ArtsWA Community Investments

ArtsWA grants provide resources for organizations to create arts experiences with and for their communities. Our grants focus on cultural equity and expanding the creative economy, and support arts participation by ensuring that all people have culturally relevant access to the arts. State and federal funds support our grants.

  • Grants to Organizations (GTO) fund projects, programs, and services spanning artistic disciplines, cultures, and traditions. Programs reach audiences and arts professionals across the state. For additional information, please visit our website.
  • Arts in Education (AIE) supports arts learning as a part of basic education for all students PreK-12. This program expands arts education access through grants, professional development, youth leadership opportunities, and ongoing research. Creative Start (CS) is an AIE Program focused on Early Learning (PreK - 3) and includes grants for schools and regional leaders, community-based professional learning opportunities, and a studio of resources to support students, teachers, and families.
  • Wellness, Arts, & the Military (WAM) supports the growth of artists and arts organizations who have arts and wellness programs for military connected communities. WAM began in 2017 as a Community Connections Project supported by the NEA Creative Forces Military Healing Arts Network. Through summits, convenings, and key partnerships, the WAM program has grown to include arts programming grants, training, funding, and outreach.
  • Tribal Cultural Affairs Program (TCAP) works to support Washington tribal communities expand, enhance, or create space for art and culture that is respectful and responsive to each communities’ needs. Washington’s culture is richly rooted in tribal practices that have been taking place since time immemorial. TCAP fosters this by working with Indigenous communities to develop authentic and effective programming.

About ArtsWA

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. ArtsWA's grant programs are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here.

Photo credits: 

Left: Pacific Northwest Center for Architecture and Design. CallisonRTKL & Bayley Construction - Kaleidospace. Photo by Letao Tao, August 21, 2021. 

Center: The world premiere of RIVERWOOD by Andrew Lee Creech at Langston Seattle, directed by Shermona Mitchell. Co-produced by Seattle Public Theater and Langston Seattle. Photo by Truman Buffett, pictured: Brandon Jones Mooney and Jordan-Michael Whidbey, May 2022

Right: Urban ArtWorks mural apprentices and teaching artist work on panels for the FIRS Center in Seattle, 2022. 

Ends on
Submit to AIE – Washington Youth Arts Leadership | FY26
Ends on
Submit to GTO – Art Project Grant | FY26

FY26 Art Project Grant

Deadline: May 12, 2025, 5:00 pm

This grant offers project-specific funding to groups seeking to provide community arts and cultural experiences. Organizations do not need to have an arts-focused mission to apply. 

Funding amounts and payment process

ArtsWA’s Grants to Organizations program has experienced exponential growth since the pandemic. Our funds have not kept pace with this growth. Beginning this funding cycle, our grants will be smaller than previous years.

  • Applicants can request between $1,000 - $3,000 for their project. Grant amounts may vary depending on available funds and number of applications received.
  • ArtsWA grants are reimbursement grants. Payments are made after expenses are incurred, generally at the end of your project. 

Important dates

  • Application open: April 14, 2025 – May 12, 2025, until 5:00 pm
  • Notification of application results: by the last week of May 2025
  • Funds cover expenses for the period between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
  • Grant Reimbursement form due June 30, 2026
  • Final report due July 31, 2026

Requirements to apply

  • Project must be open to the public.
  • Project must happen between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
  • Project must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component.
  • Project must take place in Washington State.
  • Applicant organization must be one of the following:

                o 501(c)(3) nonprofit*

*501(c)(3)s must have current state corporate nonprofit status and current federal tax-exempt determination under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

                o Local Arts Agency*

*Local Arts Agencies are officially designated by a local government to provide art services to the public on behalf of the local government.

                o Tribal Government

                o Fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. More about fiscal sponsorship.

Ineligible to apply

Required documentation

  • IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here. 
  • Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination. 
  • Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). 

                o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI. 

  • Federal Tax ID (EIN).  

                o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN. 

  • Statewide Vendor (SWV) number. * 

                o Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV.  

*If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here: vendor number lookup or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm.wa.gov. They are good for two years. 

  • Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) (all organizations must be registered as a WA Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State).

Apply in Submittable

Evaluation, scoring, and notification 

Starting with the FY26 funding cycle, we will implement priorities-based criteria to ensure our limited funds are distributed equitably. This funding structure and process is strategically designed to maximize support for our growing community while aligning with the objectives in our strategic plan. We seek to keep diverse communities engaged in the creative economy, support the creative sector statewide, and emphasize cultural equity, community diversity, and sector growth. 

Priorities for Operating Support Grants 

  • Organizations with operating budgets of $0 - $50,000 (first consideration)
  • Organizations with operating budgets over $50,000 to $100,000 (second consideration)
  • Organizations in operation for 1 – 5 years 
  • Businesses located in counties identified by the state as a distressed area: Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima 
  • Organizations serving constituencies consisting of 25% or more of an underserved group. "Underserved" means populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or other social or institutionally imposed barriers.

Priority Scoring
  Applications are reviewed for eligibility and scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners.

Board Approval: Recommendations will go to the ArtsWA Board for approval.

Notification: Notification of award or decline will go out the by or before the last week of May. Awarded applicants can expect their contract and instructions on how to receive funds in the next weeks after notification. Learn more about managing a grant here.

Additional information

Accessibility

Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs. You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization. 

Civil Rights

All applicants for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are required to certify that they are following the civil rights statutes that govern nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here.

Appeals

Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.12.036, found here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=30-12-036.

About ArtsWA 

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here.

Contact us

Miguel Guillen, Grants to Organizations Program Manager, at 360-252-9970 or miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov

Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations Program Assistant, at 360-485-1524 or ashley.marshall@arts.wa.gov

ArtsWA Community Investments