June is the month when we celebrate Father's Day in the U.S. It is a day celebrated around the world at different times, and in different ways, but for the same reason...to honor fathers, and to celebrate the contributions of fathers to society. This year Father's Day is different for me. I lost my father last April. I cannot help but think of the many ways that he influenced me through his actions and his words. I remember him fixing my roller skates when the wheels kept getting stuck. He taught me how to plant things in the garden. I picked seeds from the pictures in the seed catalogue. I hadn't actually eaten a radish before or even heard of dill, but I grew these, and sold them in a little stand by the road for a nickel. He taught me how to fix things. But mostly he taught me how to see things differently. He didn't see a wobbly chair or an old desk as broken; he saw them as projects that with a little "spit and polish" could be brand new. I learned to paint, sand, glue and varnish, whether it was Barbie's playhouse or a dropleaf antique desk. He taught me about people too. When it snowed hard in Buffalo, New York, he was the neighbor using his snowblower to clear every driveway on the block.  No one asked him to; he just did it. He took care of his family, his community and his country; he was a Korean war veteran. He put all six kids through college and graduate school, no small feat for a security guard. He treated people with respect, even when he was not. He taught us to speak up for ourselves and others, and to forgive those who did not know any better, when they mistreated his children because of the color of their skin. He was not a perfect person, but he wanted his children to be safe, and do good in the world. And so we have.

Our nation's forefathers were fathers too, both literally and figuratively. In creating a nation founded upon democracy, they described in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence certain unalienable rights. Unalienable rights are basically rights that every person has, that the government cannot take away or infringe upon. Liberty, freedom, the pursuit of happiness, are among these, and what sets us apart as a nation. But democracy only works if we  uphold it, value it, protect it, fight for it. Democracy depends not  just on words and principles, but on actions. I know these forefathers were not perfect. No one is. I'd like to believe that despite their failings, like all fathers they wanted the people of our country to be safe and do good. They saw the world through the lens of their own experiences, as we do now.  The good news is that we see women, and people of color, and children differently. The world has changed and will keep changing, but the value of human life will not. It is precious still. I know this, because I miss my father every single day.

 

Brenda Thomson

Executive Director

Dear Friends

We are pleased to announce that we are launching  virtual  AZ Speaks and FRANK Talk presentations. Several of you have expressed an interest in  virtual  programs. Please note that we have made this a priority. We understand that AZ Speaks and FRANK Talks programs are popular not only because of the topics and speakers, but also because of the opportunity for public interaction. So while these  virtua l programs may use some new technology, they will still include live Q&A with program Presenters and Facilitators. Our goal is to make sure AZ Speaks and FRANK Talks programs are accessible to old fans, and new ones.

The Academy of American Poets has announced its 2020 Poets Laureate Fellows . These 23 individuals serve as Poets Laureate of states, cities, counties, and the Navajo Nation and will be leading civic poetry programs in their respective communities in the year ahead. They will each receive $50,000 for a combined total of $1.1 million. In addition, the Academy will also provide $75,500 to 13 local 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that have agreed to support the fellows' proposed projects.  Among this year's fellows are Laura Tohe and Rosemarie Dombrowski, two ASU professors who have a long history spreading their love for, and knowledge of, poetry across Arizona. We look forward to seeing what they will accomplish with the help of the Academy of American Poets. Read more about Tohe and Dombrowski  below.

Mindful Mornings Teen Art Club 

Thursdays June 18 - July 17 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Ages 12-17

Cost: $167.00

This class borrows from the philosophy of mindfulness and draws on teachings from Lynda Barry, known for her eclectic and approachable style of teaching for all learners. The content is geared for teenage learners with an interest in multiple mediums. We will be focusing more on the process of creation rather than the finished product as we work in our sketchbooks with watercolors, colored pencils, collage, mandalas, and more! This low-pressure class will teach students to approach creativity from a place of peace. By the end of 6 weeks, we will have a fun and diverse array of projects compiled in our own sketchbooks.  CLICK HERE  to sign up.

Kids Painting at Home

Wednesdays June 4 - Aug 5 @ 2:00 - 2:45 pm

Ages 6-9

Cost: $209

This class is for youth, ages 6-9, to create and paint art using materials found in their home.  CLICK HERE  to sign up.

The Phoenix City Council approved using federal Coronavirus Relief Funding to help artists hurting financially because of the global health emergency. The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture announced the Arts and Culture Coronavirus Relief Program for Individual Artists. This grant program will help support working artists, teaching artists, and other artist-based contract workers that have experienced canceled events and residencies or terminated contracts because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis.  Grants are up to $1,500 and events, residencies, or contracts for which an individual is claiming lost income must have been scheduled between March 1 - June 30, 2020. 

With COVID-19 bearing down in March, the Arizona State Legislature passed a "skinny budget" for Fiscal Year 2021 with the intention of reconvening to consider more comprehensive legislation at a later date. No allocation for the arts was present in the skinny budget, and last week, the State Legislature ended its session without making additional adjustments.

Without a state funding allocation, and with their remaining state funding stream, the Arts Trust Fund, experiencing a decline (as it is dependent on business filing fees), the Arts Commission is projecting an overall budget contraction of at least $2.5 million from this year to next. This will be the largest, fastest contraction in the agency record; nothing in recession-era history even comes close.  For more information visit  https://azarts.gov/news/update-on-arts-commission-budget-and-programs/