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Phoenix arts organizations preview expansions, programs and bond-funded projects to council subcommittee
Summary
Representatives from Ballet Arizona, the Children's Museum of Phoenix, Phoenix Art Museum, Shemer Art Center and a city-run archaeological museum briefed the subcommittee on upcoming exhibits, community programs and capital projects, including a $23.5 million Children's Museum expansion funded in part by a $5.37 million city GO Bond allocation.
A group of Phoenix arts and culture leaders presented program activity, expansions and fundraising updates to the Economic Development & Arts Subcommittee on April 8.
Carrie Brown, interim arts and culture director, introduced speakers from Ballet Arizona, the Children's Museum of Phoenix, Phoenix Art Museum, the city-operated archaeological museum and the Shemer Art Center.
Ballet Arizona described year-round community programming including DanceAZ in schools, a Dance for Parkinson's free program, adaptive dance classes and a 299-seat culminating performance in the Dorrance Theatre. The organization said it activates more than 300 volunteers annually.
"Our facility...is fully activated 52 weeks out of the year, most of which is programming that serves education and community outreach," a Ballet Arizona representative said.
Kate Wells, CEO of the Children's Museum of Phoenix, said the museum had 360,000 visitors last fiscal year, including 111,000 who used free or reduced admission through the Every Child program; almost 40,000 children came on field trips. Wells described a multi-phase expansion that totals about $23.5 million, with $5.37 million from the 2023 GO Bond; phase one (using bond funds) is expected to be done late summer 2026 and overall completion is targeted for 2027. The expansion will add a full-service preschool, a new literacy center and eight to 10 new exhibits.
Jeremy, representing the Phoenix Art Museum, highlighted outreach and visitor statistics (about 300,000 visitors annually), the Arizona Artist Awards program, the museum's large costume collection and an upcoming international exhibition, "Nike: Form Follows Motion." He noted a naming donation for the Asian Wing renovation and partnerships with local sports and cultural institutions.
Nicole (city-operated archaeological museum) emphasized Indigenous partnerships and an upcoming fall exhibit titled "Indigenous Identities," and invited councilmembers to a Harmony fundraising event next Saturday.
Shana of the Shemer Art Center detailed a capital campaign to expand programs and create an Al Beadle pavilion and sculpture garden; she said the center raised $1.4 million in private funds for expansion and $80,000 toward the Al Beadle campaign (more than 75% of target achieved to date).
Councilmembers thanked presenters, promoted upcoming events (including Ballet in Bloom at Desert Botanical Garden and a Children's Museum traveling exhibit), and praised arts investments for educational and economic benefits.
What’s next: presenters asked councilmembers and staff to continue partnership on capital projects, community programming and outreach; staff will carry these updates into future budget and bond planning discussions.
