SAACA
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT
    • TEAM CONTACTS
    • PARTNERS, DONORS & SPONSORS
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • CULTURAL EQUITY
  • WHAT WE DO
    • BUSINESS & ARTS PARTNERSHIPS
    • ARTS & HEALTHCARE
    • OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS - CALL TO ARTIST
    • ARTS EDUCATION
    • PUBLIC ART & MURAL ADMINISTRATION
    • EVENTS, PROGRAMS & FESTIVALS
    • CATALYST ARTS & MAKER SPACE
    • CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
    • CREATIVE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
    • UNDERCOVER ARTS MAGAZINE
    • ONLINE ARTS & CULTURE >
      • CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & PERFORMANCES
      • STREAMING & VIDEO RESOURCES
      • COVID-19 RESPONSE & RESOURCES
  • SUPPORT & DONATE
    • DONATE AND SUPPORT
    • VOLUNTEER
    • INTERN
  • EVENTS, PUBLIC ART & PROGRAMS
    • EVENT & EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS
    • ART FESTIVALS >
      • FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS & HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
      • ART ON THE LAKE FESTIVAL
      • DOWNTOWN GLENDALE ARTS & CULTURE FEST
      • LA ENCANTADA FINE ART FESTIVAL
      • SKY ISLANDS FALL ARTISAN MARKET
      • FALL ARTISAN MARKET
      • SPRING FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
    • COMMUNITY ART GALLERIES >
      • VENTANA GALLERY AT ROCHE >
        • Roche Lung Cancer Awareness Exhibition
        • Roche Celebrating Moments >
          • Active Moments - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Frozen in Time - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Up Close and Personal - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Quiet Contentment - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
    • ARTS & CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS >
      • Desert Ridge Music and Murals
      • Tempe World of Chalk
      • Cruise, BBQ & Blues
      • Oro Valley Candy Crawloween
    • CULINARY ARTS >
      • SAVOR FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
      • DEVOUR CULINARY CLASSIC
      • Devour Culinary Classic
      • WORLD MARGARITA CHAMPIONSHIP
    • LIVE MUSIC & CONCERTS >
      • Oro Valley Concert Series
      • Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series
      • Steam Pump Concert Series
      • Lookout Tucson at Westward Look
      • Tucson Folk Festival
      • La Encantada Live
    • PUBLIC ART & MURAL INSTALLATIONS >
      • PUBLIC ART & MURAL INSTALLATIONS
      • Summer Youth Art Project 2022 >
        • Gila Monster
        • Glowing Scorpions
        • Prickly Pear Everywhere
      • Desert Ridge Mural Project
      • Sahuarita Public Art
    • DIGITAL ARTS PROGRAMS >
      • AARP Video Series
      • ORO VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
      • Local Food Heroes Virtual Classes
      • The Art of Food Cooking Classes
  • CATALYST ART SPACE & VENUE
    • VENUE & SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS
    • UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS
    • ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

ARTS & HEALTHCARE

SAACA partners with the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration, local Assisted Living, Retirement Communities and healthcare institutions, to create dynamic and powerful programming which supports lifelong learning, healing and transformation

CREATIVE AGING PROGRAMS

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SAACA believes the Arts has an impact—physically, emotionally, economically, and educationally—on the lives of service members, Veterans, seniors, families, aging communities, healthcare providers, and the community.

​The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance continues to establish, fund and develop dynamic, groundbreaking community arts programs which utilize the Creative Arts as a form of therapy as well as life-long learning and quality of life enrichment in our aging communities.

​Established in 2013, SAACA’s Creative Aging Program applies integrative art methods to stimulate healing through music, writing and visual art techniques to promote healing, encourage social inclusion and self-sustainability, and provide rehabilitation and development opportunities for program participants.

Due to the success of the program, SAACA has expanded our efforts into Assisted Living Facilities, Retirement Communities, Hospitals and Rehabilitation Center settings to work directly with individuals who are coping with temporary and permanent disabilities related to post-traumatic stress syndrome, memory care, depression and anxiety, aging and life transition support, rehabilitation and brain trauma injuries as well as quality of life enhancement.

To achieve a balanced, comprehensive and individualized outreach, SAACA administers a series of diverse programs to support each of the unique aging communities in Southern Arizona.

ARTS CARE PACKAGES

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The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) has assembled a community-wide Arts Care Package Campaign to provide assisted living communities and hospital patients with a diverse array of creative experiences including music, craft kits, journaling and DIY arts projects, all designed for residents to enjoy from the comfort of their own rooms.

The individually wrapped and sanitized packages were all assembled from an overwhelming response of donations from local artists, makers and musicians, as well as SAACA partner Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange. 

The program was envisioned to provide much needed support during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a response to the timely need of our most vulnerable populations during a time of isolation.  
Learn More & Support the Program

LET IT RING - MUSIC THERAPY DOCUMENTARY

A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MUSIC THERAPY & PTSD
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In association with the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, "Let It Ring" is a documentary collaboration between a number of organizations across the country including Warrior Songs, Guitars for Vets, Flutes for Vets and many more who helped bring this story to light.  The project, written and directed by David Seeber, is a short documentary about the profound and powerful impact that music therapy can have on veterans struggling with PTSD. This intimate film brings together the personal stories of veterans and organizations that are working hand in hand to bring the gift of music to those who need it most. SAACA is proud to be featured in the documentary and will be supporting the 2020 release with featured viewings and discussions with the director at CATALYST Arts & Maker Space.
“AFTER VIETNAM, I SLIPPED INTO A PTSD CONDITION FOR OVER 45 YEARS; WITHOUT THE MUSIC I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED.”
— BEAU GERARD, VETERAN & MUSICIAN
A TOOL FOR HEALING — AND DEBATE
"The arts have long been turned to as a tool for healing by many for a number of psychological and physical conditions, but it continues to face scrutiny by some in the public and medical communities. Some supporters take the term “arts therapy” more loosely, believing in a more spiritual and personal process of healing through the arts. Other supporters argue that “arts therapy” can only truly be called “therapy” if it’s strictly administrated by a certified and educated professional. When we started production on Let It Ring, our stance was simple — show the raw stories and impact of music therapy from those who have experienced it firsthand. The choice to focus specifically on music therapy’s effects on veterans suffering from PTSD arose from the overwhelming number of inspiring stories that came to us from the moment the project began. Our goal is to encourage more people to explore tools like music therapy so that, hopefully, we can see increased funding and thus even greater developments throughout the field." - David Seeber, Paczka Digital
Learn More About this Documentary
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MUSIC & MEMORY PROGRAM

In 2015, the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance partnered with MUSIC & MEMORY℠, to bring this life changing program to Southern Arizona. 

SAACA administers the program in local memory care facilities in the region.

The approach is simple, elegant and effective:  Set up personalized music playlists for those in memory care programs and residences and download the selections on iPods or other digital devices. When played, these musical favorites tap deep memories not lost to dementia and can bring participants back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize and stay present.
Learn more about MUSIC & MEMORY

LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMS

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At SAACA, we know the impact the arts have each day in our community.  More than anything, we see first-hand how the arts improve the lives of individuals by using a creative aging approach. We partner with local retirement, assisted living and independent senior facilities to provide arts instruction and classes with the goal of improving quality of life support and life-long learning initiatives. 

ARTS THERAPY

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Facilitating the use of ground-breaking Creative Arts Therapies for seniors, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities in our community, the Creative Arts Therapies Program utilizes an integrative method to provide healing through the arts using music, writing, visual arts and community arts components.

Learn More About Creative Arts Therapy Programs

Veterans Programming

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Through a unique partnership with the Veterans Administration of Southern Arizona and the Arizona State Veterans Home, each year SAACA provides the opportunity for over 5,000 Veterans to become involved in the arts by presenting free onsite programs such as:
∙ Creative Arts Festival
∙ Veterans Day Celebration
∙ Military Week Celebration
∙ Music and Visual Arts Therapy Programming
∙ Live Music Performances
​∙ Veterans Community Gallery Projects
​Underwrite the development of our creative arts program in partnership with the Veterans Administration and the Arizona State Veterans Home.

Support Local Veterans Today

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About
​

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, preservation and advancement of the Arts. SAACA strengthens the bonds between people, place and purpose through collaborative, arts-driven experiences.
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT
    • TEAM CONTACTS
    • PARTNERS, DONORS & SPONSORS
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • CULTURAL EQUITY
  • WHAT WE DO
    • BUSINESS & ARTS PARTNERSHIPS
    • ARTS & HEALTHCARE
    • OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS - CALL TO ARTIST
    • ARTS EDUCATION
    • PUBLIC ART & MURAL ADMINISTRATION
    • EVENTS, PROGRAMS & FESTIVALS
    • CATALYST ARTS & MAKER SPACE
    • CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
    • CREATIVE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
    • UNDERCOVER ARTS MAGAZINE
    • ONLINE ARTS & CULTURE >
      • CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & PERFORMANCES
      • STREAMING & VIDEO RESOURCES
      • COVID-19 RESPONSE & RESOURCES
  • SUPPORT & DONATE
    • DONATE AND SUPPORT
    • VOLUNTEER
    • INTERN
  • EVENTS, PUBLIC ART & PROGRAMS
    • EVENT & EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS
    • ART FESTIVALS >
      • FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS & HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
      • ART ON THE LAKE FESTIVAL
      • DOWNTOWN GLENDALE ARTS & CULTURE FEST
      • LA ENCANTADA FINE ART FESTIVAL
      • SKY ISLANDS FALL ARTISAN MARKET
      • FALL ARTISAN MARKET
      • SPRING FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
    • COMMUNITY ART GALLERIES >
      • VENTANA GALLERY AT ROCHE >
        • Roche Lung Cancer Awareness Exhibition
        • Roche Celebrating Moments >
          • Active Moments - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Frozen in Time - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Up Close and Personal - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Quiet Contentment - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
    • ARTS & CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS >
      • Desert Ridge Music and Murals
      • Tempe World of Chalk
      • Cruise, BBQ & Blues
      • Oro Valley Candy Crawloween
    • CULINARY ARTS >
      • SAVOR FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
      • DEVOUR CULINARY CLASSIC
      • Devour Culinary Classic
      • WORLD MARGARITA CHAMPIONSHIP
    • LIVE MUSIC & CONCERTS >
      • Oro Valley Concert Series
      • Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series
      • Steam Pump Concert Series
      • Lookout Tucson at Westward Look
      • Tucson Folk Festival
      • La Encantada Live
    • PUBLIC ART & MURAL INSTALLATIONS >
      • PUBLIC ART & MURAL INSTALLATIONS
      • Summer Youth Art Project 2022 >
        • Gila Monster
        • Glowing Scorpions
        • Prickly Pear Everywhere
      • Desert Ridge Mural Project
      • Sahuarita Public Art
    • DIGITAL ARTS PROGRAMS >
      • AARP Video Series
      • ORO VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
      • Local Food Heroes Virtual Classes
      • The Art of Food Cooking Classes
  • CATALYST ART SPACE & VENUE
    • VENUE & SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS
    • UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS
    • ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM