VVAC’s Summer Recap: Arizona Commission on the Arts Community Conversation & Pecos Conference
This summer, the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum hosted a Community Conversation event presented by the Arizona Commission on the Arts in July and participated for our third year at the annual Pecos Conference near Blanding, Utah in August.
The Arizona Commission on the Arts is a state agency that supports Arizonans' participation in and experience of the arts through grantmaking, leadership, and policy-setting. One of the commission's primary duties is reviewing grants to fund different arts programming in the state throughout the year. This past year, they funded approximately 600 organizations and individuals across 14 of the 15 counties in Arizona.
On July 24th, VVAC hosted a Community Conversation event which was a part of a statewide tour that allowed participants to discuss the role the arts play in their lives and what they envision for their communities moving forward. The tour is part of the commission's strategic plan.
“It's been a few years since our last strategic plan, so we're all really excited to hear about what the community needs are of Arizona right now,” said Christina You-sun Park, the commission’s Executive Director, whose role focuses on setting the strategy for the agency moving forward.
Park explained that the impetus to start the tour was due to the arts and culture sector going through a lot of changes within the past few years, paired with a desire to branch out and hear the needs of those beyond Maricopa County. During the pandemic, the commission concentrated on grantmaking, but has since needed to reset and hear what the communities desire moving forward.
The commission hosted an entry conversation in Ajo in March, and have since visited 19 different communities across the State.
“Arizona is an incredibly large and rural state, so we want to make sure those voices are being heard,” said Park.
Park explained that they’re looking to hear how residents view their identity as a community, not just in regards to arts and culture. One of the questions the commission staff asks during the discussions is “what do you miss most about your community when you leave?” Park explained that people often like to point to specific locations and sights when describing their city, like a historic building or sculpture, but that those are not usually what is truly missed.
“The things that we hear most often are that people miss the food, they miss their community, they miss these arts and culture activities – the things that make us feel human and grounded,” said Park.
The commission is also seeking to know which arts and culture activities already exist in each community and should be celebrated.
With the community conversation initiative, the commission is trying to reach out and listen to the community in three different ways: community sessions that are specific to a geographic location, focus groups that are topic specific, and a public survey that any community member can provide input to.
The conversations also aimed to expand the commission’s visibility within the state and make known grant opportunities that residents can apply for and that the commission is available to help them through that process.
“I like to think of it as, if you're an individual and organization anywhere in Arizona, how do you know that these funds are available?” asked Park. “How do we make sure that you feel like you have an equal chance of receiving those funds as anyone else in the state?”
Park stressed the significant economic impact that the arts and culture sector has on Arizona’s economy. She compared the economic data for the Super Bowl coming to the state every few years with the economic impact of arts and culture. Park stated that there is a $1 billion impact when the Super Bowl comes to Arizona, but that arts and culture has 14 times that economic impact every single year.
In data released in April of 2025, arts and culture contributed $15.8 billion to Arizona’s economy between 2022 and 2023. Arts and culture activities provide around 84,000 jobs for Arizonans.
Outside of the major metropolitan areas in Arizona, an event has an average economic impact of $41 outside of the event itself. This can be someone getting dinner at a local restaurant beforehand, shopping at a small business or staying at a hotel for the night.
Yet for fiscal year 2025, the State’s budget included a one-time appropriation of $2 million to the commission, which was a large decrease from fiscal year 2024’s $5 million.
“We have such an incredible internal scene that's quite distinctive from a lot of different states, and that is a reflection of the unique environment of Arizona,” said Park. “We are a state that is on the border. We are a state where 26% of the land is Tribal land, and we are the home of 22 different Tribal nations that are federally recognized. We have these incredible metropolitan centers like Phoenix, which is the sixth largest metropolitan area in the entire United States, and these incredibly deep rural communities of farmers and ranchers. All those collide into these communities that are incredibly diverse and that are incredibly rich – not only in the everyday, but in culture.”
The community conversation event at VVAC brought a large turnout of artists, nonprofit leaders, community members, museum members, business owners and representatives from the town of Camp Verde. The commission’s Deputy Director, José Herrera, and Steve Wilcox, Director of Communications, led the discussion. They discussed what participant’s favorite things about the town were, misconceptions people may have of the area, and how to enhance the visibility of art in Camp Verde.
“It’s crucial for the commission to tour the state and highlight the impeccable work they conduct,” said Monica Buckle, VVAC’s Executive Director. Buckle also serves as a Commissioner on the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “I was delighted VVAC hosted this commission event, it brought so many people together. It was wonderful for the commission to hear the feedback from Camp Verde and Verde Valley artists, creative-makers, town staff, and active town residents, as well as for all of us to become acquainted with one another and the profound work each person is contributing to benefit this region.”
“It is a privilege to represent Camp Verde and the Verde Valley,” said Buckle, who was appointed to the commission in April 2023 by Governor Hobbs. “Camp Verde is home to several different cultures. We are most fortunate to be home to the rich heritage of Indigenous legacies, the Hopi, Yavapai and Apache, and this region has numerous National Monuments, National Forests, the Verde River and its ecosystem, and the historical components of Camp Verde.
“Nevertheless, the town's present-day businesses contribute greatly to our economy and VVAC is integral to that economic loop. The museum attracts domestic and international visitors who then patronize local restaurants, wineries, and lodging here in-town.
“Additionally, the museum's volunteers are terrific at interacting with visitors and suggesting points of interest to explore in the region, as well as providing recommendations on where to dine out. The cohesive relationship of arts & culture, businesses, nonprofits, heritage sites, and recreation exemplifies the need for more economic impact discussions that include the arts-sector, considering VVAC does not receive federal or state funding and solely relies on the generosity of our incredible members."
The museum provided complimentary wine from local winery Salt Mine Wine, which further shared at the state level what Camp Verde has to offer, such as its flourishing wine region.
Pecos Conference
In August, VVAC participated for its third year in the annual Pecos Conference. This gathering takes place at a different Southwestern location each year, entirely outdoors, where archaeologists and students discuss research and challenges in the archaeological profession.
This year’s conference took place in the Manti-La Sal National Forest north of Blanding, Utah. VVAC had a table with selling various books and merchandise. VVAC's pottery identification guide was very popular, and sells out at every Pecos. Interestingly, trade wares from Arizona are also present at archaeological sites in Utah.
“A good part of the Pecos conference is networking, talking to people, and exchanging information,” said Margaret Hangan, VVAC’s Director of Collections. “Especially being in Utah, folks were not necessarily always familiar with who we were. This is a great opportunity to highlight what we do and encourage people to come and visit us when they're in Arizona.”
Hangan said that multiple people shared that despite having visited the museum only once, and living out of state, they have since become lifetime members.
“Even though they're not from Arizona, and don't get a chance to see the museum frequently, they still value what VVAC is doing enough to become lifetime members,” continued Hangan. “That was a significant thing to learn.”
