Washington’s creative sector contributes $79 billion to the state’s GDP—one of the highest shares in the nation. Yet public arts funding in Washington often falls below the national average, coming in 57% lower in 2025, according to ArtsFund, a Seattle-based nonprofit that supports arts and culture statewide.

To help close that gap, ArtsFund and Allen Family Philanthropies (formerly known as Paul G. Allen Family Foundation) are awarding $10 million in unrestricted grants to 930 arts and culture groups through the Community Accelerator Grant program.

Now in its third year, the program has distributed a total of $30 million since 2023. Grants range from $2,500 to $25,000 and, for the first time, are reaching organizations in all 39 Washington counties.

In Chelan and Douglas counties, 19 g

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