Catalyst Creative Collective

Check out the Catalyst monthly newsletter for May! May is full packed full with markets, performances, and new some partnership announcements - including Dancesequences, More Than a Bed, and a cool new collaborative project between Esperanza Dance Project with 7sound & Co Media Group that is looking for participants RIGHT NOW to film a music video! It’s always an amazing time meeting new people and making new friends and partners at Catalyst! See you in the Tucson Mall!! #ArtStateAZ

Looking for the perfect space to host your summer classes, workshops, rehearsals, or creative programs? Catalyst Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall is now booking summer rentals for organizations, artists, educators, and businesses ready to bring their ideas to life. Why host your program at CATALYST? • Ice-cold A/C to beat the Tucson heat • Free parking for you and your guests • Co-promotion from CATALYST to help grow your audience • 14,000 square feet of flexible creative space Spaces designed for creativity and collaboration: • Main Floor Stage – ideal for performances, talks, and showcases • Teaching Kitchen – perfect for culinary classes and demonstrations • Music & Digital Production Lab – recording, media, and creative tech • 2D & 3D Gallery Spaces – exhibitions and installations • Classrooms & Studios – workshops, camps, and educational programming • Meeting & Collaboration Rooms – seminars, planning sessions, and gatherings From arts education and dance rehearsals to maker workshops, performances, culinary classes, and community events, Catalyst provides a collaborative environment where ideas come to life. Contact info on the pinned post in the comments. #ArtStateAZ #TucsonArtists #ArtStudios #ArtStateArizona #Collaboration

They say LUCK is just preparedness and opportunity. Well you’re in luck, so I hope you prepared. Art State Arizona invites Arizona-based artists of all disciplines to apply for the Artist-in-Residence program at Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall. This flexible 1–2 month residency provides studio space where artists can create work in a public setting and connect with the community through open studio hours, workshops, and events. In addition to developing their creative practice, Artists serve as ambassadors for the space and are encouraged to host community presentations, workshops, or performances during the residency. Applications are reviewed by a panel of community judges and evaluated based on artistic quality, community engagement, and alignment with the artist’s goals. The program is open to artists over 25 years of age at any stage of their careers, including individuals, groups, and organizations. TAG an artist you’d like to see! Link in the comments. #ArtStateAZ #ArtStateArizona #Catalyst #ArtistInResidence #Opportunity

Catalyst Creative Collective is excited to welcome June Artist-in-Residence, Ren Buchness! @ladybuchness (they/them) is a contemporary artist & fat, queer activist based in Sierra Vista, Arizona. By combining painting & performance, they aim to foster dialogue and understanding of the fat, queer, and trans experience within the current political and social environment in the United States. In 2013, they received their BFA in Studio Art from Florida State University, and in 2018 earned their Master of Fine Art with a focus in painting & video from the University of Arizona. They currently teach a variety of fine art courses including figure drawing and watercolor painting at local colleges and universities. Ren’s work has been shown in multiple galleries across the country. Their work has also been featured in several publications both nationally and internationally.. They are also committed to cultivating a stronger trans and queer community through event planning and marketing with Fluxx productions, a local non-profit focused on queer community and creativity. Most days, you can find Ren in the studio, creating works of art that celebrate and explore the fat, queer experience. Many in the Art State Arizona community already know Ren through their participation in plein air painting events, festivals, and gallery exhibitions over the years. We’re thrilled to welcome them into Catalyst and can’t wait to see what they create during their residency. Join us throughout June for workshops, collaborative artmaking, and Ren’s closing reception: Workshop: Exploring the Magic of Color June 6th | 1pm–4pm Collaborative Workshop: The Exquisite Corpse June 20th | 1pm–4:30pm Artist-in-Residence Closing Reception June 27th | 2:30pm–6pm Artist Talk at 3pm

Estamos emocionados de colaborar con Aprender y Jugar para un evento mensual para los más pequeños. La Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe fue diseñada para niños de 1 a 4 años y sus cuidadores. Acompáñanos en Catalyst, en el Tucson Mall, para disfrutar de lectura, arte y vocabulario básico en español. Las familias podrán conectarse, aprender y jugar juntas. Este espacio acogedor fomenta la convivencia, la creatividad y el aprendizaje con alegría para todos. Muchas gracias @papemaria Esperamos verlos el miércoles 5-20-2026 en Catalyst de 11 a.m. a 12 p.m. WHICH MEANS… We are excited to continue our partnership with Aprender y Jugar for a MONTHLY event for littles. Bilingual Storytime was designed for children Ages 1 - 4 and their caregivers. Join us at Catalyst in the Tucson Mall for reading, art, and simple Spanish vocabulary. Families will connect, learn, and play together. This welcoming space encourages bonding, creativity, and joyful learning for all! Thanks so much @papemaria We hope to see you there May 20th at Catalyst from 11am - 12pm #ArtStatAZ #ArtStateArizona #Literacy #SpeakSpanish #KidsEvent

Calling all young musicians! What does it take to create a real song from scratch? This summer, join 7sound & Co Media Group for an immersive 4-day Music Recording Camp at Catalyst designed to take a song from idea to release. Participants will collaborate as a group to build an original track, develop a band identity, record music in a professional creative environment, and experience what it’s like to produce a real release for streaming platforms. Guided by music and media industry professionals, students will explore songwriting, recording, collaboration, branding, and performance while working together to create something completely original. At Catalyst Creative Collective, we believe creativity grows through collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on experience - and this camp is all about giving young artists the opportunity to create something real together!

Creativity can heal. Creativity can connect. Creativity can transform how we care for one another. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from Art State Arizona’s growing Arts & Health initiatives — programs exploring the role of creativity in wellness, memory care, aging, Veteran healing, and community connection across Arizona. From the AWE at Home creative aging project at Hacienda at the Canyon, to supporting Veteran artists through the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, to community movement workshops with Exit 12 Dance Company at Catalyst Creative Collective, these partnerships are helping reimagine the arts as essential infrastructure for healthier communities. Because the arts aren’t extra. They’re essential to how we heal, belong, and thrive together. #ArtStateAZ #ArtsAndHealth #CreativeWellbeing #CreativeAging

❤️ Thank you SO much to everyone who came out to support Esperanza last night at our evening with friends! ❤️ It was a magical night full of dance, music, and community. #dance #localart #community #esperanzadanceproject #risinghope #moderndance

Call for Writers – UNDERCOVER ARTS Magazine 2026 Edition - Seeking Passionate Storytellers to Highlight Arizona’s Creative Economy Deadline to Apply is June 20, 2026 - Link in the comments! UNDERCOVER ARTS Magazine is back! Produced by Art State Arizona (formerly SAACA), this annual print and digital publication is Arizona’s most comprehensive guide to the creative economy, amplifying the voices of artists, businesses, and cultural organizations statewide. The 2026 theme, “Culinary Arts,” explores the powerful intersections of food, culture, memory, identity, and community. Through stories of ritual, migration, labor, celebration, sustainability, and creativity, we invite writers to examine how food shapes the human experience and connects us across generations and geographies. We’re seeking thoughtful, compelling, and dynamic voices to bring these narratives to life. If you have a passion for the arts, culture, and storytelling, we invite you to apply! What We’re Looking For Feature Writers – Deep-dive profiles, investigative pieces, and long-form storytelling on arts, wellness, and the creative economy. Interviewers – Conduct compelling interviews with chefs, artists, cultural leaders, and community changemakers. Trend Reporters – Cover emerging arts movements, economic impact studies, and statewide creative sector insights. Spotlight Writers – Short-form pieces highlighting individual artists, creative businesses, or innovative programs. Cultural Critics – Reviews and opinion pieces on Arizona’s evolving arts scene. We welcome both seasoned journalists and emerging writers with a unique voice, strong research skills, and the ability to craft engaging narratives. #callforwriters #artstateaz #writercommunity #culinaryarts

✨ Today’s the day! ✨ Our Evening with EDP and Friends is here! Tonight from 6:30-8:30pm at Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall This event is a celebration of collaboration and will include: 🌟The premiere of a piece featuring EDP dancers alongside dancers from Gallego Intermediate Fine Arts Magnet School 🌞A performance by Stephanie Tolbert-King 🌹ProjectRISE - EDP’s middle school oriented show 🖌️An art fair featuring local artists 🍪Delicious vegan cookies made by local culinary artist, Uniquely Made Cookies 🎤Original live music by CoRey Ferrugia of 7Sound & Co 🎶A sneak peek of our music video collaboration with 7Sound & Co Media Group! Tickets will be available at the door for a suggested donation of $15, or $10 for students. They are not required for children under 10 years of age. 🎟️ See you there!🤗 #moderndance #esperanzadanceproject #dance #contemporarydance

Camps, Classes and Air Conditioning! Summer is the perfect time to explore and nurture your kids’ artistic side with Bravissimo Art Center at Tucson Catalyst in Tucson Mall! “Bravissimo is an art school designed for mastery of drawing and color techniques. We teach you everything you need to know about drawing and painting by building a strong foundational structure of skills and abilities. At the same time, we build your portfolio, work on personal projects, and get you prepared to either enter the field or sell your work to industry standards and specifications. Each separate program caters to a variety of student objectives.” - @bravissimoartcenter The Bravisimo Art Center curriculum is centered around reliable techniques that professional artists utilize in their careers. In this all-encompassing program, students aim to master each technique they learn so they can eventually work in their desired field of choice. Bravissimo Art Center is ESA-approved! The program can be covered for full reimbursement through the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. ESA covers homeschooling costs—including art lessons, curriculum, and tutoring. Turn your child’s passion into progress—at no out-of-pocket cost! #artcamp #artclasses #artclassesforkids @bravissimoartcenter @shoptucsonmallaz @artstateaz

🪩 2 Days Away!! 🪩 Please join us for An Evening with Esperanza Dance Project & Friends THIS THURSDAY, May 14th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson mall! This event is a celebration of collaboration and will include: ⭐️ The premiere of a piece featuring EDP dancers alongside dancers from Gallego Intermediate Fine Arts Magnet School 💃🏻 A performance by Stephanie Tolbert-King 👟 ProjectRISE - EDP’s middle school oriented show 🎨 An art fair featuring local artists 🍪 Delicious vegan cookies made by local culinary artist, Uniquely Made Cookies 🎶 Original live music by CoRey Ferrugia of 7Sound & Co 🎬 A sneak peek of our music video collaboration with 7Sound & Co Media Group! Tickets will be available at the door for a suggested donation of $15, or $10 for students. They are not required for children under 10 years of age. 🎟️ See you there! ✨ #esperanzadanceproject #collaboration #catalystcreativecollective #fun #dance #localart #tucson #tucsonart #tucsondance #music #hope #hopeiscalling #community #supportlocal #projectrise