ACoAZ - 6 Month Update

Here we are!

Nearly six months since the first volume of Artist’s Commune was published digitally and with the physical copies printed and ready to be distributed, I have learned a lot about what it means to run a zine.

First, I would like to thank every person who was interested in being involved. It really has been an honor and a privilege to showcase your work. This has been one of the first times in my life I felt that my community was there for me in an endeavor purely of my own creation. I’ve also been so excited to meet and talk to so many more creatives around the state. The hope is that this zine grows into a community of its own that helps support each other and offers a space for many people to collaborate and lift each other up.

As previously mentioned, physical copies have been printed, and starting next week will start to be passed out to those who participated as well as making their way to local businesses to try and catch the attention of new artists. Unfortunately, printing turned into a whole issue of its own, with the first company I reached out to falling through and as per usual, money returns was a lengthy process. Moving forward, I have a better idea of who to use as a resource and the timeline I should expect.

Now that I am expecting to fully close the chapter of volume one, I am moving into working on volume two, which mainly is going to be focusing on finding more artists to participate, picking local businesses to highlight, and offering organizations that help locals that our community can volunteer for or donate to. Phoenix Fan Fusion provided an ample opportunity to connect with so many people, and now that summer is in full swing, I want to participate in more activities around the valley and hope to encourage others to do the same.

To a more vibrant community!

Artists Commune of Arizona

Are you an Arizona local? Maybe an artist? Perhaps you’re someone looking to promote your own work? Well I am starting a magazine for local creatives to not only showcase their work, but promote events they are either going to attend or host, and have a section to help you find ways to fund your struggling artist lifestyle!

The idea behind Artists Commune of Arizona, or ACoAZ for short, is bring our ever-growing community together. Some artists will never have the opportunity to showcase their work without having to give up an arm and a leg, while others barely have enough time to put anything together. The goal of ACoAZ is to provide a space where artists can show what they got, divulge further into their art, make friends, find mentors and use the zine as a way to add to their portfolio.

Submissions for the first zine are done as of January 2nd, 2025, which is so exciting! The goal currently is to get it published and printed by the end of the month and open submissions for the next one as early as February! Check out the Instagram and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! We would love to have you for the next issue!