Mesa Arts Center Foundation

The mission of the Mesa Arts Center Foundation is to engage with Mesa Arts Center to support the arts through community advocacy, philanthropy and service.

The Mesa Arts Center Foundation is the fundraising arm for Mesa Arts Center (MAC). The mission of Mesa Arts Center is to inspire people through engaging arts experiences that are diverse, accessible, and relevant, and that enhance the quality of life and vitality of the greater region. Mesa Arts Center is the largest multidisciplinary arts center in the southwest.

The Foundation raises funds for MAC's youth and adult education programs such as Project Lit, Jazz A-Z, and Creative Aging. Mesa Arts Center engages the community through those programs as well as four free community festivals annually, serves more than 1,000 classes in the Art Studios and is home to four world-class theaters, and a contemporary arts museum with five galleries that is free to the public.

Mesa Arts Center Foundation also sponsors the annual Arts and Cultural Education Sponsorship (ACES) Program, a grant awarding program. ACES allows up to five non-profit educational organizations to present one theater, dance, or other type of performance on one of Mesa Arts Center's stages. Selected organizations receive theater rental fee waiver and up to $1,000 in financial support to cover some of the MAC fees and costs related to that performance.

Additionally, the Foundation ensures that the City of Mesa provides adequate financial support for maintaining the MAC as a robust venue for the performing arts, and serves as a strong advocate for MAC and the arts.