
