Nestled behind desert-worn walls and hand-built adobe structures is a creative sanctuary known as Cattle Track Arts Compound. Located in the heart of Scottsdale, the homestead-turned-art haven has inspired generations of artists, dreamers and thinkers.

Through a landmark partnership with Scottsdale Arts, the 11-acre compound is poised to write its most ambitious chapter yet.

From Neighbors to Partners

• 

• 

The budding partnership between Cattle Track and Scottsdale Arts grew organically through neighborhood connections.

When Scottsdale Arts President and CEO Gerd Wuestemann and his wife, Cece Cole, moved across the street from the compound, they struck up a friendship with Janie Ellis, the compound’s longtime caretaker. Two years later, that friendship blossomed into a formal partnership designed to thoughtfully expand Cattle Track’s programming while preserving its distinctive character.

Under the new arrangement, Scottsdale Arts will manage various elements of Cattle Track, expand community programming—including musical performances, talks, and other events—and provide additional support for emerging artists.

The compound itself will retain its own board and property oversight through an existing nonprofit trust. Current studio artists, residents, and architecture offices—including The School of Architecture (formerly at Taliesin West)—will all remain in place.

“As the caretaker of this place, it’s been my wish to ensure that Cattle Track continues to grow thoughtfully, artistically and with integrity into the far future,” says Ellis. “That’s why this new partnership with Scottsdale Arts means so much. We mutually understand that Cattle Track isn’t just about studios or exhibitions. It’s about people. It’s about building a space where creativity can thrive across disciplines and generations.”

ArtSpark: Launching Creative Careers

The centerpiece of the partnership is ArtSpark, an ambitious new career-development program for emerging artists. The program will be housed in a historic barn recently relocated from Paradise Valley, transformed into artist studios and gallery spaces.

ArtSpark recipients will receive a substantial stipend, studio or rehearsal space for one year, and professional development courses to help launch their careers. In a pay-it-forward model, each cohort will contribute through community projects and mentor the following year’s artists.

The first ArtSpark cohort will be introduced at a special Kickoff Barn-Raising event on September 26 at 6 p.m., featuring tours of the compound and presentations about the new programs.

Artists-in-Residence Expanded Programming

Beyond ArtSpark, Scottsdale Arts is launching a new Artists-in-Residence program, bringing established national and international artists to Cattle Track for stays ranging from one week to two months. These artists will share their creative processes through talks and workshops, with works potentially premiering at Cattle Track or other Scottsdale Arts venues.

One early success story is already making waves: New York–based artist James Perkins began a residency at Cattle Track in October 2024, creating works for his exhibition Burying Paintings by literally burying artworks and allowing natural elements—sun, rain, dust storms, and even coyotes—to transform them. His solo show opens at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art on September 20.

Celebrating the Compound’s Creative Community

Several upcoming exhibitions highlight Cattle Track’s artistic legacy. Artists of Cattle Track debuts October 6 at the Civic Center Public Gallery, showcasing works by current and recent studio artists, including Mary Myers, Matt Magee, and Mark McDowell. A reception with the artists is scheduled for October 9 from 5–6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, A Pivotal Point in Time: Art in Scottsdale in the 1970s opens October 3 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, featuring artists who exhibited at the venue’s early shows—many of whom also lived or worked at Cattle Track.

Building for the Future

The master plan includes approximately 20,000 square feet of new art spaces across the campus, carefully designed to enhance, rather than overwhelm, the compound’s distinctive character—what Ellis calls its “wild, handmade beauty.”

“A campus like Cattle Track, tucked away in the heart of our city, just doesn’t exist anywhere else,” Wuestemann notes. He praises Ellis’s vision, emphasizing that Cattle Track should never become a static monument, but rather remain “…respectful of the past, irreverent in its present and constantly evolving into the future.”

For those of us who call the Valley home, this partnership represents something rare and wonderful: a chance to preserve an authentic piece of Arizona’s creative heritage while ensuring it continues to inspire and support artists for decades to come.

Cattle Track Arts Compound is located in central Scottsdale. For more information about ArtSpark, upcoming events, and guest visits, visit scottsdalearts.org.