The $11.8 billion fiscal year 2020 budget passed last month by the Arizona State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey includes $2.2 million dedicated to the arts in Arizona.
This represents 0.0169% of the state’s budget, at 28 cents per resident.
Arizona ranks 44th in the nation in terms of arts funding, ahead of Washington, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia and Kansas. The median state, Maine, spends 71 cents per capita.
In comparison to adjacent stattes, Utah spends $1.05, California, $0.69, New Mexico $0.63 and Nevada $0.60.
The allocation includes a one-time $2 million General Fund appropriation to support the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ statewide grantmaking activities. This appropriation repeats a similar one-time investment made in the previous year, ensuring level funding for the Arts Commission’s fiscal year 2020.
By comparison, arts in Arizona got roughly same amount as the Arizona Board of Technical Registration, the Arizona Mine Inspector’s Office and the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting.
Additionally, the newly-adopted state budget provides a $200,000 General Fund appropriation for a nonprofit professional theater in Maricopa County that has been in existence for at least 99 years.
“The Arts Commission values the bipartisan support of Arizona’s State Legislature and the Office of Governor Ducey, who continue to support arts-based investments in Arizona communities, large and small,” Arts Commission Executive Director Jaime Dempsey said.
Established by the state legislature in 1967 and governed by a 15-member governor-appointed board of commissioners, the Arizona Commission on the Arts administers funding from both the state and federal government in support of programs that contribute to the growth and stabilization of Arizona’s arts sector, enhance student learning, nurture artists’ creative and professional development, preserve the rich traditions of Arizona communities and ensure all Arizonans can participate in and experience the arts.
One of 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the United States, the Arizona Commission on the Arts is a leading force in the creative and professional development of Arizona’s arts sector.
Through programs, research initiatives and strategic grantmaking, the Arts Commission catalyzes arts-based partnerships that strengthen Arizona communities through the arts.
