The Arizona Commission on the Arts has selected 31 artists from throughout the state to each receive a $5,000 research and development grant. The only artist from Yuma is Lia Littlewood.
She’s the founder and president of the Littlewood Fine Art and Community Co-op.
Littlewood said she wants to rewrite Yuma’s city sign code because she said it is currently a difficult process to get a mural approved. Long term, Littlewood said she wants to complete a mural project on Avenue C between 1st and 32nd streets that would incorporate various art styles with Yuma landmarks. The goal is to make public art more attainable.
“We’ve made it more attainable for people to put up public art and funded some of it ourselves," Littlewood said. "We really want artists to feel like this town is their town and that they can put more art up.”
The ACA awards were given thanks to a partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation and funding from the Newton and Betty Rosenzweig Fund for the Arts.
Other artists who received awards are from the Phoenix area, Tucson, Flagstaff and Bisbee.
