Organizations

In late fall of 2000, PSA Art Awakenings was born out of PSA (People Service Action) Behavioral Health Agency, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in 1971 whose mission is to enhance and empower the mental health community through creativity, innovation, and diversity. The brainchild of PSA Chief Executive Officer Sara Marriott, PSA Art Awakenings began as a consumer run business with funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration and only four adult consumers creating and selling artwork.

Today the program is funded by Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care, Cenpatico, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona and Gila River Indian Community.

From its modest beginning, PSA Art Awakenings has grown into a significant psycho-social rehabilitation program with 13 studios and five galleries serving approximately 1,500 artists annually – all working toward empowerment and recovery through creativity.

Artlink Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to linking artists, business and the public to better understand, appreciate and support a thriving arts community in downtown Phoenix. Artlink supports a variety of community-based art events, including complimentary Trolley Tours during the monthly First Friday Art Walk, one of the country’s largest self-guided gallery tour; Downtown Arts Tours, specially selected guided gallery tours; a year-round Pop Up Gallery Program featuring exhibitions in non-traditional spaces; the annual Juried Exhibition; the annual Art d’Core Gala, and the annual Art Detour self-guided tour, featuring open studios, pop-up galleries, family-friendly art experiences and more.

Artlink’s year-round activities are supported by Downtown Phoenix, Inc., City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, CityScape, APS, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Phoenix Art Museum, The Arizona Republic, Phoenix Convention Center, Dunn Transportation, The Torosian Foundation, Valley Metro, City of Phoenix Aviation Department, Support Sky Harbor Coalition, Arizona Center, Downtown Voices Coalition, Downtown Phoenix Journal, Invexi Web Development, Simply Adam Mann, Roosevelt Row CDC, and the Grand Avenue Members Association. For more information, visit artlinkphoenix.com or connect socially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Eye Lounge is a collective contemporary artist-run gallery in downtown Phoenix. It is located at 419 East Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

GVAL

In 2003, The Gilbert Visual Artists’ League (GVAL) was started as a part of the Gilbert Fine Arts Association (GFAA). The purpose of the organization was to promote visual and performing arts within the community. From 2003 to 2005, GVAL operated under the umbrella of the GFAA and was directed by Chuck Lambson and Tammy Cowden. In the summer of 2006, Georgia Mulholland, Lana Leibow, Helen Marquardt, and Andy Kirchberg separated GVAL into a non-profit 501-C 3 organization in order to focus on just the visual fine arts. GVAL was incorporated July 10, 2006.

Since its creation, the league’s mission has been to promote and support the visual arts within the Gilbert, AZ metropolitan area. GVAL holds several art shows a year that are open to the public. Since 2003 GVAL has hosted an annual juried fine arts show and invited artists from the community, the Phoenix area and beyond. Each year the show has grown and has attracted the participation of fine artists from members and community alike. GVAL also sponsors an exhibition that is open to members only. In addition, a mini 5X7 show is organized each year as a fundraiser and draws over 200 original paintings from league members.