The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture will celebrate 24 local artists at this year’s Artists to Work Reception and Showcase, taking place at the Rio Salado Audubon Center. The event marks the culmination of the city’s annual grant program, which awards each artist $7,500 to develop and present original projects that enrich the Phoenix community.
Launched to strengthen the city’s creative ecosystem, the Artists to Work program funded 24 artists in 2025, many of whom collaborated with fellow creatives to produce community-driven works. According to the city, eight recipients used their awards to “pay it forward,” supporting a network of 43 artists and cultural workers through joint projects.
The upcoming showcase will feature a diverse range of art forms — from visual and performance pieces to poetry and interdisciplinary works — offering visitors an immersive look at the artists’ contributions. One highlight comes from photographer Adam Corona, whose exhibition “Sometimes While Growing Up, You Find Yourself” explores Charrería culture in South Phoenix.
“I think this exhibition is a direct reflection of the grant itself,” Corona said. “It forced me to think of a bigger picture — that as a diaspora, we belong in these spaces and deserve to be represented in this way.”
This year’s Artists to Work cohort also includes creators such as Amber McCrary, a poet and zine artist; Antoinette Cauley, known for her vibrant paintings; and Jennifer Datchuk, a visual artist exploring identity and culture through ceramics.
Looking ahead, the 2026 awardees, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, will focus on literary and performance art. Among them are Jada Renée Allen, Luccas, and Adrian Miramontes, representing the next wave of Phoenix’s creative storytellers.
For more information about the program and participating artists, visit the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture website.
