​The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture has awarded seven neighborhood groups and artist collaborators funds through the city’s Neighborhood Arts Grants program for 2019-2020. Using funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and in partnership with Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, the Office of Arts and Culture will support seven projects in Phoenix neighborhood parks for a total of $50,000. Projects will be implemented throughout the 2020 calendar year.
“We are grateful to the National Endowment of the Arts for their continued support of the Neighborhood Arts program, especially for this round of investment that promotes arts and cultural activities in our city's parks for residents to enjoy," said Mitch Menchaca, executive director for the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture "We are thankful to collaborate and partner with the city's Parks and Recreation and Neighborhood Services departments on this year's program."
Neighborhood Arts Grants encourage partnerships between neighborhood community groups, artists, and arts and culture organizations, bringing them together to propose arts and culture projects within Phoenix neighborhoods. For this third year of the Neighborhood Arts program, all awarded projects must activate a Phoenix park with an arts and culture experience. City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture worked with the Neighborhood Services Department to promote the funding opportunity. All eligible applications were reviewed by a community panel of artists, community advocates, and city staff.
The following projects received individual awards between $7,125 and $7,500:
-
Celebration Eastlake – First Institutional Baptist Church with Sleeveless Acts at Eastlake Park
-
Design Empowerment PHX – SoPho Convening with The Sagrado Galleria at El Reposo Park
-
Norton Vista 2020: A Year of Creative Visions – Norton Vista Neighborhood Association with Sunnyslope residents and artists at Norton Park
-
“El DÃa De Los Niños" Festival / Children’s Day – Palomino Neighborhood Association with Cultural Coalition, Inc. at Palomino Park
-
Encanto Park Music Festival – Encanto-Palmcroft Historic Preservation Association with Desert Overture Wind Symphony at Encanto Park
-
Grant Park Spring Arts Festival – Grant Park Barrio Youth Project CORP with James E. Garcia at Grant Park
-
Slope Fest 2020 – East Sunnyslope Neighborhood Association and Block Watch with Ollin Yoliztli Mexican Folklore Dance Academy at Palma Park
​The National Endowment of the Arts announced in May 2019 that it has awarded a fourth year of funding to the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture for the Neighborhood Arts Grants program.
Information about the 2020-21 Neighborhood Arts Grants program will be available in summer 2020 on the Office of Arts and Culture’s website:
phoenix.gov/arts/grants-program​.
About the Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture
The Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture was established in 1985 to make Phoenix a great place to live, work, and visit. Today, its programs and services enhance quality of life for residents, sustain a healthy cultural workforce, and champion the city’s vibrant arts and culture community. For more information on the Office of Arts & Culture, visit
phoenix.gov/arts​ or call 602-262-4637.
