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The FY25 Art Project Grant supports groups providing art programming with and for the people of Washington State. Organizations do not need to have an arts-focused mission to apply. Applicants can request between $2,000-$5,000 for their project. If awarded, grant amounts can vary depending on panel recommendations and available funds.
Application workshops: March 19 and April 16, 2024 at 12 p.m.
💸 $2,000-$5,000
📅 Apply by April 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
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The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program.
The program provides financial support to a Master Artist and an Apprentice who want to preserve a cultural tradition important to their community. Participants may teach or study visual art, occupational arts, traditional language practices, storytelling and other verbal arts, dance, culinary traditions, music, and much more.
💸 $4,000 for Master Artists / $1,000 for Apprentices
📅 Apply by May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
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Creative Districts: Tri-State Webinars
Join Creative District program managers from Washington, Idaho, and Nebraska for a free two-Webinar series:
Webinar 1: Community Engagement | Topics include: how to develop a successful community engagement process, how to build relationships and ensure all voices in your community are heard, and more.
📆 Recorded February 15, 2024
Webinar 2: Organizational Structure | Topics include: how to set up your organizational structure for success, how to plan for long-term sustainability, and more.
📆 Thursday, March 28, 2024
⏰ 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. PST
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The 2024 Poetry Out Loud Finalists left to right: Leki Albright of Liberty Bell High School, Honorable Mention; Sydney Frost of Mt. Spokane High School, Runner-Up; Blaze Rowan of Olympia High School, Champion. Photo by Pavel Verbovski. | |
Blaze Rowan named the 2024 Poetry Out Loud State Champion | |
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🎉 Blaze Rowan, a senior at Olympia High School in Thurston County, is the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Washington State Champion. Rising to the top from a competitive field of nearly 9,000 students from 42 schools across the state, Rowan was among the 9 high school students who competed in the State Final.
Rowan will represent Washington State at the Poetry Out Loud National Semi-Final on May 1 in Washington, D.C. The Finals will be held immediately after, on May 2.
"Poetry Out Loud has greatly enhanced my love for poetry, and has served as an incredible learning experience for me," said Blaze Rowan. "I have absolutely loved how positive this experience has been, as the competitive nature takes a back seat to the experience of sharing poetry with a group of like-minded youth."
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2024 Poetry Ourselves finalists
Poetry Ourselves is an optional, original poetry contest open to all Poetry Out Loud school champions and students participating in POL Virtual. The entries were first reviewed by Dr. Tod Marshall of Gonzaga University, the 2016-2018 Washington State Poet Laureate.
First Place: Luca Artz of Mount Si High School (Snoqualmie) with “The Recipe”
Honorable mentions: Leki Albright of Liberty Bell High School (Winthrop) with “In Betweens” and Nascha Martinez (Kingston) with “A Generation’s Soliloquy”
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Representatives from Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) gather with artist Haiying Wu. The full-scale model of the statue of Billy Frank Jr. in this photo is machine-carved Styrofoam, which Wu will coat with clay to develop the artwork’s final details. Photo by Debbie Preston, Nisqually Communications & Media Services. | |
Billy Frank Jr. statue to be completed at SPSCC in newly announced partnership | |
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ArtsWA and the Nisqually Indian Tribe have partnered with South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) to host artist Haiying Wu as he completes a statue of Billy Frank Jr. for National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. Wu will work on the 9′-tall statue of the late Nisqually leader and treaty rights activist in the scene shop of SPSCC’s Drama program, where students and members of the community will be invited to watch the artist at work.
“I am making a historical piece, and I want to make it the best that it can be,” said artist Haiying Wu, who was selected for the project in 2023. “It’s important for Nisqually, it’s important for the Washington State Arts Commission, and it’s important for the state of Washington.”
Wu will begin his work in March 2024, embarking on an estimated four-month project based in SPSCC’s Scene Shop in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts (Building 21, Olympia Campus). The space will be open for the public to observe and participate in Wu’s work.
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New Creative Economy Strategic Plan revealed | |
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The creative sector accounts for nearly 20% of Washington state’s economy, contributing nearly $120 billion annually to the state GDP, according to a report released from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The report, produced with the assistance of the Creative Economy Strategic Work Group and lead contractor Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), provides a strategic pathway for future growth of this key industry sector.
“This study confirms that Washington state is a world leader in creative sector jobs,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong.
“Innovation is a key driver of our economy, and this sector enriches the arts and cultures of our communities as well as technological advances, from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to new methods for producing clean energy.”
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Lauren Iida, Project Manager, Art in Public Places
Lauren Iida manages Art in Public Places projects in public schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies.
She is also a practicing artist and graduate of Cornish College of the Arts (’14) in Seattle.
Her passion lies at the intersection of art and social justice. She believes that art is a powerful tool for storytelling and connection and an important lens through which to investigate culture and heritage.
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Rebecca Merkley, Project Manager, Art in Public Places
Rebecca joined ArtsWA in 2024 and is based in eastern Washington. She earned her MFA in painting and sculpture from Idaho State University in 2018 and taught courses in studio and art history at the college level prior to joining ArtsWA.
As a studio artist, she exhibits nationally and internationally and has a variety of works in public and private collections. She served on the Pasco Arts and Culture Commission from 2019-2023 and is dedicated to promoting accessibility and community engagement.
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Building for the Arts: Free Webinar recordings | |
ArtsWA held a series of Webinars about the Dept. of Commerce's Building for the Arts (BFA) program. BFA awards state grants to nonprofit community-based organizations to buy, build, or renovate arts and cultural facilities. These capital project grants can cover up to 33% of the total costs for construction.
Watch the free recordings:
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Explore: Women's History Month
48% of the artists in the State Art Collection identify as women! These artists have a strong connection to Washington, and many of these artists are or have been teachers at Washington's colleges and universities.
Explore the variety and breadth of these women artists!
| Air, Soil, Water (2023, paintings) by Mindy Barker, located at View Ridge Middle - Sunset Ridge Intermediate, Ridgefield, Southwestern WA. | |
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