In 2024, the city of Tempe has continued its commitment to grow local arts education by increasing funding for this year's Arts in Schools grants, which are administered by Tempe Community Arts and provide fine arts teachers in Tempe the funds to work with professional artists and/or purchase arts equipment.
This fall, an investment of $70,000 will be distributed among 26 schools for a total of 60 grants, which is an increase from the $60,000 awarded to 25 schools last year, a city release explained.
Examples of projects being funded include the purchase of specialty Giffin Grips to help high school ceramics students work, as well as specialized percussion instruments for elementary students to make music accessible to all.
In addition, residencies with guest music clinicians, performing artists and visual artists support both local arts professionals and the professional development of teachers.
Arts education helps encourage imaginative problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence, as well as promotes arts literacy as a powerful means of self-expression, the release stated.
Tempe City Councilmember Berdetta Hodge, who is also a Tempe Union High School District Governing Board Member, said in the release that through this grant program, the city is supporting future artists, musicians and performers.
“Arts education is imperative for encouraging creativity, learning and communication in youth. We are proud to be funding these programs and activities while promoting equitable access for all,” Hodge said.
To receive grant funds, visual and performing arts teachers submitted applications detailing their proposals. Schools receiving grants are located in Tempe Elementary School District, Kyrene School District, Tempe Union High School District, Tempe Preparatory Academy and New School for Arts and Academics, according to the release.
Earlier this year, Tempe awarded 27 grants for a total of $187,000 to nonprofit organizations and artist collectives providing inclusive arts and culture programming in Tempe.
The goal of the grant program is to infuse long-term growth of the arts in Tempe by funding high-quality, community-initiated projects for arts organizations, schools, artist collectives and teachers, the release stated.
For more, visit tempe.gov/ArtsGrants.
This year's Arts in Schools grant recipients are:
Music - Guest Clinicians
- Corona del Sol High School - Orchestra - Burn City String Quartet
- Curry Elementary School - Choir - Grupo BombAZo
- McClintock High School - Band - Ryan Pratt
- McClintock High School - Choir - Nick Halonen
- McClintock High School - Orchestra - Tetra String Quartet
- Meyer Montessori - General Music - Frank Thompson
- Mosley Middle School - Orchestra - Tetra String Quartet
- Mosley Middle School - Band - Brian Murphy
- Rover Elementary - General Music - Joe Willie Smith
- Tempe High School - Band - Stephen Meyer
- Tempe High School - Band - Tetra String Quartet
- Ward Traditional Academy - Orchestra - Taylor Morris
Music - Equipment/Supplies
- Aguilar Elementary - General Music Equipment
- Arredondo Elementary - Choir Wireless Microphones
- C.I. Waggoner Elementary - General Music Ukulele Stands
- C.I. Waggoner Elementary - General Music Percussion Instruments
- Cecil Shamley School - Band Gong & Stand
- Corona del Sol High School - Band Instrument Components
- Corona del Sol High School - Choir Sound System
- Corona del Sol High School - Band Snare Drum
- Curry Elementary - General Music Wireless Microphones
- Curry Elementary - Band Sound Equipment
- Kyrene de la Mariposa Elementary (2) - General Music Xylophones
- Kyrene de los Ninos Elementary - General Music Percussion Instruments
- Kyrene Middle School - Band Reeds
- Kyrene Middle School - Mariachi Guitar & Case
- Manitas Innovation Academy - General Music Percussion Instrument
- Marcos de Niza High School - Band Sound System
- Marcos de Niza High School - Mariachi Sombreros
- Marcos de Niza High School - Choir Microphones
- Rover Elementary - Band Instrument Carts
- Spracale Elementary - General Music Percussion Instruments
- Thew Elementary - General Music Ukuleles
- Ward Traditional Academy - General Music Keyboards
Dance/Theatre - Guests Artists
- Corona del Sol High School - Dance - Todd Muller
- Kyrene Middle School - Theater - Rebecca Jacobs
- McClintock High School - Dance - Donna Peterson
Theatre/Fashion - Equipment/Supplies
- Connolly Middle School - Theater Production
- Kyrene del Norte Academy (2) - Theater Set Supplies
- Kyrene Middle School - Theater Set Supplies
- Marcos de Niza High School - Theater Puppets
- McKemy Academy - Theater Venetian Masks
- New School for the Arts & Academics - Fashion Sewing Machines
- Tempe Preparatory Academy - Theater Set Supplies
- Wood Elementary - Theater Production
Visual Arts - Guest Artists
- Cecil Shamley School - Sculpture - John Toumisto Bell
- Connolly Middle School - Visual Art - Rae Wilson
- Kyrene de los Ninos Elementary - Ceramics - James Schwarz
- Kyrene Middle School - Visual Art - Dain Gore
- Marcos de Niza High School - Stained Glass - Kathy Connelly
- McClintock High School - Ceramics, Painting - Liza Stout
- New School for the Arts & Academics - Painting - Thomas Breeze Marcus
- New School for the Arts & Academics - Photo - David Emitt Adams
- Ward Traditional Academy - Sculpture - John Toumisto Bell
Visual Arts - Equipment/Supplies
- C.I. Waggoner Elementary - Printmaking Supplies
- Corona del Sol High School - Visual Art Equipment
- Fees College Preparatory - Printmaking Supplies
- Kyrene de la Mariposa Elementary - Painting Supplies
- Manitas Innovation Academy - Visual Arts Supplies
- New School for the Arts & Academics - Film Sound Equipment
- Tempe High School - Ceramics Equipment
- Tempe Preparatory Academy - Painting Supplies