Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced on April 18, 2018 his plan to pay for raises for teachers statewide, which included eliminating $2 million in funding for Arizona Commission on the Arts grants. The proposed cut would have resulted in grants being cut by up to 70 percent for arts organizations and would have eliminated arts programs for schools and communities statewide. Arizona Citizens for the Arts rallied its advocates, and the state legislature and governor heard from over 1,000 constituents speaking out against zeroing out state arts funding, which would have no effect on the teacher pay plan. 

 

Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona legislature struck a budget deal on May 3, 2018 that included $2 million in arts funding. The state funding will come from the state's rainy day fund, as it has in several years past.

 

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore