The Tacoma Arts Commission has awarded $130,000 to 10 Tacoma-based arts organizations through its Arts Anchor Fund program, and $60,000 to 24 Tacoma artists through its Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. The Arts Anchor Fund program awards range in value from $10,000 to $16,000 each and the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program awards are $2,500 each.

“We are excited and honored to support furthering the arts in our community. From large organizations, to groups and individual artists, our city benefits from projects and events that encourage dialogue between one another, foster engagement and expand our understanding of one another.” – Heather Conklin, Tacoma Arts Commission Chair

Arts Anchor Fund Program Awards

The 2019 Arts Anchor Fund program award recipients are: The Grand Cinema, Hilltop Artists, Museum of Glass, Northwest Sinfonietta, Symphony Tacoma, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma Opera, and Tacoma Youth Symphony Association.

In 2018, these organizations served 525,375, provided free admission to 136,816, and generated an estimated $14.5 million in collateral spending for the local economy.

The Tacoma Arts Commission established the Arts Anchor Fund program in 1995 to provide financial support to major local not-for-profit arts organizations that significantly improve the quality of life for Tacoma. These arts organizations serve Tacoma’s community through regularly scheduled performances, exhibits and events, and school and outreach programs.

Tacoma Artists Initiative Program Awards

The 2019-2020 Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funded artists are: Kristina Batiste, Dionne Bonner, Gabriel Brown, Sarah A. Chavez, Kim Davenport, Alice Di Certo, Kyle Dillehay, RYAN! Feddersen, Erin Guinup, Chad Hagedorn, Lucia Harrison, Fumiko Kimura, Nori Kimura, Lisa Kinoshita, Sasha LaPointe, Melinda Raebyne, Elizabeth Reeves, Brian Robinson, Jeanette Sanchez-Izenman, Jamika Scott, Kenya Shakoor, Sharon Styer, Wendy Wahman, and Anique Zimmer

Funded Tacoma Artists Initiative Program projects include: production and screening of short films and a virtual reality project; writing, recording, and performing of music; a theater production; writing and reading of a poetry chapbook, memoir, and zine with accompanying writing workshops; writing and illustrating books; a lending library of handmade pottery; a glass arts residency; and the creation and exhibition of visual art with accompanying workshops focused on photography, artist books, illustrations, paintings, recycled media, Sumi-e and haiku paintings, jewelry and terrariums, mixed-media, and collage.

The Tacoma Artists Initiative Program was established in 1999 to assist artists with the generation of new work, and to share their talent with the public in a free and accessible format.

The Arts Anchor Fund program and Tacoma Artists Initiative Program are two of three funding programs administered by the Tacoma Arts Commission. For a complete listing of funding programs and information about the Tacoma Arts Commission, visit cityoftacoma.org/arts.