So consider this an assignment.

The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona is offering its 2026 Artist Grant — up to $10,000, awarded directly to you, for artistic services you’re probably already doing or want to do. The deadline is March 19th. That’s two weeks away.

Here’s what makes this grant different from the usual “submit your portfolio and pray” model: you identify a Client you want to work with, propose the services, and the money goes to you — not to an organization, not to a venue, not to an intermediary. To you.

The client can be almost anyone: a nonprofit, a school, a business, a government agency, another artist, a community group. And the services are broadly defined — murals, workshops, mentorship, consultation, facilitation, photography, performance, curriculum design. If it comes from your artistic practice, it likely qualifies.

The key requirements:

• You’ve been a working artist since 2019 or earlier

• You live and work in Southern Arizona (Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise counties, Tribal Nations, and surrounding areas)

• You have — or can get — a co-signed agreement (MOU) with your chosen client before you submit

• You did NOT receive a 2025 ARPA Artist Grant

That co-signed MOU is the thing that trips people up. It’s not bureaucratic red tape — it’s actually useful. You and your client agree in writing on what you’re making, when, and what it’s worth. For artists who often work on handshakes, this is the grant that makes you do something good for yourself.

Award amounts: $2,500 / $5,000 / $10,000 — no matching funds required.

Application portal: artsfoundtucson.submittable.com

Questions? Contact Gabriela Muñoz at grants@artsfoundtucson.org or (520) 460-4483.

The Arts Foundation also recorded a full info session webinar — over an hour of walkthrough — which is embedded below. Worth the time if you’re serious about applying.

This is public money, allocated specifically for Southern Arizona artists. It exists because people argued that artists deserve to be paid for civic work. The least we can do is use it.

Good luck!

Across the city, public art projects are funded and installed - but who has a say in the artists chosen and the artwork created? Well, it can be you!

Here’s how it works - The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona publishes an art call with a project outline and a budget. Artists apply, and an art panel is convened. Panels consist of at least 7 people: artists, community members, the project manager, and a design representative. The panel reviews the applicants and chooses the artist or artist group to be contracted for the job. Then the panel works with the artist(s) to guide the direction of the artwork.

You don’t need a background in art to participate! The process is straightforward and includes an onboarding session to get you up to speed on the expectations. You also receive a stipend for any panel you participate in! I mean, it’s not a bad gig.

If you care about our cultural heritage through the lens of publicly funded public art, I encourage you to try out this avenue of participation.

You can find out more through the Arts Foundation - you can also submit an interest form with the Arts Foundation here.