2025-27 Building for the Arts Grant Program

2025-27 Building for the Arts Grant Program is sponsored by Washington State Office of Financial Management. Provides state capital grants to nonprofit organizations for performing arts, art museums, and cultural facilities projects.

Building for the Arts - ArtsWA The Village Theatre's Francis J. Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah is a recipient of a Building for the Arts grant for the FY 2021-23 biennium. Photo courtesy of ArtsFund.

Building for the Arts (BFA) is a program that awards state grants to nonprofit community-based organizations to buy, build, or renovate arts and cultural facilities. It is managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce. These capital project grants can cover up to 33% of the total costs for construction.

The maximum grant award for the current biennium is $2,000,000. There is no minimum grant award amount. The Department of Commerce will open the biannual Building for the Arts grant in spring of 2026.

Application open: May 12, 2026 Application close: July 9, 2026 Visit Commerce’s Building for the Arts page. Read ArtsWA’s Building for the Arts overview. If you have questions or would like to learn more about Building for the Arts, please contact Creative Districts Program Manager Aaron Semer .

2026 Building for the Arts: Past Grantee Panel Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 11:00 a. m. – 12:00 p.

m. | Watch the recording Join ArtsWA for a free webinar with two past recipients of the Building for the Arts grant: Washington Center for the Performing Arts (Olympia) and Field Arts & Event Hall (Port Angeles) . You will learn about their projects and how these applicants successfully navigated the application process.

2026 Building for the Arts: How Advocates Help Your Application Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | Watch the recording . Join ArtsWA , ArtsFund , Inspire Washington, and David Foster for a free webinar on what happens after your Building for the Arts funding is approved by the Department of Commerce. Learn how advocacy partners help protect funding and keep projects moving forward.

2024 Building for the Arts Session 1: Building for the Arts 101 March 11, 2024, 1:00 p. m. | view recording Join ArtsWA staff for a primer on the Building for the Arts program.

2024 Building for the Arts Session 2: Building a Good Plan March 18, 2024, 1:00 p. m. | view recording Join ArtsWA staff for a tips on how to build a good plan, including: How to show that you can fund your project Why some (but not all) projects need a feasibility study How to demonstrate financial fitness 2024 Building for the Arts Session 3: Building a Strong Application March 25, 2024, 1:00 p.

m. | view recording Join ArtsWA staff for tips on how to build a strong application. Building for the Arts info session #1: Feasibility | February 14, 2023 | view recording Can you take your Building for the Arts project from idea to reality?

Join ArtsWA to get the basics on measuring community interest, conducting a feasibility study, and determining a reasonable budget and timeline for making it all happen. Building for the Arts info session #2: Funding | February 21, 2023 | view recording How can you secure funding for your planned renovation or building purchase? Join ArtsWA to learn fundraising strategies and the basics of a strong capital campaign.

Building for the Arts info session #3: Grantee Roundtable | March 7, 2023 | view recording Join ArtsWA and special guests for a roundtable discussion with past Building for the Arts grantees. Ask your questions during a Q&A section at the end of the roundtable discussion. The program was created in 1991 by The Boeing Company and its purpose is to help direct state funds to arts and culture capital projects in Washington State.

Soon after, the legislature appointed the Department of Commerce as the program administrator. The program is funded entirely through the sale of state bonds and does not involve federal funds. Since it began, BFA has provided $129 million in grants to over 262 capital projects.

ArtsWA is working in partnership with the Dept. of Commerce to promote the program and ensure equity in funding across the state. Who Can Apply for the Grant?

Applicants must meet these requirements when they submit their application: Be a tribe or registered nonprofit organization in the state of Washington Have binding control of the project site, either by owning it or having a long-term lease (at least 15 years from application date).

Operating agreements are not eligible Have a legally constituted board of directors Agree to LEED certification for the project (or file an exemption) Agree to pay state prevailing wages for project labor Have either secured all non-state funding for the project OR have made substantial progress in a capital fundraising campaign What types of projects are eligible for this grant? Eligible projects must be arts related.

They must include construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. The facilities must focus on arts-related activities. This is defined as the active interpretation, performance or exhibition of aesthetic traditions, practices or works of art that characterize cultural values.

How does the process work? ArtsWA will work with organizations in the early stages of the process to help them determine if they are ready to pursue this opportunity There are six steps in getting a Building for the Arts grant.

Decide whether you are eligible and ready to apply Decide whether to seek LEED certification or exemption Complete your application online Application review by a citizens advisory board Submit reimbursement materials You can learn more about the steps in the process here.

Department of Commerce program page FY 2023-25 BFA Grant Guidelines FY 2023-25 BFA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Arts Fund program description FY 2021-23 Funded Projects Report