November 2022

Contact: [email protected]

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Now open: COVID Safety Support for Large Organizations

Grants to reimburse costs related to COVID safety and monitoring

The COVID Safety Support for Large Organizations grant is now open. This program offers one-time grants to large arts, culture, heritage, or science* non-profit organizations.

Eligible applicants:

• are in Washington State
• have costs associated with COVID-19 testing and safety monitoring required by either state and local governments, union contracts, or both
• reported annual gross receipts of greater than $5,000,000 in calendar year 2019

Important dates:

• Application deadline: December 8, 2022, 5:00 p.m.
• Notifications sent: January 9 – January 13, 2023
• Funds dispersal: January 23 – February 7, 2023

*For the purposes of this grant, “science” non-profit organizations may not be science companies, including research and/or development laboratories or services, and science manufacturing.

Nominate for Washington State Poet Laureate



Nominate someone - including yourself! - to be the next Washington State Poet Laureate. The Laureate promotes poetry throughout the state and receives a $40,000 annual honorarium, plus travel expenses, for their 2-year term.

Nominate by December 2, 2022.

Register for rural Creative Districts Webinar



This December 12 Webinar is designed to demystify the Creative District process. Washington, Idaho, and Nebraska will share research and strategies to help rural communities pursue Creative District certification.

Register by December 12, 2022.

Call for Artists: Washington School for the Deaf



The Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) and ArtsWA seek an artist or artist team to design and create a unique artwork for the new Academic and Physical Education Building.

Apply by January 3, 2023.

Coming soon: apply to be an ArtsWA panelist



ArtsWA seeks panelists from all parts of the state with a diversity of experiences and expertise in varying artistic fields. Panels ensure that the community is part of the process as ArtsWA distributes resources across the state.

Applications open December 1, 2022.

News and Updates

Washington celebrates the 2022 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2022 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards! This year's ceremony was held on November 1, 2022, at the Governor's official residence.

Congratulations once again to the honorees. Your talent and vision make Washington a more exciting, creative, and welcoming place to be. We extend a special note of gratitude to Governor Jay Inslee for his steadfast support of arts and heritage, and for welcoming us into the official residence.

Many thanks to our sponsors, Washington Festivals & Events Association, King County, and 4Culture. We also recognize the support of valuable partners like ArtsFund who make events like this possible.

Governor Jay Inslee (center) stands with the 2022 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards honorees. Photo by Shanna Paxton Photography.

ArtsWA FY22 Annual Report

ArtsWA published its FY22 (Fiscal Year 2022) Annual Report on November 22. The report includes information about ArtsWA programs and spending.

Right: Whim W'Him dancer Kyle Sangil in Maurya Kerr's work "Rosas." Photo by Jim Coleman for Whim W'Him.

Creative Districts: Placemaking

What makes a town, city, or community unique? In Washington, the Creative Districts do more than drive local economies. They give communities tools to express what makes them special. We call this “placemaking.” Watch this new video to see how Creative Districts support placemaking across Washington.

Creative State podcast Episode 6: Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards

In this episode, we speak with Stage Left Theater's Jeremy Whittington, listen to the full 2022 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards digital presentation, and hear an interview with Veteran and artist Geoffrey Bowton.

Mark your calendar

December 2: Nominate for Washington State Poet Laureate



Nominate someone - including yourself! - to be the next Washington State Poet Laureate by December 2. Click here to learn more.

December 8: Apply for COVID Safety Support grant



This program offers one-time grants to large arts, culture, heritage, or science non-profit organizations. Learn more and apply.

December 12: Rural Creative Districts Webinar

This December 12 Webinar, hosted by Washington, Idaho, and Nebraska, will demystify the Creative District process. Register here.

Celebrating Glass Art in the Pacific Northwest

Shelter, (2018) by Diane Hansen is a glass, beehive-like structure that reflects the diversity and unique character of Olympia Regional Learning Academy, a school for non-traditional and independent learners.

Washington State is home to more than 700 glass artists and over 100 glass art studios. Washington's State Art Collection has been adding glass artworks to its collection since 1975. We have over 300 glass artworks that range from blown and cast glass objects, to stained glass windows, to site-specific installations.

Explore more at the web exhibition Glass Art and the Pacific Northwest.