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WA arts and culture groups get $10M in grant funding. Here are the Tri-Cities awards

By Karlee Van De Venter

Updated May 23, 2024 9:37 AM

Many industries took a massive hit during the height of COVID-19, and many have struggled to recover.

Between the changes in consumer lifestyles and spending habits, plus the costs of operation increasing in most sectors, business owners and organization heads have noted difficulties in the past few years.

This is a common experience for organizations in the arts and culture sector, despite its vibrancy in Washington state.

A recent news release for the Community Accelerator Grant said more than 60% of arts organizations say ticket sales are well below pre-pandemic levels — averaging a 23% drop across numerous venues and art forms. Additionally, costs are up 15% to 50%.

These factors can be detrimental to community organizations. In order to support arts and culture organizations in the Evergreen State, the Community Accelerator Grant was created last year, and is returning for its second round in 2024.

Community Accelerator Grant in WA

The Community Accelerator Grant provides unrestricted funding to arts and culture groups in Washington, through funding provided by ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Last year, the grant’s pilot investment included $10 million for 671 organizations.

This year’s round of grants includes $10 million across 811 organizations in 37 of Washington’s 39 counties. Additionally, 34% of the state’s federally-recognized tribes received funding.

Grantees are broken up across four regions of Washington: Central, Eastern, Northwest and Southwest.

The majority of grantees were based in the Northwest region, but there were still 73 listings in the Eastern region, which includes Benton, Franklin, Spokane, Whitman, Walla Walla, Garfield, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Columbia, Asotin and Adams counties.

Grants range from $2,500 to $25,000. Organizations can use the funding however they see fit, though 85% of groups say their top priorities are programming, labor and salaries, said the news release.

According to provided data, 20% of grantees are in rural counties, 52% are majority BIPOC-led organizations and 81% center BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color), LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities.