Arts Commissions and Cultural Programs
This page provides examples of arts commissions and cultural programs in Washington State.
Overview
Arts and culture contribute to a community’s vitality and economic development. Many Washington communities have developed local arts commissions and cultural programs. Sometimes these programs are found within the parks and recreation department, and, in other cases, they may be independent offices. In addition to arts commissions, these include public art programs such as a percentage for art works, arts and cultural plans, art in public parks, municipal arts collections, and the establishment of arts, entertainment, and cultural districts.
Arts Commissions and Programs
This section includes examples of public art programs, planning for the arts, funding, and management of art works.
Cities
- Bellevue Arts Commission - The arts commission is established by Bellevue Municipal Code Ch. 3.56 and the municipal art program by Ch. 4.48.
- Edmonds Arts Commission - Includes links to cultural planning
- Everett Arts and Culture
- Olympia Arts Commission - See also Public Art in Olympia
- Redmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) - See also the Arts & Culture page for information on arts programming, plans and policies
- Richland Arts Commission - Includes arts commission work plan
- Seattle Office of Arts and Culture - See also Public Arts page to view public art ordinance and municipal art plan
- Seattle Arts Commission - Includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, and work plans
- Tacoma Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality
- Walla Walla Municipal Code Ch. 2.42 - Establishes policies and guidelines for adding works of art to the city’s collection of public art.
Counties
- King County 4Culture - Public development authority providing cultural services for King County, including the arts, heritage, preservation, and public art
- Kitsap County Arts Board - Administers the county's 1% for Art program
Arts and Cultural Districts
In addition to the districts below, several other cities including Bellevue, Burien, Mukilteo, and Seattle have been considering the establishment of arts or cultural districts.
Recommended Resources
The following are key organizations supporting the arts.
- ArtsWA - Washington State Arts Commission promoting the arts and art education
- Americans for the Arts - National nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the arts and arts education
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - Independent federal agency that funds and promotes the arts
