ArtsFund Turns 50! Shaping a Future for the Arts

Last week ArtsFund launched its 50th anniversary year with a proclamation from Mayor Jenny Durkan:

Though ArtsFund Day in Seattle has come and gone, we plan to continue the celebration of our donors’ and supporters’ impact through ArtsFund into 2020!

Our region is home to an extraordinary variety of arts and cultural organizations, and we continually benefit from the creativity, inspiration, and social connections they bring. We hope you’ll join us throughout the year as we celebrate our amazing local arts and cultural scene and your role in supporting it!

Keep up to date with anniversary happenings and ways to engage at ArtsFund.org/50! Anniversary events will include a birthday edition of ArtsFund’s Celebration of the Arts Luncheon on March 20, 2020. Registration will open in February, 2020. Visit our history page to scroll through a graphic timeline of milestone moments and archival images from the past 50 years of ArtsFund’s story!

ArtsFund was originally founded as the United Arts Council of Puget Sound to bring corporate and civic leaders together to help establish and sustain our region’s arts and cultural institutions. Upon completion of its inaugural fundraising campaign, the first grant beneficiaries included ACT Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, and Seattle Repertory Theatre—all organizations still supported by ArtsFund today.  50 years and a few name changes later (to Corporate Council for the Arts in 1975 and to ArtsFund in 2003), ArtsFund has supported nearly 240 arts nonprofits with more than $84 million in grants, and by providing valuable leadership and advocacy.

As the arts and cultural community has grown and evolved, ArtsFund has been there supporting the sector every step of the way. Looking ahead, we are committed to shaping a sustained, equitable, inclusive, collaborative, and bright future for the arts!

Support ArtsFund’s 50th anniversary campaign by making a gift today!

With ArtsFund Day on 10/15 ArtsFund officially launched its 50th anniversary year! We’re excited to celebrate with you all year long. Keep up to date with anniversary happenings and ways to engage at ArtsFund.org/50!