As one of the rapidly growing Sun Belt states, Arizona's population is significantly increasing on a yearly basis. This has greatly affected arts and entertainment in the state. New artists are continually arriving, new events and companies are rapidly being formed, while existing events and companies are expanding. As a result, visitors to Arizona can expect to be surprised by the abundance of cultural activities.
Arizona's state and local governments have shown exceptional support for the state's arts, entertainment, and culture. This is possible because of the state's huge tourism industry, which generates plenty of funds earmarked for cultural programs. Among Arizona's major tourist draws are its extensive of Native American reservations, nature and wildlife parks, national forests, and the world-famous Grand Canyon National Park.
Arizona's large population of Native Americans have highly influenced the state's arts and entertainment with their culture and heritage. Many of the state's large cultural institutions have special departments for Native American artifacts and events. There are a few areas of culture, such as theater and music, where Native American presence is low, but these are the exceptions to the general trend.
In Native American cultures, the concepts of "craft" and "art" go hand-in-hand. Due to their beautiful, colorful designs, Native American pottery, blankets, baskets, and clothing are often referred to as works of art. Meanwhile, traditional Native American artists generally specialize in making items that are useful.
Arizona is home to many crafts events for the general population, including the Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts in the Phoenix Suburb of Fountain Hills, and the Sedona Arts Festival. Also in Sedona, the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village is an essential stopping point for visitors. With its traditional Mexican street design and architecture, Tlaquepaque offers an immersive cultural atmosphere with art galleries, sculptures, gardens, restaurants, and more.
For works of visual art, Phoenix is the place to begin. The state's biggest city, and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, is home to the Phoenix Art Museum. The museum holds a huge collection of art from around the world in the mediums of sculpture, photography, painting, and others. The museum also has a special collection of art from the American West.
Phoenix is also home to many small art galleries displaying work by contemporary artists. Across the state, Arizona has a number of festivals for all types of art, including the Native American Art Festival in Lakeside, the Southwest Indian Arts Festival in Prescott, and many others.
Arizona's performing arts are equally abundant. For visitors interested in dance -- both performance and participatory dance -- the state has festivals, dance companies, dance studios, and dance clubs. For Native American dance, there are several arts festivals, including three hosted by the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff -- the Zuni Festival of Arts and Culture, the Celebraciones de la Gente, and the Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture. Also, in the Phoenix area, the Heard Museum hosts several events, including the annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest.
For other types of dance, the Phoenix area has Ballet Arizona, as well as the Center Dance Ensemble, which produce high-quality traditional dance performances. Phoenix is also home to many small dance studios where visitors can enroll in one-time lessons. Additionally, the metropolitan area has the state's largest dance nightclub scene.
Phoenix is also the center of much of Arizona's theater activity. The metropolitan area is home to the Gammage Auditorium on the Arizona State University campus, the Hale Center Theatre, the Phoenix Theatre, and the Herberger Theater Center, which is home to three popular theater companies. There are also many small to medium sized theater companies in Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff, and Sedona.
For film buffs, the state has a busy film scene, and hosts many popular film festivals. These include the Arizona International Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival, Heard Museum Film Festival, Sedona International Festival, and the Southwest Native American Film and Video Festival. An unusual alternative event is the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, which screens events that focus on outdoor adventure. For an intensely engaging film experience, the Phoenix suburb of Tempe is home to the state's only IMAX theater.
In the area of music the Phoenix metropolitan area is also dominant. The city holds many of the state's largest music venues, including the Dodge Theatre, the Orpheum Theatre, and the Chandler Center for the Arts. Also, Phoenix Stages, a division of the city's government, operates venues that host the Arizona Opera and the Phoenix Symphony. Both perform frequently, and are housed in beautiful, historic venues.
For other music events, there is the Grand Canyon Music Festival, Sedona's Jazz on the Rocks, and the Folk Music Festival in Prescott.
Finally, Arizona is a fertile state for literature. With several major university literature programs, the state is a gathering place for young writers throughout the country. In particular, the University of Arizona Poetry Center in Tucson sponsors many literary events, and owns one of the largest contemporary poetry libraries in the country. Some of the state's major literary events include the Prescott Book Festival, the Arizona Book Festival, and the Northern Arizona Book Festival. The state also holds many large and small bookstores.
Wherever one's cultural interests lie, the state is sure to hold a wealth of options. Plus, already with extensive and diverse cultural amenities, the growing state of Arizona is only going to get better for those who want to experience the state's arts and entertainment.
Learn about the history of dance in Arizona.
