A CREATIVE COMMUNITY SPACE
CATALYST combines over 14,000 square feet of flexible meeting, event, classroom and production space. SAACA conceived CATALYST after identifying a need for a dedicated community space that could uplift, connect and build stronger collaborations within our creative sector.
Hosting special events, seminars, presentations, arts experiences, rehearsals, performances and social gatherings from 25-350 people
Hosting special events, seminars, presentations, arts experiences, rehearsals, performances and social gatherings from 25-350 people
OUR PARTNERS
LOCATION
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CATALYST is located in the heart of the Tucson Mall, on the lower level, between the former Sears and current Dillard's. CATALYST does not observe set operating hours. The space is open for private use, including pre-scheduled classes by local artists, special events and performances rentals, education classes and more.
CATALYST Collaborative Arts & Maker Space TUCSON MALL 4500 North Oracle Road, Suite 110 Tucson, AZ 85705 Phone (520) 797-3959 PARKING
There are several Tucson Mall entrances that CATALYST is accessible from. Entrance #1 - Lower Level, between Sears and JC Penney (Handicap Accessible) Entrance #2 - Upper Level, between Sears & Dillards (Down the Escalator) Entrance #3 - Through the Food Court Entrance, towards Sears |
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OUR PURPOSE & VISIONTo establish an inspiring, innovative place where people from all walks of life connect through the shared experience of arts and culture. By bringing diverse groups of people together, this new center nurtures shared learning and understanding – of both the value of individuals and the power of community.
This center will serve as an active partner in the educational, economic and cultural life in Southern Arizona; inviting discovery, creativity, entrepreneurship and learning through collaboration. We are group of passionate leaders and members of the community dedicated to building a space which could function as a regenerative hub for all disciplines, functions and new creative collaborations in our community. WHATCATALYST is a first-of-its-kind innovative space where culture, collaboration and community intersect.
Combining over 14,000 square feet of flexible learning, performance, gathering and maker spaces which highlight over 30 disciplines, CATALYST is a space for all ages and forms of creativity to flourish. |
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MAIN FLOOR
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TEACHING KITCHEN
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MUSIC & DIGITAL ARTS LAB
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COMMUNITY ROOM
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ROBOTICS & ENGINEERING LAB
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BOB & VIVIAN WEEDE MUSIC & DIGITAL ARTS STUDIO
Bob & Vivian Weede are true disciples of the arts. As co-founder of the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (GOVAC), Bob Weede believes in the trans-formative power and purpose of the role arts and culture play in a community. As lifelong supporters of music and arts education, it is our honor to dedicate the CATALYST Music & Digital Art Studio to Bob & Vivian Weede. Their firm belief, and tenacious support for the arts were truly the founding catalyst behind SAACA's drive to change the community we serve.
Philanthropy, leadership, and service barely touch the surface of that which describes what Bob & Vivian Weede have done for, and continue to do for the arts in Southern Arizona. Their life-long support for the arts are an inspiration to us all.
Bob & Vivian Weede are true disciples of the arts. As co-founder of the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (GOVAC), Bob Weede believes in the trans-formative power and purpose of the role arts and culture play in a community. As lifelong supporters of music and arts education, it is our honor to dedicate the CATALYST Music & Digital Art Studio to Bob & Vivian Weede. Their firm belief, and tenacious support for the arts were truly the founding catalyst behind SAACA's drive to change the community we serve.
Philanthropy, leadership, and service barely touch the surface of that which describes what Bob & Vivian Weede have done for, and continue to do for the arts in Southern Arizona. Their life-long support for the arts are an inspiration to us all.
DON LURIA & DONNA NORDIN TEACHING KITCHEN
In 1981, Donald Luria retired from government work in Washington D.C. having served as a Consultant to the Assistant Secretary of Policy Development & Research at HUD, then as Chief, Center for Applied User Research at the Bureau of the Census and as Director of Research, Executive Office of the Mayor, Washington, DC. He moved to Tucson, Arizona (not knowing a single person) bought the Tasting Spoon Cooking School and launched a culinary career. He then started Gourmet to Go as a catering company and gourmet take out to-go.
After participating and donating food to the Tucson Festival Society, Tucson Museum of Art and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, he was asked to join their Boards of Directors. With a dedicated passion for community, culinary arts and giving back, Don has served on over 25 area non-profit Boards, and is fully committed to moving Southern Arizona forward. Many of the Board leadership roles were related to his interest in expanding Tucson’s culinary field.
He founded the Tucson Originals Restaurants and the Tucson Culinary Foundation and notably served on the Board of Tucson Meet Yourself, Native Seeds/SEARCH and Local First Arizona. He was Board Chair and then President of the Council of Independent Restaurants in America.
Donna Nordin, whose teaching and culinary career began in San Francisco, is the former owner/chef of Terra Cotta in Tucson, Arizona. Under Donna’s culinary guidance for 23 years, Café Terra Cotta was one of Tucson’s most popular restaurants. This success came from her creative merging of French culinary techniques with the flavors of the American Southwest.
Donna studied at Le Cordon Bleu and Lenôtre Pastry School in Paris. Donna continues to teach cooking in Arizona and California. Donna was the 1993 James Beard nominee for Best Chef Southwest and was inducted into Arizona’s Culinary Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1999, Donna received IACP’s Award of Excellence for Chefs. Donna was seen in segments of three nationally televised cooking shows.
The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is honored to pay tribute to Don Luria and Donna Nordin, with the naming of our community teaching kitchen, in their honor.
In 1981, Donald Luria retired from government work in Washington D.C. having served as a Consultant to the Assistant Secretary of Policy Development & Research at HUD, then as Chief, Center for Applied User Research at the Bureau of the Census and as Director of Research, Executive Office of the Mayor, Washington, DC. He moved to Tucson, Arizona (not knowing a single person) bought the Tasting Spoon Cooking School and launched a culinary career. He then started Gourmet to Go as a catering company and gourmet take out to-go.
After participating and donating food to the Tucson Festival Society, Tucson Museum of Art and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, he was asked to join their Boards of Directors. With a dedicated passion for community, culinary arts and giving back, Don has served on over 25 area non-profit Boards, and is fully committed to moving Southern Arizona forward. Many of the Board leadership roles were related to his interest in expanding Tucson’s culinary field.
He founded the Tucson Originals Restaurants and the Tucson Culinary Foundation and notably served on the Board of Tucson Meet Yourself, Native Seeds/SEARCH and Local First Arizona. He was Board Chair and then President of the Council of Independent Restaurants in America.
Donna Nordin, whose teaching and culinary career began in San Francisco, is the former owner/chef of Terra Cotta in Tucson, Arizona. Under Donna’s culinary guidance for 23 years, Café Terra Cotta was one of Tucson’s most popular restaurants. This success came from her creative merging of French culinary techniques with the flavors of the American Southwest.
Donna studied at Le Cordon Bleu and Lenôtre Pastry School in Paris. Donna continues to teach cooking in Arizona and California. Donna was the 1993 James Beard nominee for Best Chef Southwest and was inducted into Arizona’s Culinary Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1999, Donna received IACP’s Award of Excellence for Chefs. Donna was seen in segments of three nationally televised cooking shows.
The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance is honored to pay tribute to Don Luria and Donna Nordin, with the naming of our community teaching kitchen, in their honor.
Gallery
ACCESSIBILITY @ CATALYST
A prime location for a permanent home for SAACA, the Tucson Mall offers ample parking, year round air conditioning, over 8 Million annual visitors, and mixed used amenities as well as access from the newly established Chuck Huckelberry Loop, access to the arroyo, the highly trafficked Tohono Tadai Bus Transit Center at Stone/Wetmore, as well as existing infrastructure and expandable indoor and outdoor spaces to host events, partnering organization tenants, and a central location with access to surrounding communities off of Oracle and River Road.
To learn more about adaptive reuse of mall spaces throughout the world, check out the SAACA TenWest Social Impact Presentation on trending rethinking of mall spaces around the country.
To learn more about adaptive reuse of mall spaces throughout the world, check out the SAACA TenWest Social Impact Presentation on trending rethinking of mall spaces around the country.
OUR COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
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The space is supported as a signature Arts & Business Partnership between SAACA and Brookfield Properties at Tucson Mall.
The space is designed in partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin (SoAT) Dean Chris Lasch, a partner with the New York and Tucson-based firm Aranda/Lasch, which is a leader in “computational architecture,” or the application of the latest tools and theories coming out of computer-assisted design and manufacturing to architecture. 
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