The local arts community is receiving some much-needed support from the Phoenix City Council, which approved $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding for the Phoenix Arts and Culture Recovery Program. The program will support nonprofit arts and culture organizations and artists still hurting financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also fund a mix of workforce and economic development initiatives and community programs.
Grants to arts and culture nonprofits will help these organizations recover lost revenues due to the pandemic to reopen stronger to offer cultural services to residents. Prior to the global health crisis, Phoenix arts and culture nonprofits generated nearly 13,000 full-time jobs and delivered $45 million in local and state government revenues. Relief support for individual artists and arts workers will help these micro-businesses and entrepreneurs recover income from lost gigs, commissions and employment to retain their creativity and help their careers flourish in Phoenix.
“Businesses are still hurting from the effects of the COVID recession, including our arts community that has been at a standstill,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “Investing in this industry’s recovery will bolster our economy and reinvigorate the vibrant culture, activities, and experiences that make Phoenix unique.”
ARPA funds also will go to other initiatives, including an artist to work program to contract artists to develop projects, installations and performances that will activate a wide range of public spaces, including parks, trails, community centers and neighborhood areas not usually defined or programmed as cultural spaces. Funding also will be used to help college undergraduates or recent grads obtain full-time internships with arts and culture organizations to receive meaningful on-the-job training and experience working in the cultural sector. Finally, ARPA money will be used for the Office of Arts and Culture to continue its work with trainings, workshops, professional development opportunities and providing resources for financial sustainability, business practices and reopening strategies for local artists and organizations.
“I want to thank Mayor Gallego and City Council for their support of the arts and culture sector,” said Mitch Menchaca, director of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. “Arts and culture create a high quality of life, which is beneficial in attracting and retaining businesses and their workers, creating experiences for visitors to Phoenix and making residents want to live here with their families.”
Details on the Phoenix Arts and Culture Recovery Program will be available online at phoenix.gov/arts in July 2021.
