Art State Arizona

Art State Arizona Art Inspires, Culture Unites Formerly known as SAACA, we’re now Art State Arizona — a name that reflects not just who we are, but why we exist.

We exist to answer a bold question: What happens when we make the arts essential to everyday life in Arizona? This isn’t a rebrand, it’s a reinvention of our purpose. We’ve grown beyond our roots in Southern Arizona to become a statewide movement, grounded in the belief that creativity isn’t optional — it’s vital. It shapes how we learn, how we heal, how we do business, how we build community. And

we’re here to prove that. Art State Arizona fosters collaboration across sectors — from education and healthcare to city governments and small businesses. We connect people and organizations, manage impactful arts programs, create paid opportunities for artists, and help institutions harness the transformative power of the arts. We envision a future where Arizona leads the nation in arts integration. Where creativity drives equity, resilience, and shared prosperity. Together, we’re building that future, one project, one artist, one neighborhood at a time. Art State Arizona: Audacious in vision. Inclusive in action. Rooted in community. www.artstatearizona.org

Call for Writers!ARIZONA'S EVERYDAY HEROES:Inspiring Civic Leadership Through Literacy and ArtDeadline to Apply: June 10...
06/01/2026

Call for Writers!
ARIZONA'S EVERYDAY HEROES:
Inspiring Civic Leadership Through Literacy and Art

Deadline to Apply: June 10, 2026
Writers Notified: June 17, 2026

Seeking Thoughtful Storytellers to Help Bring Arizona’s Civic Leaders to Life for Young Readers

Art State Arizona, in partnership with the Flinn Foundation and the Flinn-Brown Fellowship, is seeking writers for Arizona’s Everyday Heroes, a children’s book and gallery exhibition celebrating civic leadership across Arizona through storytelling, literacy, and visual art.
https://artstateaz.formstack.com/forms/arizonas_everyday_heroes_book_call_for_writers

06/01/2026

Let’s remind everyone who were LAST YEAR’S WINNERS of The 2025 World Margarita Championship! Will they win again? Will someone else take the title?! Find out THIS Saturday CHEERS!
THE 2025 WINNERS:
JUDGES’ CHOICE – BEST BITE (TIED):

· Gap Kitchen: Fried Guacamole & Duck Totopa
As well as
· Humo Cocina Mexicana: Mole Enchilada Bites

PEOPLE’S CHOICE – BEST BITE:
· Bashful Bandit Barbecue: Smoked Beef Cheek Tacos

JUDGES’ CHOICE – BEST MARGARITA:

1st Place
· Chef Roderick LeDesma: Desert Blossom Margarita

2nd Place
· Bisbee Breakfast Club: Blackberry Blaze

3rd Place (TIED)
· Dante’s Kitchen & Cocktails: Orange Dreamsicle Margarita
as well as
· Gap Kitchen: Grilled & Chilled Margarita

PEOPLE’S CHOICE – BEST MARGARITA:

1st Place
· Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen: Margarita del Sol

2nd Place
· Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar: Mr. Pepino

3rd Place
· Scratching the Plate: Pomegranate de Tigre

Follow all of our foodies:

HUMO Cocina Mexicana & Internacional .tucson

Gap Kitchen

Bashful Bandit Barbecue

Dante’s Kitchen

Bisbee Breakfast Club

Chef Roderick LaDesma

Scratching the Plate; Kitchen and Catering

Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar

Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen

Thanks to and
SEE YA SATURDAY!

Next week, Tucson’s summer festival season heats up with the return of the World Margarita Championship on Saturday, Jun...
05/30/2026

Next week, Tucson’s summer festival season heats up with the return of the World Margarita Championship on Saturday, June 6 at the beautiful Westin La Paloma Resort.

Get ready for an evening dedicated to incredible margaritas. From bold flavor combinations and fresh seasonal ingredients to smoky mezcal infusions and elevated takes on classic recipes, Tucson’s top mixologists are bringing their most creative cocktail concepts to the competition. Guests will sip, savor, and vote for their favorites while experiencing the artistry, innovation, and craftsmanship behind every pour.

The World Margarita Championship is Tucson’s premier cocktail and culinary competition, bringing together an extraordinary lineup of restaurants, chefs, and beverage creators from across Southern Arizona. Participating culinary artists include:

Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen
Antojitos DWTN
Barnyard Crafthouse and Eatery
Bashful Bandit Barbecue
Bisbee Breakfast Club
Casa Asada Taquería y Cervecería
Cruda
Dante’s Kitchen & Cocktails
El Cisne Restaurant
El Rustico
Garden Bistro at Tohono Chul Park
Hot Flash Chile Products (Roasted Green Chile Butter)
Humo Cocina Mexicana
La Cocina DWTN
Lookout Bar and Grill at Westward Look
Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar
Reforma Modern Mexican, Mezcal + Tequila
Scratching the Plate
Seis Kitchen
Tabu Bar
The Garden Bistro at Tohono Chul Park
The Roasted Chile
The Royal Room
Westbound and Tap & Bottle
Westin La Paloma
Whiskey Del Bac
Zio Peppe
El Corral
Kingfisher
Noble Hops
Rocco’s
Trident

VIP tickets are officially SOLD OUT. ( or are they?!)

With the event just days away, now is the time to secure your spot. Join fellow margarita lovers for a night of exceptional cocktails, culinary creativity, live entertainment, and one of Tucson’s most anticipated annual traditions.

June 6, 2026
Westin La Paloma Resort
General Admission Opens at 6 PM
VIP at 5 PM

Who will take home this year’s championship title? Join us and find out.

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the rich and profound legacy of Black American music with “How I Got Ov...
05/29/2026

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the rich and profound legacy of Black American music with “How I Got Over - Music of Black Americans Concert - Archived.” Experience a captivating showcase of jazz performances that pay homage to the greats who shaped the genre and continue to inspire generations.

Hosted at the dynamic venue, CATALYST by Art State AZ, in Tucson, Arizona, this event brings together a lineup of talented musicians who will deliver powerful renditions of timeless classics and contemporary masterpieces. Immerse yourself in the soulful melodies, intricate rhythms, and improvisational brilliance that define jazz music.

Whether you’re a jazz aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this concert promises to be a transformative experience. Feel the spirit of resilience, creativity, and cultural heritage as the artists take you on a musical journey that celebrates the indelible contributions of Black Americans to the world of music.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a tribute to the enduring influence of Black American music and its profound impact on the global stage. Mark your calendars and prepare to be moved by the soundscapes that have defined generations.

Sat.Jun 20, 2026 6:30 PM-10:00 PM

Ticket link in the comments!

CATALYST from Art State AZ (formerly SAACA)
In the Tucson Mall
4500 North Oracle Road
Tucson, Arizona 85705



We are excited to welcome Debby Urken to the Catalyst Creative Collective community!Debby Urken is a licensed clinical s...
05/28/2026

We are excited to welcome Debby Urken to the Catalyst Creative Collective community!

Debby Urken is a licensed clinical social worker and somatic therapist who offers improvisational dance classes, process painting workshops, and writing workshops, as well as individual psychotherapy services. She began her work as a helping professional in 2011, supporting children and adults with disabilities. Debby brings a lifetime of experience with dance to her work as a therapist and facilitator. She creates spaces where people can find understanding, peace, and joy through the creative process. In her clinical work, she specializes in working with autistic, gifted, and ADHDer children and adults.

This June, Debby will be offering several opportunities to connect through expressive arts and movement at Catalyst:

Body Stories Workshop
Tuesdays in June 2026
6pm–7pm

Dance Improvisation (Drop-In Classes)
Wednesdays in June 2026
6:30pm–7:30pm

Discovering Myself – An Expressive Arts Workshop for Late-Identified Autistic Adults
Friday, June 12
5pm–6pm

All programs take place at Catalyst Creative Collective.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Debby directly.
https://www.debbyarts.com/

05/27/2026

Collage Workshop! This is your friendly reminder to join us Thursday for a Collage Workshop, at Cirrus Visual presented by artist Jennifer Mead of Fractured Curio !

Attendees will create a postcard-sized collage using a curated selection of materials provided, or feel free to bring personal magazines or collage elements to incorporate into your work.

The workshop is open to all experience levels and encourages exploration, play, and personal expression.
Celebrate May and Mental Health Awareness month with creativity!

Creativity is care. Creativity is connection. Creativity is healing.As part of our Arts + Wellness series, we’re proud t...
05/25/2026

Creativity is care. Creativity is connection. Creativity is healing.

As part of our Arts + Wellness series, we’re proud to celebrate the Veterans of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS), who earned 10 national medals at the 2025 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. From poetry and photography to drawing, storytelling, beadwork, and painting, these artists are showing how creativity can transform recovery into resilience and personal expression into community impact.

Each year, Art State Arizona supports this powerful program by providing volunteer expert judges for local submissions and hosting a gallery installation and community reception at Catalyst Creative Collective to honor participating Veterans and their work.

This partnership reflects something we believe deeply: the arts are not extra. They are essential infrastructure for healing, self-expression, and well-being.

To every Veteran who shared their voice, vision, and story through art this year — thank you for reminding us what creativity can make possible.

Collaboration builds confidence and connection at Last Saturdays at Catalyst, where every open door invites Tucson’s cre...
05/23/2026

Collaboration builds confidence and connection at Last Saturdays at Catalyst, where every open door invites Tucson’s creative community to gather, share, and make something new.
As a model for creative placemaking, Catalyst transforms a former retail space into a living laboratory—empowering artists, educators, and neighbors to shape Arizona’s cultural and economic future together.
Presented by Catalyst Creative Collective, this free, all-ages event welcomes everyone to explore, participate, and belong.
Join us for Last Saturdays at Catalyst, May 30, 11am–4pm at Tucson Mall.

Join in on the fun next Saturday

05/22/2026

Summer festival season is back, Tucson — and we’re kicking it off the only way we know how: incredible food, live music, and an unforgettable night of flavor at the World Margarita Championship on Saturday, June 6.

Gather your friends and experience an evening where the city’s top chefs, restaurants, and mixologists go head-to-head, serving signature bites and bold margarita creations as guests sip, savor, and vote for their favorites.

The star of the night? Margaritas reimagined in ways you’ve never tasted before. From smoky mezcal creations and unexpected flavor pairings to elevated takes on timeless classics, Tucson’s best bartenders are pushing cocktail creativity to the next level. Every margarita is paired with bites designed to complement each sip — savory, spicy, fresh, and unforgettable.

Featuring culinary talent from across Southern Arizona, including Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen, Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery, Bashful Bandit Barbecue, Bisbee Breakfast Club, Casa Asada, Cruda, Dante’s Kitchen & Cocktails, El Corral, Humo Cocina Mexicana, Kingfisher, Reforma Modern Mexican, Seis Kitchen, Whiskey Del Bac, Zio Peppe, Noble Hops, Rocco’s, Westin La Paloma, and many more.

This is more than a tasting event — it’s an immersive celebration of Tucson’s culinary and creative spirit with dancing, interactive arts experiences, chef meet-and-greets, and the excitement of discovering your next favorite bite or cocktail.

Saturday, June 6, 2026 - Westin La Paloma Resort
VIP Admission: 5 PM (ALMOST GONE!!)
General Admission: 6 PM

VIP tickets are nearly gone, so don’t wait another weekend to grab yours. VIP guests enjoy early access plus an exclusive dessert reception with live music to close out the evening.

Summer starts here. Get your tickets now before this Tucson tradition sells out.

Address

4500 North Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ
85705

Opening Hours

9am - 5pm

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