Art Project Grant is sponsored by Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA). This grant offers project-specific funding to organizations in Washington State providing community arts and cultural experiences. Projects must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component and be open to the public.

Art Project Grant - ArtsWA Cheryse Dyllan and Cristian Rodriguez in Village Theatre’s "How to Break" (2023). Photo by Angela Sterling. Project Support for the 2026 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) Application opens March 9, 2026 This grant offers project-specific funding to groups seeking to provide community arts and cultural experiences.

Organizations do not need to have an arts-focused mission to apply. Project Support grants are for activities with specific goals, a clear start date, and an end date within the funding period (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027). These grants do not fund ongoing programs.

For example, a music-focused organization that offers several programs cannot use project support to fund one of its regular programs. However, if the program is putting on a special one-time event, like a concert at a nursing home, that project may be eligible for support. ArtsWA’s Grants to Organizations program has experienced continued exponential growth since the pandemic.

Our funds have not kept pace with this growth. Our grants will be smaller than previous years. Applicants can request between $1,000 – $3,000 for their project.

Grant amounts may vary depending on available funds and number of applications received. ArtsWA grants are reimbursement grants. Payments are made after expenses are incurred, generally at the end of your project.

Application open: March 9, 2026 – April 16, 2026, until 5:00 pm. Application webinars: March 11, register here , and March 25, register here . Office hours start March 17 until April 14, register here .

Notification of application results: by the last week of May 2026. Funds cover expenses for the period between July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. Grant Reimbursement form due June 30, 2027.

Final report is due July 31, 2027. Project must be open to the public. Project must happen between July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Project must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component. Project must take place in Washington State. Applicant organization must be one of the following: 501(c)(3)s must have current state corporate nonprofit status and current federal tax-exempt determination under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Local Arts Agencies are officially designated by a local government to provide art services to the public on behalf of the local government. Government agencies, universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools Full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here .

Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination. Unique Entity Identifier ( UEI ). Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI.

Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN. Statewide Vendor ( SWV ) number. * Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV.

* *If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here: vendor number lookup or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm. wa. gov .

They are good for two years. Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) (all organizations must be registered as a WA Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State). Read through the entire guidelines to make sure your group or organization is eligible and your project is eligible for this grant.

Register for our application webinar and our office hours if you needed. Draft your application in our Art Project Grant application draft Word document. Download the application draft here .

Priorities for Project Support grants Organizations with operating budgets of $0 – $50,000 (first consideration) Organizations with operating budgets over $50,000 to $100,000 (second consideration) Organizations in operation for 1 – 5 years Organizations outside of King County and the City of Tacoma.

Businesses located in counties identified by the state as a distressed area: Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima Organizations serving constituencies consisting of 25% or more of an underserved* group.

*”Underserved” means populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or other social or institutionally imposed barriers. Frequently Asked Questions Can organizations apply for multiple ArtsWA grants?

Allowable: Applicants for Grants to Organizations programs can apply for and receive grants from other ArtsWA programs if they support different projects, expenses, and services. Other ArtsWA program grants include: Wellness, Arts, and the Military (WAM) Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) Not allowable: Applying to different grants within the Grants to Organizations Program.

If you applied for the Emerging Organization Grant, your organization is not eligible for the Art Project Grant. What happens after we apply? Applications are reviewed for eligibility and scored by staff who make recommendations for funding to ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners .

Board Approval: Recommendations will go to the ArtsWA Board or Executive Director for approval. Notifications: Notification of award or decline will go out by or before the last week of May. Awarded applicants can expect their contract and instructions on how to receive funds in the next weeks after notification.

Learn more about managing a grant here . Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs.

You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization. ArtsWA accepts grant applications via an online form. If you require an alternate format or assistance to access the application, please reach out to us at the contact information below or Alexis Sarah, ArtsWA Accessibility Coordinator, alexis.

sarah@arts. wa. gov or at 360-228-6359.

All applicants for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are required to certify that they are following the civil rights statutes that govern nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs. For a FAQ on Civil Rights for applicants and to ensure your organization complies, click here . Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.

12. 036, found here . ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission .

The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights.

For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here . Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations Program Assistant, at 360-485-1524 or ashley. marshall@arts.

wa. gov Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations Program Manager, at 360-252-9970 or miguel. guillen@arts.

wa. gov Wellness, Arts, and the Military Grants Tribal Cultural Affairs Grants