05/27/2022
Friends of TCA is sad to announce the end of its existence:
May 27, 2022
Since 2007, Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts has worked to enrich, educate and entertain the community by providing volunteer and financial support for dynamic cultural events, thoughtful exhibitions and innovative educational programs, and to promote the Tempe Center for the Arts as a nationally recognized resource.
Friends of TCA created the first membership program in support of the TCA. Friends of TCA raised and distributed several hundred thousand dollars to fund the TCA Gallery, TCA improvements and artistic groups performing at the TCA. The Friends initiated Performance with a View, in partnership with the Arizona State University School of Music, as a free public outreach program to acquaint patrons with programming at the TCA. Friends of TCA established and has operated the TCArt Shop featuring unique & one-of-a-kind work by talented Arizona artists since the opening of the TCA and fully supported the renewal of the permanent Tempe Arts Tax to fund the TCA and all Tempe arts.
The shocks and stresses of COVID have altered patterns of attendance, changed communication needs, and impacted business operations at the TCA. In response, the TCA has developed a new membership program. This strategy has resulted in welcoming over 270 new members in the first 4 months. In addition, the TCA will take over the operation of the TCArt Shop beginning June 1st.
In conjunction with these changes, Friends of TCA announce the end of its 15-year organization in support of the TCA. Our final action is to award funding to the TCA and Tempe Arts Groups that have had a long and collaborative history with the Friends. We announce funding to the following entities:
$10,000 Arizona Wind Symphony
$10,000 Childsplay
$10,000 CONDER/dance
$10,000 Desert Dance Theater
$20,000+ Tempe Center for the Arts ($10,000 going directly to the TCA Gallery)
Friends of TCA are appreciative of all past and current board members and TCArt Shop volunteers who helped to accomplish so much. The Tempe Center for the Arts enriches the Tempe community and possesses the potential for future artistic inspiration for many years to come. It has been our honor to support the Tempe Center for the Arts and will continue to revel in its cherished history and vision of hope and inspiration for the future.
Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts Board of Directors
Andy Cruz, Don Dotts, Gail Fisher, Rex Gulbranson, Mel Kessler,
Melissa Martinez, Ann Alger Piraino, Sharon Price, Anndee Rickey
