Courtesy image.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts & Sciences program recently published findings from its “Art, Culture, Science and the Future in Flagstaff” study, now accessible on the city’s website.
The report addresses core questions about how well existing programs serve the community, offering key insights into their successes, areas for improvement and the broader aspirations of residents. It highlights successful initiatives while identifying strategic opportunities with insights from peer cities. Additionally, the study emphasizes Flagstaff’s strong commitment to fostering a thriving arts and culture scene.
Conducted in 2024, the study gathered data through multiple engagement efforts, including roundtable discussions with nearly 50 community members, one-on-one interviews with 50 sector leaders and a public survey that collected 103 responses from creatives, professionals, nonprofits and residents.
“Community feedback is a driving force of the Beautification, Arts & Sciences program,” said Community Investment Director David McIntire. “These findings will guide our investments of Bed, Board & Beverage (BBB) funding and program initiatives in the years ahead.”
The study reveals that Flagstaff residents envision their city as a dynamic creative hub that actively nurtures emerging artists and organizations of all sizes. There is strong support for existing projects like ARTx, Flagstaff Festival of Science, public art installations, grant programs and exhibitions. Respondents also identified key areas for growth, venue improvement and development, enhanced promotion of the non-profit cultural sector, outreach to underserved communities, and expanded investment in local artists and organizations through training and increased funding.
“Flagstaff allocates a higher proportion of grant funding directly to nonprofits than most peer cities and other municipalities in Arizona,” added McIntire. “This commitment reflects our belief that art, culture and science created by the community can lift the cultural experience city wide —something we can all take pride in.”
To view the “Art, Culture, Science and the Future in Flagstaff” report, visit flagstaff.az.gov/1418