Washington State Arts Commission

The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) is the state's official arts agency, serving as a catalyst for the arts and advancing their role in the lives of individuals and communities across Washington. The agency administers grant programs such as the WAM General Operating Support and Self-directed Art Practice grants and the Cultivating Healthy Communities grant, and stewards Washington's State Art Collection of more than 5,200 public artworks located at K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies statewide. ArtsWA also oversees appointments such as the Washington State Poet Laureate and public art commissions including the Billy Frank Jr. Statue Project destined for the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall. Washington's arts and culture sector contributes an estimated $79 billion annually to the state economy and supports nearly 191,000 creative sector jobs.