The importance to celebrate rich cultures is what the Arizona Commission on the Arts believes is what enhances the quality of life for all citizens in the state.

The commission provides artists of Arizona grants, programs and services to promote a positive impact on local communities, according to its website.

The Commission on the Arts states that its purpose aims to provide local artists with various outlets in the arts industry for employment, professional growth, funding, exhibition help and exposure through its resources.

With the Native American population within Arizona, the commission strives to include culturally diverse artists in its programs and the opportunity to apply for art grants to better further their careers.

Anna Needham, artist programs coordinator, said the commission is making progress on connecting with the governor’s office on tribal relations between the government and Native American tribes.

“Even for the federal agency, the National Endowment of the Arts did not have their first tribal consultation meeting until April of 2021 when it was mandated by the Biden Administration,” Needham said.

The commission is working on a tribal constitution policy, which is new for the arts and culture field. The policy is to understand that there is a specific relationship between tribes and the federal government.

“We are equals but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to have collaborations with them or being able to engage since their citizens are also citizens of Arizona,” Needham said.

The commission seeks to build up a rapport to consult on different subjects like grants toward the people or how to better obtain their input on certain grants or programs to help fund their organizations.

The agency is constantly looking for new ways of communicating with communities or individuals that have not heard of the commission before and are not aware of the vast resources that are available through the commission.

“The commission is to ensure that we are reaching all Arizonans,” Steve Wilcox, communications director of the arts commission, said.

Wilcox’s duty in the commission provides in-depth details into getting the word out about how the commission communicates what it does and what resources are offered to the artists across multiple social media platforms.

Wilcox said that the commission finds ways in assisting artists in Arizona by direct funding from grants artists can apply for. The available grants include support for nonprofit organizations, festivals on arts and arts learning programs for learners of all ages.

The commission works alongside individual artists but also communicates with various nonprofit organizations within the arts field.

“Working in grants, we are always trying to make sure we’re supporting the field effectively and that we’re always listening to what needs are to the people that we serve,” Brad DeBiase, the programs and grants coordinator, said.

With the ever-changing environment of the arts, the commission plans on being in an ongoing conversation with Arizona artists and organizations to better meet their needs with grants and programs in the arts.

Learn more about the Arizona Commission on the Arts at azarts.gov.

Editor’s note; Grace Benally wrote the article as a journalism student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.