Arizona Commission on the Arts

The Arizona Commission On the Arts building in downtown Phoenix.

The Arizona Commission on the Arts is announcing another round of grants with the submission period opening in May.

The research and development grants provide up to $5,000 in funding support to artists as they advance their work.

Maybe that’s exploring archives, conducting on-the-road interviews for a book or even scouting locations for a film according to Kesha Bruce, artist programs manager for the commission.

“It’s really about giving them the time to do the work that’s kind of behind the scenes. It’s the things that maybe don’t immediately end up on display, but it’s really the bread and butter of what it takes to get their work done. It’s the biggest part of their creative practice,” she said.     

The commission has worked to make the application process accessible.

“Say you’re a visual artist who doesn’t consider themselves a great writer, you can actually send in a video proposal where you just talk to your phone. You can do audio or video and then send in that and your work samples. You don’t have to be a great writer to turn in a really competitive application,” said Bruce.

Part of the funding is made possible by a financial gift from the Arizona Community Foundation, which recently renewed its effort to support artists in the state.

For more information, call 602-771-6501 or email.