Facing possible funding cut, Arizona Commission on the Arts wants to focus on community needs

The Arizona Commission on the Arts has published its five-year strategic plan as it faces potential funding cuts from the state.

The commission spoke with hundreds of artists and community members across Arizona to develop several priorities within the plan.

Christina You-sun Park, its executive director, says one goal is to build better connections across the arts sector.

“I wouldn't say it’s disjointed. I would say like a lot of different fields post-COVID is that more intention and more time spent getting people together can only lead to better outcomes,” Park said.

Two other goals outlined in the plan are to improve access to the arts for underserved communities, and to help artists have more sustainable careers.

Park says they wanted to address the needs of the arts community, rather than focus this report on the commission’s ongoing funding challenges.

“We are a state agency. We are not an advocacy organization,” Park said. “But we do have incredible partners out in the field like Arizona Citizens for the Arts, ArtsEd West … that are working on creating a more sustainable funding source."

The most recent version of the Arizona state budget allocates zero dollars to the commission. Those budget negotiations are ongoing.

The commission has faced similar threats to its state funding in recent years.