Voices is a series connecting Phoenix community members through conversations about the importance of arts and culture in our city. Hear from local leaders, thinkers, and changemakers as they explore how the arts create a more vibrant, connected, and creative Phoenix—and why a strong creative community is essential to our future.
SHARON HARPER
Chairman & CEO
Plaza Companies
- civic and community leader
- developer of projects such as Park Central with a focus on exceptional public art and open spaces
What changes would you like to see in Phoenix–cultural, economic, or civic–that would help arts and culture to thrive?
Phoenix must continue investing in arts and culture as essential components of economic development and quality of life. That means supporting artists and cultural organizations, encouraging public-private partnerships, expanding arts education, and integrating arts into our neighborhoods, public spaces and development projects. We also need to make arts and culture more accessible to everyone across the Valley. A thriving cultural community attracts talent, strengthens businesses and creates a greater sense of place. When government, philanthropy, the business community and nonprofit organizations work together, we create an environment where creativity flourishes, and that benefits our entire region for generations to come.
What does a culturally thriving Phoenix look like in 20 years?
A culturally thriving Phoenix is one that embraces its diversity and makes arts, culture, education, and innovation part of everyday life. Twenty years from now, I hope we are known not only for our economic growth, but for creating places where people gather, learn, create, and connect. That means investing in vibrant neighborhoods, supporting artists and cultural organizations, preserving our history, and celebrating the many cultures that make Phoenix unique. It also means continuing to strengthen partnerships among business, education, healthcare, and the nonprofit community. Great cities are built around great people, and culture is what gives a city its identity and soul. If we continue to invest in both our physical spaces and our cultural institutions, Phoenix will be recognized as one of the most dynamic and inspiring cities in the country.
Someone that you love is visiting. If you wanted them to understand Phoenix through arts and culture, where would you take them, and why?
Our downtown is home to some truly exceptional arts institutions. The Heard Museum is one of the most unique art museums in the country and a true celebration of Native American culture and history. The campus housing the Phoenix Art Museum and Phoenix Theatre Company has become an epicenter for arts and culture in our community. And the many art galleries and performing arts spaces in the heart of our city illustrate how a relatively new city builds an infrastructure of arts and culture to match its economic and population growth. Phoenix is a remarkable story of growth not just in size but in the quality of life we enjoy, and the arts are a critical part of that story.
As CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder of Plaza Companies, Sharon Harper oversees all facets of company operations, including the ownership, development, leasing or management of nearly 13 million square feet of Arizona urban transformational projects, medical healthcare companies, senior living communities and bioscience centers.
With Harper at the helm, Plaza Companies’ properties and projects have received significant recognition within the real estate, construction, senior living, technology and medical sectors, and the company has proved instrumental in setting a national standard of excellence in the ownership, development, management and leasing of award-winning facilities throughout these sectors.