SEATTLE — Donors announced Tuesday that $10 million in grants will go toward more than 800 arts and culture nonprofits across the Washington state.
Funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and administered by ArtsFund, the grants are awarded through the Community Accelerator Grant Program and can be spent however grantees choose to further their work.
"Arts and culture is such an essential part of our lives," said Lara Littlefield, executive director of partnerships and programs for the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. "It's an essential part of being who we are and expressing ourselves and it leads to better understanding, to better conversation - to a greater understanding of what we're here for."
The nonprofit TeenTix, which works to increase access to arts and culture events, activities, programs and tickets for people aged 13-19, is one of the recipients. Executive Director Monique Courcy said the funding will help TeenTix expand its programming to meet the current needs and interests of teens.
"Being in the arts community, we all have a moment that inspired us and ignited some passion and creativity and excitement of, oh, another world, or a new idea, or I never thought about this before," Courcy said. "Attending an arts event might just be that moment."
Many arts and cultures saw a dive in donations during the pandemic, coupled with a rise in costs that made it tough to stay financially viable.
"When you have the rug pulled out from under you the first thing you want to do is assess the damage, figure out how to stand back up and then determine what will be next," Littlefield said. "This [gives some] organizations the room to breathe, reassess, and continue to be creative in their endeavors."
For others, like TeenTix, it will help expand offerings and people who can benefit.
"It's an unbelievable show of faith in the organizations who are experts in what they do," Courcy said. "So I think that's an awesome way to support the community."
In 2023, partners awarded funding to 671 organizations.
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