Catalyst Creative Collective

10/15/2026

Every Monday and Thursday evening, Catalyst becomes a rehearsal space for Esperanza Dance Project, one of the creative organizations that calls Catalyst home.

Now, they’re taking the stage for Rising Hope, their annual fundraising gala on Sunday, November 8, at Site 17 in downtown Tucson.

The evening will feature performances by their middle school program, ProjectRISE, along with live music, light hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and a hosted bar.

We’re proud to provide space for Esperanza Dance Project’s ongoing work and invite you to support the dancers and programs they bring to our community.

Rising Hope | Sunday, November 8
5–7:30 PM | Site 17, Downtown Tucson

Tickets: $30 General Admission | $50 VIP (includes five raffle tickets). Prices increase by $10 on event day.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities: https://www.esperanzadanceproject.org/gala

Esperanza Dance Project Tucson Mall

thetucsonmall

10/13/2026

ROLL FOR INITIATIVE AND Jump from boring reality into the fun magical world of WomenPlayDnD!
Enjoy free fantasy-inspired arts and crafts, drinks, and DnD hijinks! Transport yourself from an ordinary life into the fantasy shopping episode of your dreams!

WomenPlayDnd alongside Working Families Party is hosting a wonderful night of free games, crafts, food, and drinks!
However, there’s a hidden story beneath all of the festivities that DM’s will guide you through throughout the night!
Talk to local Tucson vendors to spill the tea while you drink your free tea!

Only 200 seats available, so reserve your seat today!

Becca AZworkingfamilies Working Families Party Tucson Mall Art State Arizona

https://www.womenplaydnd.co/

10/13/2026

There is a lot happening at CATALYST Creative Collective this week. That is exactly what makes Catalyst special: it is a place where music education, dance, orchestral performance, culinary learning, exhibitions, and community connection can all happen under one roof and throughout the week, our Catalyst partners are putting the space to work:

MONDAY & THURSDAY
Esperanza Dance Project rehearsals bring movement, storytelling, and creative practice into the space. Esperanza uses dance and performance to open conversations around resilience and healing.
Esperanza Dance Project

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
Tucson Youth Music continues its music lessons, creating access to instrumental education and opportunities for young people to build skills and confidence.
Tucson Youth Music

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra rehearsals fill Catalyst with the work that happens behind the scenes of powerful performances with Linus Lerner
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
Antsy Nancy brings kids baking classes into the Catalyst teaching kitchen, turning hands-on learning into an opportunity to build skills and confidence through creativity.
Antsy Nancy

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
Coyote Task Force opens Pieces of Us, a new exhibition inviting the community into another creative perspective and conversation.

Also on October 17, Spectrum of Joy presents a showcase celebrating creative expression and community connection.
Garrett Larribas Spectrum of Joy, Inc.

And in the Catalyst teaching kitchen, Sourdough 101 offers an opportunity to learn, create, and connect through the culinary arts.

From rehearsals and lessons to showcases, exhibitions, and hands-on classes, this is what a creative community hub looks like in action.

Catalyst was built to bring artists, educators, nonprofits, creative businesses, and community members together in one adaptable space. Every week, our partners demonstrate the many ways creativity can strengthen connection, learning, and community life.

Art State Arizona
Tucson Mall
Catalyst Creative Collective

10/12/2026

Join Spectrum of Joy Academy and Creative Expressions Fine Arts for a week of acting, movement, creativity, imagination, and superhero fun, ending with a live Friday performance at CATALYST Creative Collective at the Tucson Mall! Their Fall Break Superhero Theatre Camp is open to the entire community, Grades K–5!

October 12–16, 2026
$300 for the full week
ESA Accepted

Monday–Thursday | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM - 6296 E Grant Rd Unit 150, Tucson, AZ 85712

Friday | Special Final Performance at Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall

You do not need to be a Spectrum of Joy student to participate, we’d love to welcome families from across our community!

For more details, reach out to
Spectrum of Joy, Inc. and
Garrett Larribas

10/11/2026

Our Last Saturday this month is EXTRA Special because it is HALLOWEEN 🎃 Art, costumes, creativity, and a lot of silly nonsense!
Get into the spooky spirit at Catalyst Creative Collective for a special Halloween full of hands-on art activities, imaginative experiences, local film screenings, and fun for all ages.

It’s going to be a crazy Halloween Catalyst Creative Collective hosted by our very own Art State Arizona emcee extraordinaire Frank Powers Frank Powers 🤠

11am - 1pm
This Dreaming Desert: A Dream Canopy Project – Explore the magic of the Sonoran Desert through creative dream prompts, poetry, and imagination with artist Delaney Wamer.

Throughout the day

Craft Paper Dolls with The Art of Natalia Lopez – Get crafty with a hands-on paper doll activity and craft spooky illustrations

1pm? Mr. Scrooge & Cratchit’s Halloween EXTRA – Scrooge is working for Halloween, but Bob Cratchit accidentally destroyed Tucson. A full length feature film!

3pmish WORST Halloween Costume Contest – Show off your least creative, unspooky, or store bought costume, hosted by Mr. Scrooge! Terrible prizes!!

4-7 We get in on the MALL o WEEN Fun with Trick-or-Treating – Explore the mall for treats and Halloween surprises and always Tucson Mall

More details to spill coming soon, like a photo booth and cookies and more because it’s going to be a hysterical Halloween 👻 Muahahaha!

10/09/2026

24 hours at Catalyst Creative Collective in the Tucson Mall

Drawing lessons
Art Lab Retreat
Baking classes
and the

10/09/2026

October is bursting with creativity, community, and a little Halloween magic at Catalyst! This month, we're proud to partner with Coyote Task Force to present Pieces of Us: The Art of Recovery and Resilience, a community exhibition celebrating the power of art in healing and recovery.

From free youth music lessons and culinary classes to hands-on art workshops, live performances, and our Halloween edition of Last Saturdays at Catalyst, there's something for everyone to explore. Whether you're looking to learn a new skill, connect with local artists, support a meaningful cause, or simply experience something unexpected, Catalyst is bringing people together through the arts all month long.

10/09/2026

This weekend, our partners at the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra open its 2026-27 Symphonic Kaleidoscope season with Sopranista Fireworks, featuring internationally acclaimed sopranista Maayan Licht in his U.S. performance debut.

Winner of the Oper! Awards 2025 Best Newcomer, Licht brings his extraordinary range and virtuosity to Tucson for a program of Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, Bizet and more, alongside SASO under the direction of Maestro Linus Lerner.

October 10 | 7 PM
Saddlebrooke DesertView Performing Arts Center

October 11 | 3 PM
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

Experience the performance Tucson will be talking about.
Tickets and information at sasomusic.org
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra

10/08/2026

Tucson Youth Music is bringing FREE music lessons for students age 6-10 back to Catalyst starting October 13. Find out more at https://tucsonyouthmusic.org/

REGISTER TODAY! Registration won't be open much longer.

Register your child today for our 2026-2026 program - simply head to our website and you'll be done with registration in a few minutes!
https://tucsonyouthmusic.org

Class start date:
10/13/2026

Class location:
All classes @ Tucson Mall in the Catalyst Facility of Art State Arizona

Classes offered:
Piano lab and Violin classes will be available for beginners, ages 6-10

🌞🔥🙏👀😎🙏

10/06/2026

There’s something satisfying about putting pen to paper and making every letter intentional.

This November, Crossroads Calligraphy returns to Catalyst for a two-day introduction to Italic calligraphy, a classic, elegant style that can become a foundation for all kinds of creative lettering.

With guidance from an experienced calligrapher, you’ll learn how to hold and use your pen, work with calligraphy guidelines, practice letterforms, and adapt your writing for different projects. Put those skills to use on cards, journal pages, labels, book inscriptions, handmade gifts - or simply words worth writing beautifully.

No matter how much calligraphy experience you have, you are welcome.

Saturday, Nov. 7 + Sunday, Nov. 8
1–4 p.m. each day
CATALYST Creative Collective
$175 total for both days.

You’ll leave with a new calligraphy marker, practice pages, reference examples, and techniques you can continue exploring after the workshop.

Art State Arizona Renee | Calligrapher | Tucson Tucson Mall