Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

I am an artist. How can I get a grant?

Folk and Traditional artists may apply for Fellowship or Apprenticeship grants. And, they are not a grant programs, but artists are eligible to receive state public art commissions through our Public Artist Roster and teaching artists are promoted through the Roster of Teaching Artists.

 

Additionally, we partner with Artist Trust to provide artist fellowships to Washington artists. Artist Trust also provides a wide range of trainings, opportunities and other grants. And finally, please explore our Informational Links webpage to locate additional opportunities.

 

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I am a member of an arts organization. How can we get a grant?

We ask that you read the guidelines and select the grant category that best suits your needs, funding level, and our requirements in our Grants to Organization and Arts in Education programs. Additionally, there are numerous grant opportunities available - do some research and visit some of the organizations provided through our Partner and Informational Links.

 

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How do I acknowledge Arts Commission support?

If you have a website, please provide a text link to our website from your homepage, or page that lists your partners or supporters. The code is simple, just cut and paste the following into the code of your webpage where you want the text to appear:

 

<p><a href="http://www.arts.wa.gov" target="_blank">Washington State Arts Commission </a></p>

 

The link will look like this - Washington State Arts Commission, except it will be whatever color links are on your website.

 

Additionally, you should also use our logo in brochures, publications, on your website, and wherever else is appropriate. When used on the web please put "Washington State Arts Commission" in the image alt text to ensure those with images disabled are provided with needed information. You should link the image to our website.

 

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When was the Washington State Arts Commission established?

The Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC) was established as a state agency in 1961 to support the arts on a public level. Read the Washington State Arts Commission History for more information.

 

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Who are the Commissioners?

There are 23 Commissioners, including four legislators and 19 citizen members. The Commissioners are business leaders, arts administrators, public officials, and members of the public. They come from across Washington and represent the diversity and complexity of our state. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor for two year terms.

 

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What are the duties of the Commissioners?

Commissioners are not a board of directors like one might find at a non-profit. Commissioners guide the direction, approve the overall budget, set policy, ratify panel recommendations, and advocate for the Commission. Additionally Commissioners serve on grant and nomination panels, committees, and task forces. Kris Tucker is the executive director of the commission, and staff oversee the day-to-day operations, manage programs, etc.

 

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What is an Arts Council?

Arts commissions, also referred to as arts councils, arts agencies or arts boards, are government, quasi-governmental, or non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting the arts in their region, state, county or city.

 

Arts councils provide a variety of services: grants to artists and organizations, arts education programs, folk arts and community arts development, support and promotion of arts events and touring, research, documentation, training, development and much more.

 

In the United States the movement to develop arts councils took off after the creation of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the federal arts commission, in 1965. Most state arts commissions were created to receive the newly available federal funding; several states, including Washington in 1961, already had arts commissions in place. In the US, there are 56 State and Territorial Arts Agencies and six regional arts organizations.

 

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What is GMAP, NASAA, AFTA, or some other acronym I saw on the website?

Where on the website? We've tried to make our website relatively acronym free, and anywhere they are used, they should be accompanied by the full name. And just so I don't break our rule: GMAP is Government Management Accountability and Performance, Governor Gregoire's program of accountability that requires agencies to regularly measure and report the effectiveness of the services they provide; NASAA is the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, a membership organization of the nation's state and territorial arts agencies; and AFTA is Americans for the Arts a national nonprofit organization that advances the arts by representing and serving local communities.