SAFFORD — There were two big take-aways from the Arizona Commission on the Arts listening stop at the Safford City-Graham County Library on Thursday.
The about two dozen in attendance talked about the large number of interesting activities available to residents and tourists to the Gila Valley — including a great many musical events staged by the Gila Valley Arts Council and Eastern Arizona College. However, many mentioned the struggle of getting information out about those performances to the people who might enjoy them.
The other issue was the need for more diversity in arts culture in Graham County, both in the type of arts — fine art showings, theater, culinary arts, metal and wood works, etc. — and the need to encourage different voices in producing the art. Participants pointed to the large Hispanic and Indigenous populations in the area, as well as African-American and Asian-American producers of art who live here who are not as well represented in local art activities.
Brad DeBiase, with the Arizona Commission on the Arts, said that input will be used to craft the commission’s five-year plan for arts in the state.
“It will ultimately be a guiding document though, for funding opportunities and programs,” DeBiase said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The Safford stop was the second-to-last of the statewide listening tour, which started in March. The next steps will be topic-specific focus groups and one-on-one conversations with stakeholders.
A draft plan should be available for public review by late November and the final draft available for adoption by the Commission’s board by next March.
The Arizona Commission on the Arts is a state agency that “deliver(s) grants and support to cultivate sustainable arts communities and promote statewide public access to arts and cultural activities.”
It recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the Gila Valley Arts Council, which brings to Graham and Greenlee counties musical performers from around the world to give public performances and work with students in local schools.
