To Washington State’s Arts + Creative Communities,

As efforts evolve to combat the spread of COVID-19, ArtsWA is focusing on the health and economic prosperity of the arts and culture sector statewide.

The situation presents special challenges for the arts sector, from closures to cancelled programming, rentals and fundraisers. The impact of these closures is having a disproportionate impact on artists, performers, gig workers, and musicians, many of whom hold jobs in other highly-impacted industries such as the service industry. Long-term, the prospects for the arts and Washington’s creative economy are daunting.

ArtsWA is working with our federal, state, and local partners to explore potential recovery funding and technical assistance opportunities. We are in conversation with arts and culture leaders and funders to offer a collective and streamlined response. We are reviewing current ArtsWA programs and budget for opportunities, and focusing on strategies and actions to support you and your communities.

We know that now more than ever, we need you. We need arts and culture now more than ever to inspire and lift our spirits. We need you to survive this crisis so you can play your crucial role in helping us thrive once again post COVID 19. We will need you then more than ever to help drive our state’s economic and spiritual recovery.

Thank you for working with us as we strive for collective solutions, and for letting us be a resource for you at this challenging time

Best,

Karen Hanan

Executive Director, ArtsWA