Phoenix staff brief council on Artist to Work grants; council presses on outreach and support
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Summary
City staff described the Artist to Work grants (initially ARPA-funded, supplemented by a National Endowment for the Arts grant), saying the current funding snapshot is $1,755,346 to support artists and arts organizations; councilmembers questioned per-artist support and urged expanded outreach to underrepresented artists.
Phoenix — City staff presented the Artist to Work grants program on Feb. 11, describing how ARPA dollars and a National Endowment for the Arts grant helped establish and sustain a competitive program that requires awardees to complete public presentations within the City of Phoenix.
Carrie Brown, identified as the interim arts and culture director, said the office now manages four divisions including public art, grants and cultural facilities and that the funding for the current fiscal year comes from City Council allocations and partner sources. Sarah Leone, grants and community engagement program manager, said the office awarded 65 individual artists over the program’s first three cycles and that the most recent fiscal-year snapshot showed $1,755,346 distributed to 168 Phoenix-based artists and arts organizations.
"The program supports the creation and presentation of original, new or in-process artistic work by practicing Phoenix artists," Leone said, noting awardees must complete a public presentation inside the city and that the office offers a produced reception and showcase as an option for participants.
Councilman Robinson raised a concern that, based on figures on the slide, per-artist funding would average roughly $10,000 and asked how artists sustain themselves. Leone replied that many awardees hold multiple positions — as arts administrators, servers or contractors — and that the City’s grants also support cultural organizations and rental aid for venues. Staff said outreach relied on focus groups, trusted partner organizations and a single grant platform that the office shares with other departments.
Council members commended staff for creating trust with artists since the pandemic and asked staff to continue improving outreach, including working with council offices to reach district constituents. Staff agreed to return with follow-up information and noted the next grant cycle will open later this year with expanded discipline focus.