20 SEPTEMBER 2026 By Sherry Sklar For nearly a century, one Phoenix nonprofit – run entirely by volunteers – has offered a creative space for artists to explore their chosen medium or try another, develop skills and build confidence as part of a creative community. Arizona Artists’ Guild (AAG) was founded during the summer of 1928, only 16 years after our statehood. Led by a small group who initially met regularly for an afternoon of sketching, those present discussed the role artists should play in the city’s development, as there were few institutions devoted to visual art. This core group set the agenda that helped establish some of the city’s most cherished cultural institutions. Completing its own modern building in North Phoenix in 2009, AAG continues to enrich creativity through workshops, classes, art fairs, student scholarships and exhibitions. Its mission centers on education and outreach. AAG board member Tess Mosko Scherer, whose work includes hand- bound books, recalled first joining the organization. She described what sets AAG apart from many other arts organizations open to artists at all levels, from beginners to professionals. She recalled being anxious when she first joined. “I would say the word encouragement,” she said. “I walked in timid, and they were very encouraging to me and to my work. They helped me flourish as an artist.” Membership dues are $50 per year and provide access to the Arizona Art Alliance as an affiliated institutional member, offering additional professional development opportunities. AAG has grown to roughly 500 active participants. There are demonstrations, presentations and conversations about artistic practice. Open Studio, held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, offers time and space to work alongside other artists. Life drawing, plein-air painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture classes are available regularly. Five critique groups held throughout the month allow artists to learn from one another and receive feedback, while the general meetings allow members to bring work for discussion. AAG serves a deeper purpose than creative expression; it offers programs that help people navigate pain to heal the heart and mind. These Creative Journey classes are held on the first Tuesday of the month for people experiencing grief, loss, or isolation, as well as for those working in health care. Community outreach has long been a cornerstone of the organization’s mission. During World War II, members drew or painted more than 1,500 portraits of service members passing through Phoenix. Today, tuition-free Veterans Art Classes remain part of AAG’s outreach. They are held on the fourth Saturday of each month in partnership with the Arizona Art Alliance and Your Art Your Story. AAG will offer “Kintsugi: The Art of Repair” on September 20, a workshop that symbolizes brokenness, wholeness and beauty: a bowl is broken, repaired and then reassembled. The 2026 Winter Art Fair will take place on December 5 and offers a variety of media, styles and artistic voices. “The art fairs are like an open house for the community,” said Susan Holt, AAG’s outreach manager and new member orientation coordinator. In its third year, the fair gives artists a platform to sell directly to the public. AAG offers a unique exchange where people donate lightly used supplies. These are sold inexpensively, allowing others to experiment without a large investment, and the proceeds support classes and scholarships. Scherer explained the exchange’s value for members. AAG and its partner organizations award approximately $10,000 to $12,000 in scholarships annually to college-age art students, continuing the organization’s investment in emerging talent. “I think community is very much at the heart of everything that we do,” Scherer said. “We are all artists, we are all creatives, no matter what stage and level. Simply put, we all feel that artmaking is our birthright.” @arizona_artists_guild arizonaartistsguild.net By Kylie de Best After organizing a school supply drive for a small village in the state of Gujarat in India, Phoenix Country Day senior Jiya Birdi learned firsthand that children in underserved communities lack access to certain resources that make optimal learning possible. Wanting to make a change, Jiya combined her love of dance and desire to serve others to create Dance4Dreams, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Founded in 2024, Dance4Dreams is committed to expanding educational opportunities for students. Jiya teaches Bollywood classes at Dance Connection Scottsdale several times a month for toddlers to teens. The classes are open to girls who are interested in learning Bollywood dance while being part of a program that promotes culture, confidence, and community service. Tuition is $50 per student per month, and 100 percent of the money is donated to support educational programs and school initiatives for children in need. “What I love most is seeing the students come into class and light up. They are laughing, dancing, and singing lyrics they once mumbled proudly,” Jiya shared. “Knowing that their participation is also helping provide educational opportunities for children who may not have access to basic school supplies makes the experience even more meaningful.” Jiya still thinks back to the humble beginnings. While she did get some donations from the school supply drive, she ultimately filled just one suitcase with supplies she purchased on her own. However, when she arrived in Gujarat, hundreds of eager students were packed together, waiting for her arrival and excited to see what she had brought. The school in Gujarat lacked so many things: desks, chairs, and basic needs. The hallways and walls were adorned with faded or torn teaching materials. Grateful for the donations, one of the teachers shared: “These students use small pieces of the leftover crayons from other schools. Imagine what they could do with a full crayon.” Those words stayed with Jiya and shaped the focus of the next few years of her life. “We’re working to grow our workshop program to accommodate the current waitlist, so more girls in Phoenix can take part,” Jiya said. “We are also looking to get more dance teachers.” Dance4Dreams has already made a positive impact. In India, they have provided more than $3,000 worth of essential supplies to underfunded schools, purchased shoe racks, desks, and chairs, and provided 450 personalized student ID cards. In Phoenix, they donated 144 new backpacks filled with school supplies to the UMOM homeless shelter. They donated $1,500 to children in foster homes and contributed $3,000 to Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 for field trips, STEM programs, and library funding. In Dayton, Ohio, and Rochester, New York (where Jiya has family) the organization donated more than $1,000 in school supplies through Crayons to Classrooms. Looking ahead, Dance4Dreams is partnering with foster homes and under-resourced schools to expand reach and bring educational resources to even more students in need. “Dance4Dreams is about showing that giving back doesn’t have to look one particular way,” Jiya said. “You can use whatever you’re passionate about, whether that’s dance, art, sports, music, or something else, and turn it into an opportunity to help someone else.” dance4dreamsfoundation.org Dancing to help students’ dreams come true Education, outreach, and most important: art For nearly a century, the Arizona Artists’ Guild has welcomed artists of every experience level to learn, create and connect. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARIZONA ARTISTS GUILD Dance4Dreams donated $3,000 to Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 for various programs and supplies. PHOTO COURTESY OF JIYA BIRDI

Scottsdale S AT U R D AY NOVEMBER 7, 2026 WESTWORLD OF SCOTTSDALE