Commission panel recommends arts grants; 1 Step Beyond among top project applicants, awards pending council approval

A commission panel reviewing the Arts & Culture Grant Program recommended awards for multiple local arts organizations and highlighted 1 Step Beyond’s Surprise campus as a strong project-grant recipient, commissioners said Monday. The Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission’s recommendations will go to City Council for final budget approval.

The panel separated applications into two categories — multi-year operating-support grants for organizations with arts and culture as their core mission, and one-year project grants for discrete arts programs — to better match applicants’ scope and budgets. Commissioners said the operating-support awards are recommended as three-year terms to reduce administrative burden on established nonprofits.

Panelist Commissioner Hassan Rasul, who reviewed project grant applications, said the panel examined about six project applications on criteria including intentionality, community impact and resourcefulness. "1 Step Beyond was one of my top reviews for the grant," Rasul said, referring to the nonprofit’s Surprise campus proposal. The panel recommended funding for 1 Step Beyond’s adaptive clay workshop as part of its project awards.

1 Step Beyond executive director Mike Tomko and Senior Director of Programs Brie Van Dyke presented the nonprofit’s programs to the commission before the grant discussion. "Our goal is to empower the individuals we serve, gain independence," Tomko told commissioners during the presentation, describing life-skills, vocational and arts programs run across five Arizona campuses, including Surprise.

Staff and commissioners emphasized application clarity and compliance. The grants process used Submittable for applications and included panel feedback recorded for applicants who want to improve future proposals. Staff noted that final report requirements and documentation — including project photos and a final report — must be submitted before an award letter is issued for a subsequent grant year.

Commissioners named other recommended project and operating-grant recipients in discussion: the Festival of the Arts (the city’s largest annual arts event), West Valley Symphony Association, All Call Theater, Arizona Art Alliance and Cafe Flutes. Panelists said they rated applications using published criteria and adjusted award amounts based on each organization’s total budget and the panel score.

City staff clarified that the recommended awards are not final until City Council approves the fiscal year 2026 budget; organizations will be notified of awards after council action. Staff also said grantees may request extensions or must return funds if a funded activity is not completed as described in the signed agreement.

Commissioners and staff said the revised process — splitting project and operating categories, offering three-year operating awards and providing individualized capacity-building support for applicants — aims to increase accessibility for small or new arts groups and improve applicant readiness.

If Council approves the budget, staff said they will send award letters, and recorded panel feedback will be available to applicants that want to strengthen future applications.