A Letter from Katy Corella
At ArtsFund, we believe that the arts are a powerful, and often overlooked, tool for strengthening communities and improving the quality of life for all. Sharing stories of the impact, transformation, and value of the arts with our elected officials helps shift the thinking from “the arts are nice to have” to recognizing that the arts are essential for healthy communities.
ArtsFund was proud to be in Olympia for Inspire Washington’s Arts, Heritage, and Science week along with 200 other cultural advocates. It was a week for arts champions to talk to their elected officials about how they can support the arts this legislative session. From legislation around ensuring dedicated funding for history and heritage museums to maintaining funding for crucial programs including ArtsWA’s Creative Districts program and Building for the Arts, having advocates tell individual stories makes the importance of the arts undeniable.
As ArtsFund prepares to release our next research report, the Livability Impact Study of the Arts, we want to continue to support your vital advocacy work. We hope this research can provide data as a jumping off point for you to tell the more meaningful and personal stories of impact.
Through our ability to serve you, we know how integral each one of your organizations is to making Washington the great state that it is. We encourage you to keep telling the stories of your work and the immense impacts you have on your community. The arts are essential!
Thank you for your work making Washington a more vibrant, creative, and livable place for all.
Sincerely,
Katy Corella
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Communications
LEADERSHIP
Board Leadership Training | ENROLL TODAY
Board Leadership Training, one of ArtsFund’s longest-running programs, returns this spring to equip current and aspiring board leaders with essential skills for supporting arts and cultural organizations.
How to Enroll
The enrollment deadline is Sunday, March 2, 2025, with space limited to the first 100 applicants. Sessions run from March 17 through May 1.
About
Through 6 virtual sessions, participants will receive 12 hours of instruction from trusted industry experts on:
- Financial sustainability
- Building leadership capacity
- Board engagement and relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Racial equity in board practices
- Legal aspects of nonprofit governance
Designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and real-life applications, this program fosters peer engagement through content-focused discussions.
We will also be hosting an in-person celebration May 8.
Accessibility Accommodations
- ASL interpretation
- Autogenerated captions
- Screen-reader-friendly materials
- Session recordings
2025 Convening Announced
Arts & Livability: Unveiling the Impact
Mar 4, 1pm – 2pm, Virtual Event
Join ArtsFund as we share findings and discoveries from our latest impact study: the Livability Impact Study of the Arts. ArtsFund’s new study measures the ways that the arts contribute to livable communities by looking at how access to arts organizations and state arts funding impacts social cohesion, economic opportunities, and health and well-being across Washington. Learn from ArtsFund’s research partner, SMU DataArts as they dig into the findings; discover, tools and resources from the report; and hear recommendations and strategies for how we can empower leaders to act on the report takeaways.
Recap: 2025 Arts, Heritage, and Science Week
Arts, Heritage, and Science Week (AHS) brought together cultural leaders, advocates, and professionals from across
Washington State for a mix of virtual and in-person events.
Hosted by Inspire Washington and their partner organizations, AHS Week provided an opportunity for advocates to meet with legislators, discuss statewide arts, heritage, and science priorities, and share the impact of cultural programs in communities. With newly elected officials and shifting legislative roles, this was an important year for advocacy to ensure continued funding for initiatives like Building for the Arts.
Recap: 2024 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards
The 2024 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards honored the outstanding achievements in Washington’s arts and culture sector in early February. This year’s recipients include partners Inspire Washington, ArtsFund grantees 206 Zulu and Look, Listen & Learn TV, and many other talented educators and individual artists. This annual event brought together advocates and members of the cultural community to celebrate the dedication of these educators and arts leaders.
ADVOCACY
Addressing Washington’s Interpreter Shortage
Washington is facing a shortage of qualified ASL, ProTactile, and Trilingual interpreters. To tackle this issue, HB 2221 has secured funding to explore solutions. The WA Interpreter Workgroup is studying the growing demand, training gaps, and regional needs for interpreters. Share your experiences and ideas through the Vision Survey or join a focus group to help shape a better future for communication access in the state.
GRANTMAKING
We’re excited to share that the Community Accelerator Grant, a partnership between ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation will return for a third year! More information on eligibility, how to apply, and when funds will be distributed will be shared in the spring. To get notified when the application opens, be sure to follow ArtsFund on social media and visit us online.