Budgets & Bills

In June, 2011, Governor Gregoire signed the biennium budget bill into law with approximately $1.1 million dollars per year in state funding for the Washington State Arts Commission and retained us as an independent agency.

The state's operating budget also provided approximately:

• $2.1 million per year for the Washington State Historical Society
• $1.48 million per year for the Eastern Washington State Historical Society
• $1.25 million per year for the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
• $500,000 per year for the State Library

The funding above comes from the Washington State Heritage Center Account; this account was established several years ago to fund the construction of a Heritage Center on the Olympia capital campus. There is also funding ($150,000) to study the potential of using the GA building for the Heritage Center.

Articles and Editorials

• State funding for arts in jeopardy, Queenie Wong, Seattle Times.
• If Lawmakers Want to Save Real Money, Slashing Arts Funding Isn't Going to Do It, by Eli Sanders, The Stranger Slog.
• Budget problems could cut public art in Washington buildings, by Drew Mikkelsen, / KING 5 News.
• Museum closure damage can't be undone, Tacoma News Tribune guest editorial, February 27, on bills proposed that would eliminate state history museums.

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