Advocacy & the Arts in AZ
Why Advocacy Matters for Arizona’s Creative Sector
In Arizona, where public investment in the arts has long trailed the national average, advocacy isn’t optional—it’s essential. Our creative sector is a high-octane engine for local economies, well-being, and civic identity. Without champions raising its profile, we risk letting vibrant creative practices—across urban cores like Phoenix and rural desert towns—fade from public priority.
What Is the Creative Sector — And How Much Is It Worth?
Arizona’s creative sector includes visual and performing arts, museums, cultural heritage sites, festivals, artists, makers, creative businesses, and arts educators.
New data released on March 25, 2024, show arts and cultural industries hit an all-time high in 2022, contributing 4.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), or $1.1 trillion, to the U.S. economy. Arizona’s arts & culture sector added a staggering $14.2 billion in value to the state’s economy, a 16.6% increase over 2021!
These findings and more come from the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), a product of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that tracks the annual economic value of arts and cultural production from 35 industries—including both commercial and nonprofit entities. A national summary report and an accompanying interactive graphic are available on the NEA’s website, along with state-level estimates.
In 2023, Arizona’s arts and culture sector contributed $15.8 billion to the state’s economy. The sector supported 95,300 jobs and $7.3 billion in wages, making up 3% of the state’s total economic output. Arizona’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generates over $1.1 billion in direct economic activity annually. The result of these efforts isn’t just more murals or music festivals — it’s a stronger regional identity. The reason: Arts and culture have become key indicators of regional growth. Learn More
Clearly, creativity isn’t just culture—it’s commerce.
What a Thriving Arts Ecosystem Should Look Like
Federal, State, and Local Alignment:
Federal: Stable funding from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS ensures continuity for healing arts, cultural heritage, and youth programming—especially in underserved areas.
State: Prioritize multi-year budgets that enable sustained operations, expansion, and equity—at least matching other states’ per capita investments.
Local: Cities, counties, and towns should implement dedicated arts funds or public art ordinances, create local grant programs, and embed creative planning in urban development strategies.
Arizona’s Current Standing: Per Capita Giving
State arts funding remains sluggish with appropriations for the Arizona Commission on the Arts at around $2 million per year, placing Arizona near the bottom nationally—48th in public arts funding
Nationally, combined public arts funding averages approximately $5.49 per person—split into $0.53 (federal), $2.47 (state), and $2.48 (local)—though inflation-adjusted values drop to ~$3.32
Arizona falls significantly below this benchmark.
Comparison & What It Means
Arizona’s state contribution per person is far below the U.S. average. Nationally, state arts agency appropriations averaged about $2.47 per capita in 2022 (Grantmakers in the Arts). By contrast, Arizona’s appropriation levels are consistently much lower.
Even with additional sources, Arizona lags behind. The Commission on the Arts receives other revenues (such as the Arts Trust Fund and special fees), but the baseline legislative appropriation of about $2 million annually equates to only pennies per person in most years (Arizona Commission on the Arts).
Temporary increases have not closed the gap. A one-time $5 million appropriation in FY2023 raised Arizona’s per capita arts investment closer to $0.68 per person — but still far short of states that invest more than $2 per person just in state appropriations (Southwest Contemporary).
National Baseline
Combined public arts funding in the U.S. averaged $5.49 per person in 2022 (federal + state + local). Grantmakers in the Arts
Breakdown: ~$0.53 federal, ~$2.47 state, ~$2.48 local. Grantmakers in the Arts
When adjusted for inflation, that drops to about $3.32 per person. Grantmakers in the Arts
More recently, state arts agency (SAA) appropriations per capita are projected to be ~$2.09 in 2025 (national average). Arts Action Fund
Arizona currently invests about $0.26 per person. In FY2025, with a $2 million appropriation and a state population of roughly 7.7 million, Arizona is contributing only $0.26 per capita in legislative funding for the arts Arizona Commission on the Arts
Why This Matters
When Arizona invests in the arts, we’re not only enriching lives — we’re:
Fueling economic growth in every corner of the state.
Creating jobs and career pathways for tens of thousands.
Driving tax revenue that strengthens local and state budgets.
Building resilient communities where culture, identity, and creativity thrive.
The arts are not optional. They are a proven engine of prosperity and community well-being.
Now is the time to grow Arizona’s investment in arts and culture. With stronger support, Arizona can move from the bottom tier in national arts funding to a leader in innovation, equity, and cultural vitality.
What We Stand to Lose if We Let Funding Diminish for the Sector
✘ Humanity & Healing: Arts in hospitals, prisons, and memory care provide dignity, healing, connection—especially for veterans, seniors, and underserved communities.
✘ Jobs and Economic Growth: Loss of creative capacity: fewer artists earning, fewer festivals, fewer cultural tourists.
✘ Educational & Workforce Access: Arts in schools, maker spaces, and residencies equip learners with empathy, innovation, and resilience—skills our future workforce needs.
✘ Tourism & Cultural Identity: From Heard Museum to desert arts festivals, culture is what roots us to place—and draws visitors that fuel our hospitality, retail, and regional branding.
✘ Equity & Cultural Preservation: Indigenous knowledge, Latino and BIPOC cultural traditions, new narratives—fade away when arts are devalued.
How to Mobilize, Amplify, and Connect
Federal & State Engagement:
Write, call, or meet your legislators—local storytelling is persuasive.
Use arts-focused portals and scripts (e.g., Americans for the Arts toolkits) to streamline outreach.
Personal Storytelling:
Share how the arts impacted you—a healing mural? A beloved festival? A creative job saved?
Encourage artists, business owners, families to elevate their stories on social media, local news, and at city hall.
Coalitions & Cross-Sector Partnerships:
Build alliances with healthcare, tourism, education, and business leaders—show how arts advance shared goals.
Leverage local events—pop-up advocacy booths at fairs, gallery walks, shared letters signed by chefs or educators.
Digital & Social Strategy:
Use data-driven visuals—infographics showing $14B+ impact, 100K jobs, creative growth—and pair with emotional narratives.
Launch hashtag campaigns like #ArizonaCreates, or story prompts like “Describe your first show in AZ…”
Arts Ambassadors & Creative Councils:
Nominate cultural “ambassadors” in every district—artists, educators, entrepreneurs who can speak with authenticity and visibility.
How Arts Funding Is Being Defunded—Right Now
The federal budget has proposed eliminating funding for NEA, NEH, IMLS, NPR, PBS—threatening grants in Arizona that support healing, education, and festivals.
The sector grew more than twice as fast as the overall state economy from 2022–2023 Arizona Commission on the Arts
Most nonprofits rely heavily on earned revenue and individual giving; only 6.5% comes from government, and 3% from corporate support—making them especially vulnerable to funding cuts
Momentum: The Arizona Creative Futures Summit
Reimagining the Role of Arts & Culture in Arizona’s Future
That’s why Art State Arizona and Arizona Citizens for the Arts are joining forces to launch a bold new collaboration. Together, we are reviving and reimagining some of the state’s most impactful programming, including a statewide convening and the Arizona Creative Excellence Awards—designed to meet this critical moment with energy, vision, and action.
In Spring 2026, during the legislative session, the inaugural Momentum: Arizona Creative Futures Summit will bring together artists, nonprofit and for-profit leaders, educators, business innovators, healthcare partners, tourism leaders, and elected officials for three days of workshops, roundtables, and cross-sector dialogues in Phoenix, including the Arizona Arts & Culture Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. The convening will explore the intersections of arts with economic development, health and wellness, workforce growth, youth education, and community identity—building new partnerships and practical tools that can be implemented statewide.
On Advocacy Day, the State Capitol lawn becomes a living gallery of Arizona’s creativity: regional pavilions, live music and dance, culinary tastings, murals, storytelling, and advocacy-in-action as lawmakers meet directly with their creative constituents.
At the heart of this day is a reimagined Arizona Creative Excellence Awards. Instead of honoring only a small handful of artists and leaders, the program will empower every community in Arizona—large and small, rural and urban—to host their own localized awards. Through a Partnership with AZCA, communities will receive the infrastructure and support to identify and elevate their champions across ten award categories, ranging from Creative Sector Champion and Business for the Arts to Emerging Artist and Arts Accessibility & Equity.
This shift means that for the first time, hundreds of honorees from across the state will be recognized—not just a few, but the true diversity of support that exists in every corner of Arizona. By lifting up elected officials, businesses, educators, cultural leaders, and artists alike, we will shine a light on the broad network of advocates who make arts and culture thrive. Together, these local and statewide honorees become part of a powerful, united voice for Arizona’s creative sector.
Our Why: To spark a new, shared vision for how Arizona supports and invests in its creative future.
Our How: Through collaboration, mutual membership benefits, and joint leadership by Art State Arizona and Arizona Citizens for the Arts.
Our When: Spring 2026, during the legislative session, aligning advocacy with action.
Our Outcome: A stronger, united arts and culture sector; recognition of community champions statewide; and the foundation for sustainable, long-term investment in Arizona’s creative economy.
This isn’t just an event—it’s the beginning of a movement. By rallying voices now, we can reimagine Arizona’s future and position arts and culture as essential drivers of prosperity, wellness, and community resilience.
Shared Collaboration Statement
Art State Arizona and Arizona Citizens for the Arts are joining forces to reimagine the future of arts and culture in Arizona. Together, we unite deep community programming and cross-sector partnerships with decades of advocacy experience to build a stronger, louder, and more sustainable voice for the creative sector.
Through this collaboration, every artist, organization, business, and community—from the largest cities to the smallest towns—will have a seat at the table.
By integrating membership benefits, co-producing statewide programs, and relaunching the Arizona Creative Excellence Awards in every corner of Arizona, we are creating a shared platform that elevates local champions while shaping a collective statewide vision.
Our partnership is designed to meet the urgency of this moment. Arizona ranks among the lowest states in per-capita arts funding, yet our creative sector contributes billions in economic impact, strengthens education, improves health, and drives tourism and innovation.
Together, we are laying the groundwork for a new era—one where Arizona invests in the arts as essential infrastructure for prosperity, equity, and resilience.
This is more than collaboration. It is a movement to ensure that the arts are recognized, valued, and sustained as vital to Arizona’s future.
