Tucson Weekly
Article by Alex Gallagher and Jimmy Magahern
In their recent Tucson Weekly article, “Creative Capital: How Tucson’s Arts Sector Is Weathering a Turbulent Era,” writers Alex Gallagher and Jimmy Magahern explore how local arts leaders are navigating shifting funding landscapes and advocating for the value of creative work. Adriana Gallego, CEO of the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, draws on findings from the 2024 State of Culture Report for the City of Tucson to spotlight just how vital the arts are to our city – contributing $4.1 billion annually and supporting over 52,000 jobs across Arizona.
Yet, while the national landscape has grown more precarious, Tucson’s creative sector is not retreating. If anything, it’s becoming more visible – and more valued – by the community it serves.
A 2024 “State of Culture” report released by the city of Tucson revealed the true scale of the sector’s impact. Arts and culture contribute $4.1 billion annually to the city’s economy and support more than 52,000 jobs. These are not abstract figures, Gallego stressed. They represent working artists, educators, gallery staff, technicians and administrators who make Tucson’s cultural heartbeat steady and strong.
“Tucson is a very special case,” she said. “We have such an incredibly rich and thriving arts and culture community, and we see support for the arts from our local government, from businesses, and most importantly, from each other. There is a big mutual sense of being here that creates social cohesion through the arts. But we’re just as subject to the economic priorities the rest of the country is facing.”
Alex Gallagher and Jimmy Magahern for Tucson Weekly
Gallego emphasizes the significant economic and cultural impact of the arts workforce in the region and highlights several Arts Foundation programs that support both grassroots artists and larger institutions. These initiatives foster connection, spark innovation, and prioritize community input in shaping civic art through transparent, inclusive processes. Among them are SaludArte – a collaboration with the Pima County Health Department that uses art to promote public health – along with our stART mini-grants and Open Studio Tours, which connect artists directly with the public.
Gallego emphasizes the significant economic and cultural impact of the arts workforce in the region and highlights several Arts Foundation programs that support both grassroots artists and larger institutions. These initiatives foster connection, spark innovation, and prioritize community input in shaping civic art through transparent, inclusive processes. Among them are SaludArte – a collaboration with the Pima County Health Department that uses art to promote public health – along with our stART mini-grants and Open Studio Tours, which connect artists directly with the public. These programs, along with the rest of the Arts Foundation’s Grants, and Public Art Opportunities, are generously funded by the City of Tucson, Pima County, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
“If there’s a job opening, hire an artist,” Gallego said, pushing for policymakers and business leaders to recognize the long-term value of investing in creative labor – not just for what it produces, but for how it helps societies think, feel and evolve. “They’ll bring something magical to the table.”
Balancing the needs of grassroots artists with those of long-established institutions is a challenge in any city. But Gallego sees it as essential to the health of Tucson’s cultural economy.
“We support everyone from the lone artist in their studio to the large institution staging exhibitions,” she said. “Our stART mini-grants help seed new ideas. Our Open Studio Tours bring residents and tourists face-to-face with artists where the magic happens.”
Meanwhile, the Arts Foundation’s Public Art and Community Design Committee ensures that civic art isn’t just dropped into neighborhoods, but built with them.
“Community voices are reflected in public art selection processes,” she said. “It’s about education, transparency and policy inclusion.”
Alex Gallagher and Jimmy Magahern for Tucson Weekly
The article also features perspectives from our partners at the Tucson Museum of Art, including Chris Gordon, Interim Director and longtime CFO/COO, and Marianna Pegno, Director of Engagement and Inclusion. Both emphasize that diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies are not only deeply embedded in the institution’s operations and values, but are also steadfast commitments – remaining in place even when faced with requests for policy changes.
Despite the headwinds from Washington, Gallego remains upbeat. “Artists are resilient,” she said. “They’re nimble, agile, creative. If there’s a solution, we’ll figure it out. We may not solve every political or economic crisis in our lifetime, but we won’t get to the core of them without art.”
Alex Gallagher and Jimmy Magahern for Tucson Weekly
