ArtsWA Legislative Update

We are pleased that ArtsWA's budget requests were included in the final supplemental budget and passed by the legislature as they adjourned on March 8 th . These budget items include:
  • $14,000 - A one-time appropriation to upgrade ArtsWA's website.
  • $80,000 - Funding to provide a one-to-one match with federal funding for ArtsWA's portion of the Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, specifically for the Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program, an artisan job stimulation program. The program is a collaboration between ArtsWA and Humanities Washington.
  • Increased expenditure authority to allow ArtsWA to more easily receive private/local funds from partnerships to help support our strategic goals.
In the Capital Budget, proviso language was included to allow ArtsWA to work with state agencies and institutions of higher education to expend up to 10-percent of anticipated artwork funds upfront in the design phase of a construction project. This allows the artwork to be integrated into the building design, which could save the state money and shorten the artwork project timeline. Under Washington State's public art legislation, artwork acquisition funds are generated by one-half of one percent of the state's portion of new capital construction. The Capital Budget proviso will be in effect through FY 2019. We expect a bill to be introduced in the 2019-21 biennium legislative session that would codify this language into law.


2018 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards nominations are open! Deadline to submit nominations is July 9, 2018!

The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) invites nominations for the 2108 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards. The Governor's Arts and Heritage Awards recognize individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to the arts in Washington State and are among the most prestigious honors that the Governor confers.
 
To better reflect the range of contributions made in support of the arts in our state, four new categories have been added to the 2018 Governor's Arts Awards. In 2018 the categories are: Individual Artist, Arts Organization, Arts Education, Young Arts Leader, Arts Legacy  (new) , Arts Advocacy  (new) , Philanthropy Award  (new) , and Community Award  (new) .
 
"The new categories reflect a wider spectrum of the arts community," said ArtsWA Executive Director Karen Hanan. "We want to recognize that advocacy, philanthropy, and community work is also very important."
 
The categories for Governor's Heritage Awards recognize an outstanding individual artist/practitioner and an organization that provides outstanding support for heritage and culture.
 
To be eligible individuals or organizations must have significantly contributed to the arts and cultural landscape of Washington State; be current Washington residents or have resided in the state during the time the contributions were made; and not be a previous recipient of a Governor's Arts Award or Heritage Award (except for the Young Arts Leader Award). Self-nominations and posthumous nominations are accepted.

Congratulations to the TAT Lab Class of 2018!
The Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab (TAT Lab) completed its 7th year this month; congratulations to the 32 teaching artists who were a part of this year's cohort! TAT Lab is a professional development program for teaching artists working in all artistic disciplines, in all parts of the state. Certified teachers, especially arts specialists, are eligible also. Applications will open soon for the 2018-2019 cohort, with an application deadline of July 18, 2018.  Read more here 
OPPORTUNITIES AND UPCOMING DEADLINES

The Arts in Education First Step Grant deadline is March 20th
The  First Step grant supports arts organizations, schools, nonprofits, and government agencies committed to building community partnerships that improve the quality and quantity of arts education for K-12 students in public schools in Washington State. Grant funding ranges from $1,000-$5,000. The application deadline is March 20, 2018 at 5 p.m.


ArtsWA Project Support Level B grant applications are open! 
Arts organizations with annual operating budgets of $200,000 to $1 million or Local Arts Agencies are invited to apply for Level B funding. The Project Support Program provides funding to nonprofit arts organizations, arts groups, community service groups, Local Arts Agencies, nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments that seek to produce arts programming for public audiences in Washington State. Application deadline is 5 p.m., April 23, 2018.


Center for Washington Cultural Traditions accepting applications for new Apprenticeship Program
The Washington State Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program is a collaboration between Humanities Washington and ArtsWA through the new Center for Washington Cultural Traditions (CWCT). The program is designed to encourage individuals to learn a trade, craft, or skill that will conserve and carry on cultural traditions important to their community, heritage, and identity. 
  • Deadline to apply: April 20, 2018
  • Period of Work: July 2018 - June 2019
  • Stipend: $3,000 for Master Artist or Tradition Bearer, $500 for Apprentice
The Washington State Arts Commission is committed to values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and creative expression. We believe in diverse forms of artistic expression, and we believe in access to arts and arts education for all individuals in our state. The arts can and should play a role in addressing inequities, modeling inclusion, and teaching empathy.
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