The Tempe Arts & Culture Division develops and manages the city's arts and culture programs and services. The City is dedicated to enriching the lives of the local and extended community by providing life-long engagement through accessible cultural, social, and educational experiences. The links below lead to Tempe Arts & Culture programs to help you discover and enjoy a variety of creative and cultural experiences. See a show, take a class, tour a building, peruse an exhibit… there’s much to see and do in Tempe!
For information about the Tempe Public Art program visit: www.tempe.gov/PublicArt
For information about Art Grants visit: www.tempe.gov/artsgrants
For information about Galleries and Performing Arts visit: www.tempecenterforthearts.com
To submit your final report you must login or create a Submittable account
Within 60 days of completing the project, a Final Report must be submitted to the City of Tempe. The report will require you to share the outcomes of your project as well images and/or video documentation of your programming. Applicants who fail to complete final reports on time will not be eligible for future arts grants funding from the City of Tempe.
Pursuant to the Grant’s terms and conditions, the City of Tempe has the rights to use any materials submitted in the Final Report for data collection and promotional purposes.
Tempe Playlist
Call to Musicians
Musicians who live, work, or play in Tempe are invited to apply for the opportunity to be included on the next edition of Tempe Playlist; a local collection of musicians that captures the talents and sounds of the Valley. The playlist will function as a pre-qualified list of musicians who are eligible to perform at various Community Arts events, including the Arts in the Parks series, the Free Art Friday series and Tempe Jam.
Selected songs will be compiled into a digital playlist that will be available on Spotify and marketed throughout the Valley for two years. Musicians must submit two original songs recorded within the last 5 years for consideration.
Who can apply:
We are looking for musicians, bands, singers and DJS who live in the Valley and are experienced in live performances and have original music.
- Preference will be given to musicians with strong connection to Tempe.
- If there are multiple people in a group, all members must live in the Valley (Metro Phoenix Area) and be able to travel to Tempe.
- If an artist is in several groups, they may apply with multiple groups.
- Two recent songs (recorded within the last 5 years) must be submitted per individual/group.
- Submitted songs must be original tracks, and musicians must own the copyright to their music.
City of Tempe employees or board or commission members are not eligible to apply.
Deadline:
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at midnight (11:59 PM)
Benefits:
Selected artists will
- Be placed on a physically and digitally published prequalified booking list that will be sent to other city departments, booking agents and venues throughout the Valley
- Have one of their original songs added to the Tempe Playlist on Spotify
- Be promoted on our City’s website, social media and email lists
- Receive personalized marketing materials
Community Arts exclusively pulls from this list to hire musicians for our 25 events throughout the year.
This list will serve the community and beyond by connecting musicians with event organizers, local businesses, and other city departments.
Questions? Contact:
Ellen_Sickenberger@tempe.gov
Dani_Godreau@tempe.gov
Selection process:
A selection committee will review all submissions and select songs for the playlist based on the guidelines, available space on playlist, connection to the community and unique creativity. The committee is comprised of community stakeholders, a member of the Tempe Arts and Culture Commission, musicians, and City staff from Arts & Culture.
About City of Tempe Community Arts:
The City of Tempe’s Community Arts team develops initiatives that foster relationships and enhance connections within the arts, community and city through collaborations with local school districts and beyond; it offers opportunities for students and local artists to have a public platform for their artwork, assisting them in current or future careers in the arts. Tempe Community Arts also offers visual art classes at Edna Vihel Arts Center, community events such as Arts in the Parks and Free Art Friday, and additional school programs such as the Studio Artists Program.
Each year, Tempe Community Arts partners with the Tempe Union High School District to connect students with local arts professionals through the Art Tempe, Dance Tempe and Music Under the Stars programs.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Arts in Schools Grants funded 42 fine arts programs in 25 Tempe Schools.
For 2023-2024, Tempe Community Arts awarded 43 Wavemaker and Vibrant City Arts Grants to nonprofit organizations and artists collectives that present arts and culture programming in Tempe.
To support freelance musicians in the Valley, Tempe Playlist is a program designed to spread awareness about bands and individual artists who live, work or play in Tempe. Listen to the 44 original songs on Spotify.