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Member News
i.d.e.a. Museum officially opens
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After nearly three years of planning, the i.d.e.a. Museum opened Feb. 7 at 35 N. Robson in Mesa.
Formerly known as the Arizona Museum for Youth, which was the go-to museum for original, fun, inspiring and educational hands-on art for 35 years, the name i.d.e.a. is an acronym for Imagination. Design. Experience. Art. It is the new museum's guiding thrust for the future that creatively enhances, improves and expands the use of art and art-inspired activities by adding science, engineering, technology and design in multi-sensory experiences.
Opening-weekend activities include a live appearance by PBS' Daniel Tiger and the debut of the new exhibit, "Art of the Robot."
The i.d.e.a. Museum's goal is to provide even more opportunities for families to create together by developing individual and collective creativity in its many forms in interactive spaces that include the Whiteman Family Exhibition Gallery, the HUB, iART and ArtVille.
For more information visit www.ideamuseum.org.
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Advocacy
Highlight
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WHAM, a Surprise-based arts organization providing art education and demonstrating the value of arts in local communities, is being equally creative in building relationships with elected officials.
Following a successful art exhibit last session at the Arizona House of Representatives, WHAM staff worked with State Rep. Debbie Lesko to rehang the exhibit using pieces from West Valley artists for 2014.
Founded in 2006 by clay artist Connie Whitlock, the WHAM Art Association (www.wham-art.org) has grown to 150 members working in a range of mediums from paint, clay and glass to concrete, paper and more. In addition to supporting and promoting the arts in the northwest Valley, WHAM projects include public art murals, art festivals, art walks and community art classes.
The organization also opened an 8,500 square foot community art center - formerly a healthcare facility - in 2012 with 13 artist studios and gallery and as a venue for art classes and events.
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Among the extensive commitments to the Arizona nonprofit community in 2013 by the Wells Fargo Foundation to build and strengthen local communities was a $50,000 grant for Arizona Citizens for the Arts to retool and relaunch Business Volunteers for the Arts.
Business Volunteers for the Arts program pairs business professionals with arts programs in a range of specialties to complete skills-based consulting projects that build the capacity of the organizations to serve their communities.
For more information about Wells Fargo corporate commitment to local communities click here.
Click here for more information about Business Volunteers for the Arts.
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Celebrate an arts victory in Congress
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Both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have been allocated $146 million in the Fiscal Year 2014 Ominbus spending bill.
The new funding represents an increase over last year when a 5.5% sequester cut impacted all federal budgets. The restored budget gives the NEA full spending power to invest in community-based arts programs across the country.
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Board of Directors
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OFFICERS
Joel Hiller
President
Robert Knight
Vice President
Phil Jones
Secretary
Dawn Brown
Treasurer
Rick Pfannenstiel
Member-At-Large
Jeff Rich
Member-At-Large
Steve Martin
Past President
Tom Chapman
Chair, Advocacy Committee
Lynn Tuttle
Chair, Finance Committee
MEMBERS
Alan Affeldt
Winslow Arts Trust
Jason Baran
Salt River Project
Rep. Kate Brophy McGee
Arizona House of Representatives
Jennifer Burns
Consulting & Policy Development
Sam Campana
Chair Emeritus
Mary Dryden
Tucson Symphony Orchestra League
Sen. Steve Farley
Arizona State Senate
Mark Feldman
Miller-Russell & Associates
Chuck Goldstein
EMCARE
Laurie Goldstein
Freescale Semiconductor
Anne Kleindienst
Polsinelli, PC
Cathy Knapp
Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP
Bernadette Mills
West Valley Arts Council
Maureen
Musical Instrument Museum
Leah Fregulia Roberts
Arizona School for the Arts
Michael Vargas
Arizona Public Service
Vincent VanVleet
Phoenix Theatre
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Message from the Director
Continued arts funding critical for economic growth
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Last spring a bi-partisan coalition of legislators successfully inserted a onetime $1 million allocation to the Arts Commission in the current FY14 budget. Their rationale was simple and powerful: The economic return on $1 million invested in arts and culture in local communities all over Arizona was dramatically greater than leaving that money in a bank account where it would earn no more than money market rates.
Now the proof is in, and the assumption of the coalition has become an impressive reality.
Based on the remarkable impact of this year's allocation, the Commission requested $2 million to continue to grow its investment in grant allocations to local arts organizations and funding for innovative and entrepreneurial programs.
At this time, no allocation for the Arts Commission is included in the FY 15 Executive Budget released by the Governor. But we remain confident that with the help of our legislative supporters and the engagement of arts advocates all over the state, ultimately we will be successful in obtaining funding again for the Arts Commission from the "rainy day" fund interest.
Our case is strong. Consider that the full $1 million allocation in this fiscal year has already gone directly to energizing the programs and activities of arts organizations all over the state.
- The funding pool for the Arts Commission ongoing grant programs like Community Investment and Arts Learning initiatives has been increased by more than 50%. This benefits arts organizations that economic studies show are able to return $1.50 in additional economic activity for every dollar invested in them.
- Through $111,000 in Community Catalyst Grants - one of the Commission's two new programs designed to spur innovation -- small communities like Wickenburg, Bisbee, Douglas, Flagstaff, Casa Grande, Cottonwood, South Tucson and Nogales are making new contributions to their communities by partnering with non-arts group to help drive economic development, cultural tourism, civic pride, neighborhood revitalization and youth engagement. Read more here.
- Art Tank competitions in West Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson and Prescott are delivering "seed money" grants to organizations who've pitched arts-based entrepreneurial projects to a local panel of business, arts and community representatives. These are strategic investments in new arts activity that will contribute to community vitality. Find a full list of grants here.
We started our most intense advocacy work this month at Arts Congress by sharing with legislators stories about the tremendous contributions Arts Commission funding are making to the economic recovery in Arizona communities.
Even more compelling -- if "rainy day" interest funding is not repeated -- Arizona arts and culture organizations on average will lose 50% of their state grant funding next year, and funds for innovation and community development will be lost. This would be a devastating setback in the economic recovery of the arts and culture sector, and another blow to Arizona's fragile economic recovery.
We're going to be aggressive in telling this story. We ask your continued support to aid our efforts. Please stay tuned, and stay involved. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Catherine "Rusty" Foley
Executive Director
Arizona Citizens for the Arts
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Hundreds gather at State Capitol for Arts Congress 2014; participate "virtually" too
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 Wednesday, February 5, saw arts advocates, artists, patrons, business leaders and supporters from all over the state gather at the State Capitol to meet with their legislators to talk about how important the arts are in their home districts and the importance of continuing funding for the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
See who attended and tag yourself and friends in our Facebook photo album.
And another 70 advocates from around the state participated in our "Virtual Arts Congress" by sending messages to their legislators via our Voter Voice online system.
A special thank you goes out to the volunteers and organizations that helped make the day possible, including the organizations and individuals who helped underwrite the day's activities: Actors Theatre, Arizona Art Alliance, Arizona Dance Coalition,; Arizona Humanities Council, Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center, Arizona Military Museum, Arizona Museum for Youth Friends, Arizona Theatre Company, Arizona Thespians, AZ Culture , Black Theatre Troupe, CALA Alliance, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Childsplay Inc., Copperstar Repertory, Flagstaff Cultural Partners, Herberger Theater Center, KBAQ, La Posada Hotel/Winslow Trust, Museum Association of Arizona, Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Children's Chorus, Phoenix Conservatory of Music, Phoenix Theatre, Rose Law Group, Scottsdale Cultural Council, The Kur Carr Group, Tom Chapman, Tucson Pima Arts Council , West Valley Arts Council, WHAM Art Association.
Attendees also were greeted by the Arizona School for the Arts String Quartet as they arrived in the morning, and then had the opportunity to participate in a drum circle at lunch with the Arizona Rhythm Connection and an interactive art project with Hugo Medina. Winning student work from the Arizona Department of Education"s "Every Day Art of Arizona.
Arts Congress is the first major step in our 2014 advocacy campaign. If you're not already registered in our Voter Voice network - join now: https://www.votervoice.net/AZARTS/register.
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84 Nominees in line for Governor's Arts Awards
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Now is the time to make your plans to help celebrate the 84 nominees from 27 Arizona communities in six categories for the 2014 Governor's Arts Awards. Each of the nominees has made substantial and outstanding contributions to arts and culture statewide.
Winners will be announced during a gala event on Tuesday, March 25 at The Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street in Mesa.
Row sponsorships (10 seats) are available here. Deadline for having your sponsorship listed in the printed, commemorative program is February 14.
Individual tickets are $150. Members can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $135.
Presented in partnership with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor, the Governor's Arts Awards are being underwritten by: APS - Presenting Sponsor; SRP - Audio-Visual and Print Sponsor; Resolution Copper Mining - Nominees' Sponsor; Arizona Lottery - Artists Awards Sponsor; Mesa Arts Center - Venue Sponsor.
Since 1981, 158 artists, individuals, arts and cultural organizations, educators and businesses have received Governor's Arts Awards.
For a full list of the 2014 Governor's Arts Awards nominees click here.
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John P. and Helen S. Schaefer will receive 2014 Shelley Award
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Their names reflect a legacy spanning the arts, culture and education. Drs. Helen and John P. Helen Schaefer can now add the Shelley Award to their list of accolades and awards.
The Tucson-based Schaefers will receive the award at the 2014 Governor's Arts Awards on March 25 at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. in Mesa.
Among the Schaefer's many contributions:
John, University of Arizona president emeritus, and famed photographer Ansel Adams founded the Center for Creative Photography at the UofA. Schaefer also was instrumental in securing funding for the Norton Art Gallery at Phoenix Art Museum. He also helped organize the Tucson Audubon Society and has served on the boards of Arizona Theatre Company, Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson Audubon Society, Southwest Parks and Monuments Associations, Patronatos de San Xavier and the Arizona State Museum.
Helen, former chair of the UofA College of Humanities Advisory Board, is a former member of the both the Honorary Advisory Board and Board of Directors of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and has served on the boards of the YWCA Tucson, the Arizona Repertory Singers, the Council on Aging Foundation and the YMCA.
She also is a founding board member of the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona, and an early board member and former president of Arizonans for Cultural Development, now known as Arizona Citizens for the Arts.
The Helen P. Schaefer Building today is home to the University of Arizona Poetry Center, another of her passions.
To register for the Governor's Arts Awards, visit www.governorsartsawards.org.
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