The Mountain Arts Conservatory will be Northern Arizona’s premier hub for creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange—uniting arts organizations, expanding access to arts education, and providing a shared space where performers and audiences from near and far come together to create, experience, and be transformed by great art. This inclusive, professional facility will empower Flagstaff’s vibrant artistic community to establish the city as a theater epicenter of the Southwest.
In 2018, a coalition of Flagstaff’s leading cultural organizations came together to conduct a comprehensive study of our city’s arts infrastructure needs. Participants included the Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona Historical Society, Flagstaff Arts Council, Flagstaff Festival of Science, Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, Lowell Observatory, Museum of Northern Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Flagstaff Master Chorale, Theatrikos Theatre Company, and many individual visual and performing artists.
The study revealed a resounding consensus: Flagstaff urgently needs a centralized, sustainable arts and cultural center.
The study identified several critical needs:
• A large, outdoor performance venue, like the Mountain Rose, and an adaptable black box theatre.
• Dedicated spaces for music, dance, aerial arts, and educational programming.
• Accessible, affordable venues that reflect and serve Flagstaff’s diversity, including Indigenous and underserved communities.
• Environmentally and financially sustainable infrastructure, built with local character and long-term resilience in mind.
A Central Cultural Home
The Conservatory will unite Flagstaff’s arts, science, and education communities in one vibrant, accessible space—making it easy for audiences to engage and return.
A Destination for Great Art
It will position Flagstaff as a Southwest theater epicenter, drawing artists and audiences together for unforgettable, transformative experiences.
Sustainable by Nature and Design
The building will model both environmental and financial sustainability—using solar energy, reclaimed materials, and smart business planning to reduce overhead and ensure long-term stability.
Community-Led and Artist-Driven
A coalition of local arts leaders will guide the project, creating shared ownership, reducing duplication of resources, and attracting broader support.
Access for All
Programs will prioritize underserved neighborhoods and reflect Northern Arizona’s cultural diversity—including Indigenous and multicultural voices. Affordable rentals and artist housing will support working creatives and keep the arts thriving locally.
