​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​City of Phoenix Artists to Work Program​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Artists to Work grant program is an initiative by the City of Phoenix, partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, to support practicing artists residing in Phoenix, Arizona. This funding opportunity focuses on empowering local artists to create and present original or in-process artistic work, specifically within the literary and performing arts disciplines. The 2026 cycle targets artists actively working in subdisciplines such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, playwriting, screenwriting, dance, music, opera, puppetry, and theater. Awardees are expected to complete and publicly present their work within Phoenix city boundaries during the award term from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The grant provides a total award of $8,000 to each of ten recipients, disbursed in two installments: the first upon submission of required forms and registration as a vendor with the City of Phoenix, and the second following the successful completion of a public presentation and submission of the final report. Acceptable uses of funds include project-related expenses such as research, artist fees, supplies, equipment rental, event space, publicity, insurance, travel, and technology. Ineligible costs include capital expenditures, office or studio space rental, fundraising, religious or political activities, and use of AI-generated art not heavily featuring the applicant’s original work. Eligibility for the Artists to Work program is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or older who reside within Phoenix city limits. Applicants must be practicing artists working in the eligible disciplines and must propose projects completed by the end of the award year. Applications tied to academic programs, collective or organizational submissions, and those by previous grantees from 2023 or 2024 are not eligible. In addition, applicants must not overlap with other Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture-funded programs, and all work must reflect the chosen subdiscipline as outlined in the application. The application process opens on August 21, 2025, and closes on September 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Arizona Time. Applications are submitted through the MARGO grants portal and must include narrative responses, a budget form, and relevant work samples. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend support sessions including an English-language info session on August 27, 2025, a Spanish-language session on August 28, 2025, and grant writing workshops in both languages on September 6, 2025. Staff will review all submissions for eligibility between September 22 and September 26, 2025, before forwarding them to a review panel comprised of practicing artists who evaluate applications based on the alignment with review criteria. Following panel evaluation and discussion, funding recommendations will be made with notifications scheduled for November 10, 2025. Awardees must then complete and submit required documentation, including a W9, grant conditions, and an affidavit of lawful presence by November 21, 2025. A grantee orientation session, titled “You’ve Been Funded! What’s Next?” will be held on November 13, 2025. Recipients are required to hold a public presentation within Phoenix by January 15, 2027, use proper logos for promotional materials, and comply with all federal and city grant guidelines. Grant recipients will also be expected to submit a brief progress report in fall 2026 and a final report by January 21, 2027. Documentation of expenditures must be retained through January 21, 2030, in case of future audits. Any use of AI within the project must be disclosed and is subject to internal review by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture staff. Support throughout the application process is available from Sarah León, the Grants and Community Engagement Director, who can be reached at sarah.leon@phoenix.gov or 602-262-6164.

Applicants should review the eligibility requirements closely as program guidelines have changed. Attending info sessions and workshops is recommended to strengthen applications. Those using AI must complete additional questions.