AARP
Washington State Coronavirus Response
Washington State Employment Security Department
- Washington State Employment Security Department COVID-19 Information
- CARES Act Unemployment Eligibility Checker
Get the latest news and information about how ArtsWA is supporting arts and culture organizations, arts educators, and communities across the state.
ArtsWA is accepting one-time grant applications from arts organizations affected by COVID-19.
Washington State COVID-10 Information
Find information about how the state government is helping support Washingtonians during this time.
ArtsWA Resources
Like all of you, ArtsWA is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting artists, arts organizations and creative communities across Washington State.
Agency Operations
ArtsWA has taken the following steps to serve our state’s artists, arts organizations and creative communities:
- ArtsWA’s office in Olympia is closed to the public. Staff is available by email and phone to answer any of your questions or concerns.
- All of our upcoming panels and public meetings will take place virtually via GoToMeeting.
- We are cancelling/postponing all off-site meetings/gatherings.
- We will be communicating directly with our grantees about how local, state, or federal restrictions and recommendations impact their grant(s).
- We are tracking all COVID-19 related expenses, and encourage others in the arts community to do the same.
- We are participating in local and national surveys related to how COVID-19 impacts our work. We encourage you to take the Americans for the Arts Impact Survey.
Program Updates
Our programs are making changes to their operations to best serve Washingtonians, particularly in rural and under-served communities. See info below for specific program updates.
Arts In Education
- The Creative Start Site Grant Application deadline has been EXTENDED to Friday, April 3, 2020.
- The First Step Grant Application deadline has been EXTENDED to Friday, April 3, 2020.
We have made a temporary change to our Fiscal Year 2020 grant policy. If your funded project, event, or program has been postponed (not happening before June 30, 2020) or cancelled due to mandates set by the federal government with regards to public gatherings, you are authorized to use your grant funds toward General Operating Support for your organization. This applies to our First Step Grant program.
Art In Public Places
AIPP Collections will be postponing our springtime artwork inventory. Instead, we’ll be reaching out directly to those agencies to ensure that we know if there are any construction impacts for which we need to plan.
If you are an artist with an active ArtsWA project or your campus or agency is in the process of acquiring new artwork, please contact your AIPP project manager with any questions or concerns.
Creative Districts
All planned, on-site presentations, meetings and site visits are suspended until further notice. We are available for phone and video meetings and strategic planning sessions.
Grants to Organizations
We have made a temporary change to our Fiscal Year 2020 grant policy. If your funded project, event, or program has been postponed (not happening before June 30, 2020) or cancelled due to mandates set by the federal government with regards to public gatherings, you are authorized to use your grant funds toward General Operating Support for your organization. This applies to all our Grants To Organizations grant programs: Snap Grants, Levels A, B, C and Cooperative Partnership grants. Contact Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations Program Manager: miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov, for more information.
ArtsWA COVID-19 Emergency Funds for Arts Organizations
ArtsWA has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to distribute to arts organizations in Washington. We will be accepting applications from April 17 until May 31, 2020 from Washington-based nonprofit arts organizations and fiscally-sponsored arts groups.
For more information about the grant program and to apply, click here.
Washington State Resources
Resources from Washington State, including unemployment, health care, relief funds and more.
The Governor's Plan for Reopening the State
On May 1, 2020, Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Department of Health announced:
- Extension of the Stay Home order through May 31
- New allowances are being worked on to soon allow for retail curbside pickup, automobile sales, car washes, landscaping and house cleaning services, and drive-in spiritual services with one household per vehicle.
- A reopening plan that outlines four phases of reopening businesses and resuming activities involving group gatherings, travel, shopping and recreation. The focus is on reopening safely and protecting the health of workers and the general public. (The governor’s official order with more details will be released in the next couple days.)
This is a phased, data-driven approach. All reopening activities depend on continued success in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and meeting four capabilities including:
- Health care system readiness
- Testing capacity
- Ability to do contact investigations
- Ability to protect high-risk populations
Every phase will still require physical distancing and appropriate health precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in a number of industries.
General Resources for Washington State Residents
For Small Businesses & Nonprofits
Washington State Department of Commerce
- Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants Apply for up to $10,000 in emergency funding. NOTE: Asotin, Clark, Garfield, Island, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Okanogan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Whitman and Whatcom counties are no longer accepting applications due to overwhelming volume.
- Crisis Planning Tools & Resources
Washington State Department of L & I
- Washington State Employer Assistance Program
- COVID-19 Prevention: General Requirements & Prevention Ideas for Workplaces – Downloadable pdf
Washington State Office of the Governor
- Business and Workers Resources – Downloadable pdf
For Self-employed Artists and Creatives
Artist Trust Relief Fund
Providing $500 – $5000 grants to working artists in Washington State.
Local and Regional Support
Find resources that are available in your county or region of the state.
King County
ArtsWA Commissioners
Jolyn GC – Seattle
Joan McBride – Kirkland
Senator Lisa Wellman – Mercer Island
Sheree Wen – Medina
For Small Businesses & Nonprofits
King County Executive’s Office
For Self-employed Artists & Creatives
King County Executive’s Office
Puget Sound Energy
Northwest Region
ArtsWA Commissioners
Rep. Carolyn Eslick – Sultan
Linley Logan – Bremerton
Diane Martindale – Friday Harbor
Rebecca Redshaw – Mount Vernon
Judy Tuohy – Everett
Southwest Region
ArtsWA Commissioners
Robin Avni – Gig Harbor
Francene Blythe – Vancouver
Andre Bouchard – Vancouver
Mariella Luz – Olympia
Faaluaina S. Pritchard – Lakewood
Rep. Sharon Wylie – Vancouver
Sen. Hans Zeiger – Puyallup
Central Region
ArtsWA Commissioners
Monica Miller – Ellensburg
Charlie Robin – Yakima
Rosanna Sharpe – Coulee City
Eastern Region
ArtsWA Commissioners
Ginger Ewing – Spokane
Wesley Jessup – Spokane
Justin Raffa – Richland
Anna-Maria Shannon – Pullman
Surveys
Below are links to a surveys arts advocates are asking artists and arts organizations to fill out. The info will help determine how much artists & organizations are affected by COVID-19.
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture
Art Beyond Sight — for disabled artists and cultural workers
Resources from the Federal Government
Public Health and General Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
General CDC landing page for information and updates at the national level (multiple languages)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) website
General government website with info about coronavirus.
FEMA
Coranavirus Rumor Control
Artist Relief Fund
The Artist Relief fund will distribute $5,000 grants to artists struggling financially from the pandemic.
For Small Businesses and Nonprofits
coronavirus.gov
Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Small Business Administration Business Guidance and Loan Resources
Providing guidance for businesses, funding options and more
Resources from National Arts Organizations
For Small Businesses and Nonprofits
VISA Foundation
Linzer Consulting
For Self-employed Artists and Creatives
Artist Relief Fund
- The Artist Relief fund will distribute $5,000 grants to artists struggling financially from the pandemic.
CERF+ the Artist Safety Net
Providing a safety net to artists who work in craft disciplines
Freelance Artist Resource Producing Collective
An aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.
Freelancers Union
National Employment Rights Project