Grants Recognize Southern Arizona's Cultural Vitality

The {Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona](http://artsfoundtucson.org/) is recognizing non-profits that have made contributions to this region’s cultural vitality.

Thirty-one groups, including dance companies, poetry collectives, arts festival committees and independent publishers will receive boosts to their 2018 budgets in the form of general operating support grants, ranging from $1,500 to $7,500.

“It was my first grant that I submitted as the executive director, so it felt like a huge success," said Sally Roundhouse, the executive director of Casa Libre en la Solana. "We use [the grant money] for our daily operations, but then we are also able to use it to help support the artists that we bring in from around the country, and to pay the artists in Tucson.”

Those sentiments are echoed by Yvonne Montoya, the founding director of Safos Dance Theatre.

“Those grants are very important, they’re one of a handful of grants that we are eligible for, for general operating support," Montoya said. "The day-to-day that helps us keep our doors open, and advocating for arts to be a part of everyday life for all members of the community, especially youth and seniors.”

Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona 2017-2018 General Operating Support Awardees:

• Arizona Theatre Company — $7,500
• Dance Project — $5,000
• ARTS EXPRESS, INC. — $5,000
• Borderlands Theater — $5,000
• Capoeira Institute Southwest — $1,500
• Casa Libre en la Solana — $1,500
• Desert Voices Chorus — $1,500
• Funhouse Movement Theater — $1,500
• Jazz in January, Inc. — $5,000
• Kore Press — $5,000
• Lead Guitar — $5,000
• Literacy Connects/Stories that Soar! — $5,000
• Live Theatre Workshop — $5,000
• Loft Cinema, Inc. —$7,500
• Odaiko Sonora/Rhythm Industry — $1,500
• POG, Inc. — $1,500
• Safos Dance Theatre — $1,500
• Sons of Orpheus – The Male Choir of Tucson — $1,500
• Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra — $5,000
• Southwest Folklife Alliance, Inc. — $5,000
• The Drawing Studio — $5,000
• The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures — $5,000
• The Rogue Theatre — $5,000
• The Symphony Women’s Association — $5,000
• True Concord Voices & Orchestra — $5,000
• Tucson Children’s Museum — $7,500
• Tucson Fringe Festival — $1,500
• Tucson Symphony Society — $7,500
• Unscrewed Theater — $1,500
• Winding Road Theater Ensemble — $1,500
• ZUZI! Inc. — $5,000