News

State Budget

The Governor’s Office and the Office of Financial Management have prepared a Budget Presentation (PDF) that explains the current budget situation.

 

Arts and Humanities Month

President Obama has issued a proclamation declaring October to be National Arts and Humanities Month.

 

Arts and Cultural Policy Discussion

Join a national dialogue on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and arts & culture policy at Barry Hessenius' blog - Barry's Blog. Each week through October 23rd, a panel, Barry, and commentators are tackling an issue ranging from funding for the NEA, to emerging leaders, and the role of artists.

 

Staff Transitions

Dramatic reductions in funding and staffing levels here at WSAC have required some difficult staffing transitions.

 

National Endowment for the Arts Partnership Agreement Application

WSAC recently submitted a Partnership Agreement application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

 

Walla Walla Bound

Watch Walla Walla Bound, a video documentary of Buster Simpson's artwork installation in Walla Walla.

 

Washington cultural organizations receive funding support

The Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC) has invested state and federal dollars to the tune of $1.2 million in arts participation opportunities, arts education programs, and cultural employment throughout Washington.

 

Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs

The Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs has awarded $250,000 in federal stimulus funds to 22 Seattle arts and cultural organizations.

 

Arts and Recession

WSAC commissioned an analysis through that included a survey and interviews of cultural organizations throughout the state. The resulting report, Arts and Recession, assesses the impact of the recession on Washington's cultural organizations.

 

Arts Participation in the U.S.

The National Endowment for the arts has released their latest study on Arts Participation 2008: Highlights from a National Survey (PDF). The study shows persistent patterns of decline in participation in every art form, except literature. Only 35 percent of U.S. adults (ages 18 and older) - or an estimated 78 million - attended an art museum or an arts performance in the 2008 survey period, compared with about 40 percent in 1982, 1992, and 2002.

 

National Endowment for the Arts Funding

Thirty-nine organizations from around Washington state, including WSAC, Artist Trust in Seattle, Tears of Joy in Vancouver, and the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra received National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding for fiscal year 2009 in the categories of Access to Artistic Excellence, Learning in the Arts, Arts on Radio and Television, American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius, and Partnership Agreements (State and Regional).

 

General Interest

K&L Gates, an international Law firm with offices in Seattle, has provided interpretation on SHB 1119 (PDF), which was recently signed into law by Governor Gregoire. Their recent newsletter describes the impact to charitable and educational institutions endowments.

 

Two pieces from the State Art Collection, and twenty-three other public artworks, were featured in a Seattle Weekly article, Seattle’s Free Public Art Safari by Brian Miller. Cris Bruch's, Department of Forensic Morphology Annex, and Brian Tolle's Stronghold, made the list; both artworks are on the University of Washington campus.

 

Artists and the Economy (PDF) provides a summary of the survey responses, including some representative statistics and direct quotes from artists, plus a thoughtful perspective provided by Claudia Bach, Principal, AdvisArts, based on her reading of the completed surveys. The answers from the almost 700 respondents indicated that, as one artist stated, the economic downturn is "positively motivating for some, negatively discouraging for others." Although artists are certainly feeling the negative effects of the unsteady economy, many are well-versed in surviving economic hardship and are persevering creatively.

 

The National Governor's Association's report, Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development (PDF) presents concrete examples of how arts and culture industries can stimulate the economic vitality of every state.

 

The Washington State Heritage Caucus meets during Legislative session.

 

A handbook on How to Access Health Care in Washington - A Practical Guide for Artists is available from Artist Trust.

 

An article explores Arts and Economic Development in Washington.

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