Arizona lawmakers have yet to pass a state budget for fiscal year 2025 amid a significant deficit. One proposed cut is completely defunding of the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
Since 2012, the arts commission has relied on fluctuating one-time allocations for its budget. In recent fiscal years, that’s meant the state has set aside $5 million for the arts agency, which then issues grants to individual artists, organizations and communities.
Jacky Alling heads the Arts Commission and says while it’s not unusual for a state arts group to face cuts, Arizona would be first in the nation to allocate $0 if the governor’s proposed budget is approved.
“Every state agency is tightening their belts and taking percentage cuts, but we do feel like that a 100% cut for us is more than our fair share," Alling said.
Alling also says in 2022, the state’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations contributed over a billion dollarsin economic activity.
A spokesperson for the commission says they had submitted a potential impact report at the governor’s request back in February.
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