As arts and culture funding faces significant challenges at both the federal and state levels, it’s crucial for us to stay informed about these developments and understand their impact on our local community. In this session, we’ll take a closer look at how policy shifts are shaping opportunities for Arizona organizations and artists, and explore the latest updates on funding from national and state-level sources.

The current landscape of arts and culture funding is marked by significant challenges at both federal and state levels, as highlighted by recent statements from national leaders and organizations.

Our guest speaker will provide an update on the status of National Endowment on the Arts (NEA), National Endowment of Humanities (NEH) and Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding and how policy shifts are affecting Arizona organizations and artists. We will also discuss what is happening with arts funding in the State of Arizona FY2026 budget and the community response and advocacy that is happening around the state as well.

Patrick McWhortor is the CEO of Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the state’s premier grassroots advocate for the creative economy. A long-time change agent, Patrick has led nonprofits such as the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Cosanti Foundation, and NPower Arizona. He’s also provided advocacy, strategy, and leadership consulting to a wide variety of nonprofits. Patrick has served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors: Herberger Theater, Kids Voting Arizona, and past Chair of the Board of the National Council of Nonprofits. He also teaches nonprofit, public policy, and political science courses at Arizona State University. He is an inaugural Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy Fellow and a 2004 graduate of Valley Leadership. Patrick has three grown children and lives with his wife in Cave Creek.