Requirements to apply

• Project must be open to the public.
  • Project must happen between July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
  • Project must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component.
  • Project must take place in Washington State.
  • Applicant organization must be one of the following:
    • 501(c)(3) nonprofit
      • 501(c)(3)s must have current state corporate nonprofit status and current federal tax-exempt determination under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
    • Local Arts Agency
      • Local Arts Agencies are officially designated by a local government to provide art services to the public on behalf of the local government.
    • Tribal Government

Ineligible to apply

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Government agencies, universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools
• Full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency

Required documents

• IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here.
  • Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). 
  • Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI.
• Federal Tax ID (EIN). 
  • Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN.
• Statewide Vendor (SWV) number.*
  • Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV.* 
  • *If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here: vendor number lookup or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm.wa.gov. They are good for two years.
• Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) (all organizations must be registered as a WA Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State).

1. Read through the entire guidelines to make sure your group or organization is eligible and your project is eligible for this grant.
2. Register for our application webinar and our office hours if you needed.
3. Draft your application in our Art Project Grant application draft Word document. Download the application draft here.

Evaluation Criteria

This funding structure and process is strategically designed to maximize support for our growing community while aligning with the objectives in our strategic plan. We seek to keep diverse communities engaged in the creative economy, support the creative sector statewide, and emphasize cultural equity, community diversity, and sector growth.

Priorities for Project Support grants 

• Organizations with operating budgets of $0 – $50,000 (first consideration)
• Organizations with operating budgets over $50,000 to $100,000 (second consideration)
• Organizations in operation for 1 – 5 years
• Organizations outside of King County and the City of Tacoma.
• Businesses located in counties identified by the state as a distressed area: Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima
• Organizations serving constituencies consisting of 25% or more of an underserved* group.

*”Underserved” means populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or other social or institutionally imposed barriers.

Can organizations apply for multiple ArtsWA grants?

Allowable: Applicants for Grants to Organizations programs can apply for and receive grants from other ArtsWA programs if they support different projects, expenses, and services. Other ArtsWA program grants include:

• Creative Start
• Wellness, Arts, and the Military (WAM)
• Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA)

Not allowable: Applying to different grants within the Grants to Organizations Program. If you applied for the Emerging Organization Grant, your organization is not eligible for the Art Project Grant.

What happens after we apply?

Priority Scoring 
Applications are reviewed for eligibility and scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners.

Board Approval: Recommendations will go to the ArtsWA Board or Executive Director for approval.

Notifications: Notification of award or decline will go out by or before the last week of May. Awarded applicants can expect their contract and instructions on how to receive funds in the next weeks after notification. Learn more about managing a grant here.

Additional Information

Accessibility

Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs. You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization.

ArtsWA accepts grant applications via an online form. If you require an alternate format or assistance to access the application, please reach out to us at the contact information below or Alexis Sarah, ArtsWA Accessibility Coordinator, alexis.sarah@arts.wa.gov or at 360-228-6359.

Civil Rights

All applicants for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are required to certify that they are following the civil rights statutes that govern nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here.

Appeals

Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.12.036, found here.

About ArtsWA

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here.