KATE MARQUEZ

Making Life Better through Arts and Culture

Listening to Kate Marquez articulate the importance of arts and culture is like hearing a good, old-fashioned campaign speech by a leader with vision and moxie. You may find yourself nodding in agreement when she says things like:

“When do any one of us go a day without interacting with music, film, food, design, creative thought, comedy, fashion? Imagine a life without those things really being accessible.”

“Our communities, our businesses, and our lives will be better if we continue to invest in the arts and culture infrastructures.”

“If I end my career in any way, it will be that there is permanent funding for the arts in the state of Arizona, and in this community that I call home of southern Arizona.”

Hear! Hear!

Marquez is the executive director of the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, which, under her longtime leadership, has become a collective that revitalizes communities; helps people heal, and gives creatives a chance to make a living, including at its fabulous arts and maker space in Tucson Mall.

The Tucson native attended the University of Arizona with an interest in politics. After internships in local and federal government and time spent volunteering politically, she graduated knowing she wanted no career in politics or government. Instead, she started a business built on her fundraising and event planning talent. That connected her to the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council, which later was renamed and re-imagined as SAACA.

This month, SAACA begins another period of strategic visioning, taking to heart what was experienced during the pandemic and what’s known about recovery needs.

“The arts have to play a significant role in helping to feel, helping to connect,” Marquez said. “It’s been a very divisive few years. Strategically, looking at the role the arts will play in these communities, rebuilding these broken connections, addressing the pain — it’s just going to be really important for the arts to play a role.”

Hear! Hear!

Do you know an Arts Hero? Someone who works tirelessly to strengthen, improve and enhance the arts in our community?

Nominate him or her at onmediaaz.com