Announcing 2024 stART Grantees!

Nov 21, 2024 | Featured, News, Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Jenea Sanchez, Communications Director

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The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona Announces 2024 stART Grantees. Over $80,000 awarded to individuals, collectives, co-ops and 501(c)3 organizations.

Tucson, AZ – The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona is pleased to announce the 2024 stART Grant recipients, celebrating Southern Arizona creatives who are shaping the region’s cultural landscape. This year’s stART Grant program has provided support to 18 artists and creative professionals across various disciplines, with a total of $84,860 in funding awarded. These grants foster artist development, community engagement, and artistic expression, supporting local artists at various stages of their careers by offering funding that allows recipients to advance their practice, experiment with new projects, and contribute to the cultural vitality of the region.

“Artists and Cultural Workers imagine our communities into the future,” said Gabriela Muñoz, Grants and Programs Director. “Supporting their work means supporting a more joyous, vibrant and healthier future.”

Grantees requested up to $5,000 each, empowering recipients to focus on their work and engage meaningfully with their communities.

2024 stART Grant Highlights

This year’s grantees include artists working in visual arts, music, film, dance, theater and community arts, with several projects addressing critical social issues such as environmental sustainability, inclusivity, consent, and cultural identity. 72% of this year’s cohort are first-time grant recipients who represent a new generation of Tucson and Southern Arizona creatives, underscoring the Arts Foundation’s commitment to supporting emerging talent. Many of the grantees have expressed that the financial support will enable them to take creative risks, expand their work’s reach, and purchase much needed supplies and equipment to enhance their artistic visions and sustain their artistic practices.

“The impact of this grant is immense,” expressed Matt Denney, co-founder of Consent Creatives of Arizona. “Through this grant, we are able to broaden our outreach and enable more performers, educators, administrators, and artists with quality education about consent-forward practices in performance. Through this grant, we look forward to building curriculum, teaching workshops, and creating opportunities for the theatre and film community to develop their practice through learning alongside us for their community.”

Implicit in Arts Foundation’s vision is a desire for diverse artists and arts organizations within the region to be able to engage in their craft without having to struggle economically. This funding provides tangible opportunities for creatives to expand access to cultural offerings that nourish the social fabric of our region.

“We are able to collectively explore how artistic practice and storytelling can deepen community bonds and reconcile complicated histories. This is a true gift to bring to our community” said Tucson based artist, Feng-Feng Yeh.

2024 stART Grantees

Artist Development Track