"Infinite Humanity" (2017) by Todd Benson, located at Columbia Basin College, Pasco.
AIPP staff leading an ArtsWA Board tour of Todd Benson’s multi-part mural, located in the Social Studies and World Languages Building at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Southeastern Washington. Click to learn more about this artwork on My Public Art Portal. Photo by ArtsWA. Part of Washington's State Art Collection.

Why Are The Arts Important?

The arts contribute to our quality of life.
They encourage civic discourse and collective problem-solving. Public Art is a vital part of our built environment.

The arts are vital to our identity.
They preserve our unique cultural heritage. By supporting the arts, we support our traditions for future generations.

The arts foster our children’s success in school.
They stimulate imaginations. They promote critical thinking, communication, and innovation.

The arts drive our economy.
They create jobs and revenue. They attract business and tourism.

Learn more about Washington’s vibrant arts and culture.

About ArtsWA

Mission: The Arts Commission is a catalyst for the arts, advancing the role of the arts in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the state.

Vision: The arts thrive and are celebrated throughout Washington State, and are woven into the fabric of vital and vibrant communities.

Who We Are

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. We are a state agency, formed by the Washington State Legislature in 1961. Our mission is to nurture and support the role of the arts in the lives of all Washingtonians.

ArtsWA values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in diverse forms of artistic expression. The arts amplify voices across all populations. Access to arts and arts education should be available for everyone. The arts can and should address inequities, model inclusion, and teach empathy.

What We Do

ArtsWA promotes and documents the public value of the arts. We are dedicated to accountability and accessibility. Our commissioners and staff work together to support the following main programs:

Public Art. We manage and protect the State Art Collection, a shared cultural resource.

Grants. We provide grant opportunities to expand art participation statewide.

Creative Districts. We support communities that connect arts and culture to economic development.

Arts in Education. We support high quality, standards-based arts education as a part of PreK-12 basic education.

View our most current Annual Report.

See how our agency is organized.

View our current Strategic Plan.

Read the state laws for the State Arts Commission (RCWs).

Read the state statutes for the State Arts Commission (WACs).

View an interactive map of our program activities (2018).

Land Acknowledgment

As ArtsWA serves the state of Washington, we recognize we exist within the borders and homelands that Indigenous peoples have lived on, cared for, and loved from time immemorial. Our organization understands the complexities of the histories of Indigenous communities. Indigenous peoples remain strong, resilient, and contribute to communities across Washington. We offer this land acknowledgement as one step toward true allyship, and commit to uplifting the arts, cultures, voices, and histories of the state’s Indigenous population.

Why Are The Arts Important?

The arts contribute to our quality of life.
They encourage civic discourse and collective problem-solving. Public Art is a vital part of our built environment.

The arts are vital to our identity.
They preserve our unique cultural heritage. By supporting the arts, we support our traditions for future generations.

The arts foster our children’s success in school.
They stimulate imaginations. They promote critical thinking, communication, and innovation.

The arts drive our economy.
They create jobs and revenue. They attract business and tourism.

Learn more about Washington’s vibrant arts and culture

"Infinite Humanity" (2017) by Todd Benson, located at Columbia Basin College, Pasco.
AIPP staff leading an ArtsWA Board tour of Todd Benson’s multi-part mural, located in the Social Studies and World Languages Building at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Southeastern Washington. Click to learn more about this artwork on My Public Art Portal. Photo by ArtsWA. Part of Washington's State Art Collection.

2022-2027 Strategic plan

 

This five-year plan reflects the needs and ambitions of ArtsWA and its constituents.

It builds on the spirit of the last strategic plan while recognizing changes in both the agency and Washington State. In short, it is ArtsWA’s roadmap, guiding the course of action the agency will take for the next half decade.