From top to bottom:Robin Holder,  Richard C. Elliott, Connie Ritchie, Roger Shimomura, and Rob Gischer. Composite image courtesy of the Washington State Arts Commission.
Arts Education Month Update

May is Arts Education Month, a time to spotlight the powerful role of arts education in the lives of our students, schools, and communities. In his proclamation, Governor Jay Inslee reminds us that "learning in and through the arts enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, perseverance, alternative ways to communicate and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural understanding empathy, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside of the classroom." 


Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) is committed to supporting and advancing projects that bring high-quality, standards-based arts education into the lives of public school students through the state. We invite you--teachers, students, parents, arts organizations, and community members--to demonstrate your shared commitment to arts learning during Arts Education Month. Check out  ArtsEd Washington's Arts Education Month Toolkit for sample proclamations, speaking points, and suggested activities that you can use in your school or community arts learning settings.

Web exhibitions celebrate Arts Education Month

If you've been following us on Facebook, you might have seen our posts about web exhibitions featuring artworks from the State Art Collection. The State Art Collection is comprised of 4,600 artworks located at universities, colleges, state buildings, and K-12 schools. Over two-thirds of the Collection can now be seen online via My Public Art Portal. We currently have 52 web exhibitions that have been curated by ArtsWA staff and guest curators.

To celebrate Arts Education Month, we're featuring several web exhibitions that support and enliven K-12 arts learning by connecting arts concepts with the Washington State Art Collection. Washington State learning standards define the arts by five disciplines--dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. Each discipline engages our creativity in unique ways. They are present in diverse forms among cultures around the world. Check out the web exhibitions that we've curated for Arts Education Month, including lesson plans teachers can use in the classroom.


Images from left to right:  Details of State Art Collection artworks by Barbara Earl Thomas, John and Patricia Patkau, Todd Benson, and Andrea Wilbur-Sigo.
Apply to the Public Artist Roster

ArtsWA is now accepting applications for its Public Artist Roster until 5 pm, June 26, 2018. The Roster is a list of artists who are prequalified to design and create site-responsive artworks at K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies with our Art in Public Places Program. We use the Roster to choose artists for about 40 projects per year. You are eligible to apply if you live in the US or British Columbia. We'll open the call next in 2021.  Find more information about the Public Artist Roster and apply online.
StoneDance Productions received support for CHOPSHOP Bodies of Work, A Contemporary Dance Festival. Dancer: Alexander Pham. Photo courtesy of StoneDance Productions.

ArtsWA FY 2019
Grantees Announced
PROJECT SUPPORT LEVEL A AND COOPERATIVE PARTNER GRANTS

At the May 2, 2018 ArtsWA Board of Commissioner's meeting, the commissioners approved Fiscal Year 2019 funding for two Grants to Organizations programs. Grants totaling $120,301 were awarded to 41 organizations through the Level A Project Support and Cooperative Partnership Programs. Nonprofit arts organizations with annual operating budgets under $200,000 and organizations with non-arts-specific missions are eligible to apply for Level A funding. Through the Cooperative Partnership program, ArtsWA partners with organizations that provide services that support artists and arts professionals across Washington State.
Here are some of the organizations we are excited to be supporting:
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society, Whatcom County - To help support their Women's History Month celebration - Works by women composers.
  • Davenport Theatrical/Wheatland Theatre, Lincoln County - To bring in five professional artists to mentor local artists.
  • Deaf Spotlight, King County - To help support summer camp for children with a focus on the performing arts.
  • Marblemount Community Club, Skagit County - To help support the Coming of Eagles annual event celebrating Native American culture and heritage.
  • Spokane Folklore Society, Spokane County - To help support the Spokane Fall Folk Festival.
  • The Jazz Project, Whatcom County - To help support the 8th Annual Jazz Festival.
  • The Rachel Corrie Foundation, Thurston County - To help support Olympia's Arab Festival.
  • Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association, Yakima County - To help support their annual "Dia de los Muertos" Festival.
Read more about ArtsWA's Grants to Organization project support grants. 
Applications for Level C grants will be accepted through May 29.
Spokane Symphony instructor John Weisgerber and his student Tieghan Saiz during a Music Innovates rehearsal. Photo by Janet Napoles.

ARTS IN EDUCATION FIRST STEP AND  COMMUNITY CONSORTIUM GRANTS

The ArtsWA board also approved funding for the Arts in Education First Step and Community Consortium grants totaling $333,750. First Step and Community Consortium grants support 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. Each of the 28 Arts in Education grantees will support students and educators in developing skills in the arts, as well as 21st Century Skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.


Dancer at La Casa Hogar celebration in 2017. Photo by Rodrigo Rentería-Valencia.
Cultural Traditions Survey begins in the Yakima Valley

The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions (CWCT) is a new arts and heritage program set up to survey, study, and support cultural traditions, tradition bearers, and traditional communities throughout Washington State. Though not a physical center, this innovative program will be a statewide, go-to source for learning about Washington's rich, diverse cultural heritage. The Center is housed at the state's nonprofit humanities council,  Humanities Washington, and presented in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA).

One of the Center's first projects is a multi-year Cultural Traditions Survey beginning this year in the Yakima Valley. The Yakima Valley is home to rich cultural heritages--a unique intersection of diverse, vibrant, and resilient communities. Rodrigo Rentería-Valencia, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Museum Studies at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and former Yakima resident, has been contracted to lead the study.

The Center's work includes seeking and identifying tradition bearers for the survey. If you can help, contact Kristin Sullivan at kristin@humanities.org or Rodrigo Rentería-Valencia at Rodrigo.Renteria@cwu.edu.
Current Opportunities & Upcoming Deadlines

Project Support Level C Grants - Deadline May 29, 2018
Applications for Project Support Level C grants will be accepted until May 29, 2018. Large arts institutions with an annual operating budget of over $1 million are eligible to apply. Grant awards are $5,000-$8,000. Projects must take place between August 15, 2018 and June 30, 2019. Read more about Level C grants and see details in eligibility in the FY 2019 Project Guidelines.

 Public Artist Roster - Deadline June 26, 2018, 5 p.m.
This open call establishes the roster of artists eligible for commissions of site-responsive works of art at K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies throughout Washington. Find more information and start your application.

Roster of Teaching Artists - Deadline July 2, 2018
The Roster of Teaching Artists is a resource directory of high-quality teaching artists who are especially well suited for working with K-12 public schools. Learn more about the Roster of Teaching Artists and the application process.  Apply for the Roster of Teaching Artists.

Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards - Deadline July 9, 2018
Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the creative vitality of Washington State.  Check out the nomination categories and guidelines and nominate before July 9.

Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab (TAT Lab) - Deadline July 18, 2018
(Apply by June 11, 2018 and receive a $50 tuition discount)
The Teaching Artist Training (TAT) Lab is a seven-month professional development program with a focus on supporting arts education as part of basic education in K-12 schools. Participants benefit from ongoing learning, individualized coaching from master teaching artists, connections to statewide organizations, and peer learning and reflection. The TAT Lab cohort will include up to 32 teaching artists, working in all artistic disciplines and all regions of Washington State.  Read more about TAT Lab.
Snap Grants - Rolling Application Review Period July 1 to December 31, 2018
Snap Grants are designed as an entry point into ArtsWA funding programs. Priorities go to groups or organizations with annual operating budgets of up to or less than $25,000. 501©3 status or fiscal sponsorship is not required. The Snap Grants pilot program require a pre-application to make sure the project is a good fit for this focused pilot project.

Creative Districts Certification Applications Available - Ongoing
The Creative Districts program is now accepting applications from communities in Washington State who are interested in achieving Certified Creative District designation. Applicants must meet all requirements for certification; please see the Creative District Community Application Guidelines to determine eligibility. We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis for the Creative Districts program - there is no deadline. For questions or to get more information, please visit our website or contact Annette Roth, Creative Districts Program Manager, for more information.

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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