The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) has requested a $10 million allocation from the COVID-19 state relief funds passed by the Legislature at the end of the last session. The funding, if approved, will alleviate immediate needs of arts organizations, artists and cultural workers reliant on public performance, community interaction and sales who have lost income due to cancellations and postponements. It will also focus on technical and professional support to help organizations through the crisis, and to better prepare them for the future.

“There are many sectors of our economy that we are supporting during the Covid crisis,” wrote Representative Sharon Wylie in support of the proposal. “But workers in the arts are particularly hard hit and likely to be forgotten.”

“Other industries—hospitality, restaurants, tourism—won’t be able to recover quickly without arts and culture offerings to draw people,” wrote Spokane Arts Executive Director Melissa Huggins. “If we don’t provide immediate assistance to these arts and culture organizations they won’t exist by the time the economy stabilizes.“

The proposal is being reviewed by the Governor’s Office. See Emergency Relief Funding Proposal here.