Scottsdale Arts outlines busy season, Canal Convergence attendance and new Cattle Track partnership

Scottsdale Arts CEO Gerd Westerman gave the City Council an overview of the arts organization’s recent season on April 8, describing a busy program schedule, grant and collection acquisitions, and a new management partnership to preserve the Cattle Track Arts compound.

Westerman told the council the organization — which he said operates six business units and is adding a seventh — will present roughly 782 shows, workshops, exhibits and events in the current season, and that the center welcomed about 80,000 attendees for center shows this season. He said more than 4,000 free tickets were distributed to veterans and seniors and that Scottsdale Arts distributed nearly $150,000 in free or reduced admission and in‑kind support to other arts nonprofits.

On Canal Convergence, Westerman said the 10‑day November event drew more than 30,000 unique visitors and produced an estimated $27 million economic impact for hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses. He said the program included more than 104 workshops, tours and performances and 30 fire shows, and that the event attracts visitors from across the state and beyond.

The CEO also reported museum highlights: SMoCA (Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art) drew roughly 40,000 visitors from 28 states and 13 countries; Scottsdale Arts added about 15 artworks to the city‑owned collection with an estimated value of $3.7 million; and Scottsdale Arts secured nearly $500,000 in federal and national grants for the museum.

Westerman announced a new privately funded partnership to manage and preserve the historic Cattle Track Arts compound in the city’s arts complex. He said Scottsdale Arts will take on management responsibilities and develop creative residencies and programs at the site; he explicitly stated no city funds are being used for the Cattle Track arrangement.

Council members who spoke thanked Westerman and the board for the organization’s fundraising and community programming. Council members noted the arts events’ contributions to tourism, education and free community programming, and several council members praised the organization’s volunteer base and partnerships with schools and nonprofit groups.

The presentation included program metrics: roughly 61 major public artworks managed by the city, 1,000 portable works displayed across city buildings, and a civic center season that Westerman said included 85 events and more than 65,000 patrons. He drew attention to educational outreach, saying Scottsdale Arts served about 37,000 students through school programs and partner organizations over the year.

The council received the presentation; no formal council action was recorded on the item.