MISSION & VISION

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating, preserving, and advancing the arts. SAACA strengthens the bonds between people, place, and purpose through collaborative, arts-driven experiences.

Most importantly, our work creates necessary opportunities for our creative sector to thrive and grow. 
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We accomplish our mission through self-presented events and service-based programs, and advocacy delivered in partnership with Towns, Cities, Non-Profit Collaborators, and Businesses. The heart of SAACA’s work is cultivating programming that spotlights our creative community, celebrates our region’s unique culture, and provides direct opportunities for artists to make and sell their work.

WHY WE EXIST

Arizona lacks a permanent funding stream for the Arts, and many communities commit little or no dedicated funds to truly support the diverse and growing creative sector.  Our advocacy, programming and events will continue to tell the story of our culture, our communities and people while creating more connections and opportunities for the arts to thrive.

SAACA thrives on relationship-based innovation, as evidenced in many of our non-traditional types of collaborative work: arts and healthcare partnerships, rural creative placemaking projects, culinary arts, economic development, business and arts integration, and non-arts sector overlap programs. ​

OUR WORK & IMPACT

Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) aims to create thriving communities through innovative and relevant community arts and cultural programming. We achieve our mission by partnering with towns, cities, nonprofits, and businesses to offer a range of service-based programs, including events, public art and mural installations, community gallery services, and programs for creative aging. Each year, we present over 100 cultural festivals and concerts throughout the state in partnership with more than 50 collaborators.

Our creative placemaking programs focus on engaging the community and preserving local culture. This includes public art installations, mural projects, festivals, and community events. We collaborate with businesses to foster creativity in the workplace through business gallery spaces and employee art programs. We partner with healthcare facilities to provide arts-centered therapy programs and experiences for residents and patients.

In 2019, SAACA founded the Catalyst Creative Collective in Tucson Mall, a 14,000-square-foot venue that creates connections and collaborations with non-profit organizations, artists, and the community. The space includes a teaching kitchen, arts and crafts studio, artist workspaces, and music and digital art production space. CATALYST has hosted over 2,500 individual artist residencies, performances, workshops, classes, and art exhibits. More than a dozen non-profit organizations use the space in a long-term capacity to further their missions through collaboration and resource sharing.​

SAACA is dedicated to building equitable, healthy, and dynamic communities through meaningful arts and cultural programming.
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WHAT WE BELIEVE

​We are all intrinsically connected to arts and culture daily, as they shape our identities, influence our perspectives, and enrich every moment of our lives through the beauty and meaning they bring.
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  • Arts and culture play a vital role in preserving the stories of our past while shaping and inspiring the vision of our future, connecting generations through shared experiences and evolving narratives.

  • Arts and culture are the heartbeat of a thriving society. They foster creativity, connection, and a shared sense of identity that sustains humanity.

  • Arts and culture have the transformative power to address our world's most urgent challenges by inspiring innovative solutions, bridging divides, and fostering empathy across diverse communities.

  • Arts and culture can revolutionize our healthcare system by enhancing patient care, reducing stress, and fostering holistic healing through creative expression and compassionate connection.

  • Arts and culture can empower the private sector to build a more sustainable workforce by fostering creativity, innovation, and a sense of shared purpose, driving long-term success and resilience. 

  • Arts and culture can give the private sector a competitive edge by unlocking creative potential, driving innovation, and differentiating brands through unique, culturally resonant narratives.

  • Arts can transform transportation, public safety, and public health challenges in communities large and small by fostering creative solutions, enhancing public spaces, and building stronger, more resilient connections among residents.

  • When artists and creatives are given a seat at the table with decision-makers, they bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a deep understanding of human experience, igniting change that is both impactful and enduring in our community.

  • The creative sector is a powerful economic engine that drives innovation, attracts investment, and fosters vibrant, place-based communities; supporting this sector amplifies its impact, creating stronger, more resilient local economies.

  • Arts and culture dynamically define tourism strategies, creating unique, authentic experiences that attract visitors, showcase local heritage, and fuel the economic vitality of destinations.
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  • Local governments and the private sector should invest more robustly in the creative sector because it fuels economic growth, enhances community identity, and drives innovation, making cities more vibrant, competitive, and resilient.

OUR HISTORY

SAACA was founded in 1997 as a rural community arts organization, the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council.  As the community grew, so did programs to reflect the shifting demographics. In 2009, the scope expanded to serve more communities in critical need of art infrastructure during a recession. 

As we grew to become the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, we prioritized and intiatied programming in underserved communities: Patagonia, Marana, Tohono O'odham Nation, Green Valley, and Pinal County.  Over the years, our programs have continued to grow throughout the entire State of Arizona, providing opportunities to engage and support artists. 

IMPACT

In 2024, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance's annual programming and events transformed local communities by engaging over 134,000 participants, supporting 2,080 artists, and generating a $5 million economic impact.
​SAACA’s annual programming and events significantly enriched the cultural vitality of local communities, fostering connections through diverse and accessible arts experiences.

These initiatives empowered artists and creative businesses, providing meaningful opportunities to thrive and contribute to the region's cultural landscape.

Through its work, SAACA amplified the role of the arts in driving economic growth and enhancing community well-being, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals.
​During Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) created transformative change by presenting over 25 signature festivals, events, programs, and concert series, all in collaboration with numerous community partners.

​This work enriched the cultural fabric of our communities and turned an estimated $2 million in production spending into more than $5 million in local economic impact.