These students rarely if ever get to participate in arts and culture experiences. This was only possible because of arts funding the Symphony received from the state.”
– Bremerton Symphony Association
All the arts for every child.
ArtsWA is committed to improving and expanding early learning and K-12 arts education experiences. Our grants and programs support creative educator practices and community partnerships. Together we serve students, families, and communities. Our work supports student rights to accessible and community-based arts instruction as a fundamental part of basic education. Arts in education includes, but is not limited to, learning opportunities through dance, media arts, literary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.
Equitable access to the arts supports students in:
Reading the World: Access to meaningful arts education helps students develop critical thinking skills.
Sharing of Voice: The arts invite many ways of communicating. These lead to increased belonging, compassion, and cross-cultural understanding.
Making Connections: Consistent exposure to the arts helps students succeed academically across all subjects.
Cultivating Innovation: The arts encourage self-directed innovation and interdisciplinary thinking.
Arts Integration and Early Learning.
Arts In Education Spotlight
Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab (TAT Lab)
TAT Lab builds professional learning communities for teaching artists and certified teachers working with PreK-12 youth across the state. The TAT Lab is a partnership between The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), and master teaching artists who serve as faculty. This year, TAT Lab will offer training for a cohort focused on quality instructional design. In response to current events, TAT Lab is developing online workshops that respond to current needs. This includes integrating social emotional learning methods, trauma-informed approaches, virtual learning design, and anti-racist practices. Information about programming and registration coming soon.
Centerstage Theatre Arts Conservatory, Inc.
On behalf of all at Centerstage, we extend our appreciation for the state’s investment in our work.”
– Centerstage Theatre Arts Conservatory, Inc.
Davenport Theatrical
Rural audiences deserve the same access to the arts as those in big cities, and public arts funding is essential in working towards that goal.”
– Wheatland Theatre Company (formerly Davenport Theatre)
Project Support Grantee
Earshot Jazz Festival
It is because of your funding support that we are able to focus on issues of accessibility, diversity, and community in our programs.”
– Earshot Jazz Festival
Gallery One
Their stories and work translate into conversations that try to bridge the gap between military and civilian cultures. This dialog hopes to bring understanding of how war and trauma not only affect members of the military, but our society as a whole. Their mission is not to promote a particular belief but to pose questions about the many difficult and genuine concerns the American community possesses about current and past military engagements.”
– Gallery One
Key City Players Theater
ArtsWA funding has a great impact on the Olympic Peninsula, where there is no comparable theater to Key City Players Theater that serves a region of 60,000 people.”
– Key City Players Theater
Reel Grrls
This funding really makes a difference in our community because we are working to build a pipeline to diversify the creative industries…we must teach young people that empathy through storytelling is the most powerful tool they have to combat hate.”
– Reel Grrls
FY18 Project Support Grantee
Tacoma Concert Band
WSAC grants are a wonderful investment in people, helping to make the South Sound a vibrant, culturally dynamic community where people will want to live and raise a family.”
– Tacoma Concert Band
The Merc Playhouse Society
Part of the beauty and strength of community comes from celebrating all of its uniqueness that helps to create a meaningful world in which to live. Mid-Columbia Mastersingers feels it has a responsibility to represent our whole community and support celebration of diversity in the Tri-Cities…
Because of this grant, we were able to pay our musicians for their rehearsal time and performances…”
– The Merc Playhouse Society
Upper Valley Connection
…through this program individuals with special needs are able to experience theatre and learn to express themselves through performing and visual arts – an opportunity that does not exist elsewhere in eastern Washington…”
– Upper Valley Connection
Our Collaborators
We are proud to have strong relationships with two important statewide partners:
- The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). This is Washington’s state department of education. For more information about arts education in our public schools, visit the arts section of the OSPI website.
- ArtsEd Washington. This non-profit organization supports access to arts education for all students in Washington State.