Scottsdale Arts

To enhance the cultural environment of the city of scottsdale in fy2024, scottsdale public art (spa) launched two new public art projects, installed four additional artworks, and maintained 161 major permanent public artworks. Spa also created four temporary installations at public locations and managed a collection of more than 1,000 portable works of art displayed throughout the city. In addition, spa also hosted free events, exhibitions, workshops, and tours. The city's 160+ permanent public art installations are estimated to be viewed by more than 3.9 million people annually.

Scottsdale museum of contemporary art (smoca): scottsdale museum of contemporary art (smoca) is an accredited and internationally recognized institution that encourages reflections and conversations about life through art. We produce and mediate creative expressions that lead to shared curiosity and meaning across a wide range of publics.

Canal convergence: canal convergence is a free annual light-based public art event that features large-scale interactive artworks from local, national, and international artists. In addition to the artwork experiences, canal convergence offers a variety of engaging activities, including workshops, dance performances, live music, and fire shows, creating an opportunity for the public to experience art in an innovative and accessible way without financial barriers. This event positively impacts the scottsdale community and greater phoenix valley by fostering artistic expression and collaboration among artists and attendees. By allowing residents and visitors to participate in a vibrant cultural experience, canal convergence alignes with scottsdale arts' mission to deliver high-quality arts and cultural opportunities for all.

Scottsdale arts learning and innovation (sali): the mandate of scottsdale arts learning & innovation is to transform our community through meaningful and measurable arts experiences that unlock potential, ignite creativity, and elevate empathy. This is accomplished through a broad scope of programming, including matinee performances at scottsdale center for the performing arts, programs at scottsdale museum of contemporary art (smoca), artist residencies at local schools, high-quality exhibitions, and workshops for all ages. These initiatives reach tens of thousands of students, teachers, children, and adults annually.

Civic center live: the use of civic center live fulfills our mission by offering residents and visitors the opportunity to experience community and cultural events as well as festivals, live music, and other attractions in a beautiful park setting. These events attract diverse audiences by offering a variety of both free and paid experiences throughout the year. Civic center live positively impacts nearby communities and businesses by increasing visitor numbers and foot traffic in downtown scottsdale, while also generating revenue for local establishments such as hotel rooms, restaurants and nearby shops.