Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has recently made a strategic move to strengthen the state's commitment to the arts by appointing Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett to the Arizona Commission on the Arts, as reported by the City of Flagstaff. Daggett, a native Arizonan known for her advocacy for affordable housing, the arts, and education, among other issues, assumes this new role with a track record of leadership in artistic communities.
Daggett's extensive background includes tenure in local nonprofits like the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy and the Flagstaff Arts Council. Before her political career, having won a seat on the Flagstaff City Council in 2020, she was also Flagstaff’s first Business Retention and Expansion Manager. Her contributions did not go unnoticed; she proudly holds two Performing Arts Viola Awards and, is a board member for Arizona Citizens for the Arts.
In discussing her appointment, Mayor Daggett articulated the significance of the arts and her plans in her new capacity. "The arts—in all colors, flavors, and modes—are critical to Arizonans' myriad cultural identities, educational opportunities, economic vitality, and quality of life. I’m eager to get to work with the Commission and help to support and celebrate artists and arts organizations throughout the state," she told the City of Flagstaff. This declaration echoes a broader drive to ensure the arts continue to flourish across Arizona.
The Arizona Commission on the Arts, funded in part by the state of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts, invests in an array of grants, programs, and educational initiatives. In partnership with local arts entities, the Commission's goal is to celebrate and nurture the diverse cultures and traditions that constitute Arizona's rich cultural landscape, as well as to foster economic growth and elevate the quality of life for its residents.
