Arts and Cultural Programs

Overview

Arts and culture contribute to a community’s identity and economic vitality. Many Washington communities have developed local arts and cultural programs. These programs include art commissions, art funds, and cultural districts. These programs may be located in the parks and recreation department, the planning and community development department, or the city manager’s office.

Arts and Culture Programs and Commissions

This section includes examples of public arts and cultural programs and arts commissions.

Cities

• Bellevue
  • Arts Commission
  • Municipal Code Ch. 3.56 – Arts Commission
  • Municipal Code Ch. 4.48 – Municipal Art Program
• Burien Arts Commission – Includes agendas, minutes, bylaws, and work plan
• Edmonds Arts Commission – Includes links to meeting agendas and minutes
• Ferndale Municipal Code Ch. 2.30 – Arts Commission
• Everett Arts & Culture – Links to outdoor art, calls for artists, cultural arts commission, and more
• Olympia
  • Arts, Culture & Heritage (ARCH) – Includes featured programs, events, and other information
  • Arts Commission – Includes work plan
• Redmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) – Information on commission meetings, with links to current city arts programming
• Richland Arts Commission – Includes arts commission meetings and work plan
• Seattle
  • Arts Commission – Information on commission meetings
  • Office of Arts & Culture – Includes links to public art, events, and more
• Sequim Municipal Code Ch. 2.64 – Arts Commission
• Snoqualmie Arts Commission – Includes links to agendas, minutes, and duties
• Tacoma Arts & Cultural Vitality Division  – Includes the Tacoma Arts Commission and Tacoma Creates

Counties

• Pierce County Arts Commission

1% for the Arts Programs

Some jurisdictions require that capital improvement projects meeting certain criteria set aside a percentage of the construction cost – typically 0.5% to 1% – for public art. This is not required by state law, and there are no statutory provisions for such a program.

Some state agencies have statutory requirements for arts funding. If a local government has received federal, state, or grant funding that requires a percentage for the arts, the jurisdiction must comply with those requirements.

Mandatory art requirements probably cannot be applied to private developments, as that would likely violate RCW 82.02.020 which prohibits local governments from imposing fees on development that are not otherwise authorized by state law.

Examples

• Bellingham 1% for Art Map – Interactive map of 1% for Art projects
• Bremerton Municipal Code Ch. 3.12 – One Percent for Arts Fund
• Kitsap County Code Sec. 4.98.060 – Funds for Acquisition of Art
• Langley Municipal Code Sec. 2.54.050 – One Percent for the Arts
• Pierce County Code Sec. 2.72.110 – One Percent Funding for the Arts - Appropriations
• Wenatchee Municipal Code Sec. 1.48.070-.075 – Public art program and fund

Public Art Plans and Policies

Below are examples of plans and policies related to arts and culture.

• Kirkland Public Art Policy Guidelines (2021) – Includes equity statements, public art evaluation criteria, artwork donations and loans, approval process for artwork acquisition and commission, and preferred locations for artwork installations, exhibit duration, and deaccession or relocation of artwork
• Shoreline
  • Resolution No. 477 (2021) – Public Art Policy; includes adopting resolution and provides framework for managing commission and donation of public art as well as expenditure of municipal art funds. Also offers guidelines for acquisition and advocacy for works of art
  • Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Services Public Art Plan (2017-2022)
• Vancouver Culture, Arts & Heritage Plan (2018)

Arts and Cultural Districts

Some communities have developed arts and cultural districts, with features like fine arts galleries and museums, as well as events like art walks.

• Bellevue BelRed Arts District
• Bremerton Arts District
• Seattle Arts & Cultural Districts

Creative Districts

Any county, city, or town (or multiple entities) may apply to have a geographic area designated as a "creative district" under RCW 43.46.100-.115. The local government must apply to the Washington State Arts Commission for approval. If approved, designation as a creative district can help the jurisdiction access state resources and assistance to encourage business development, enhance the area's visibility, and foster a supportive climate for arts and culture.

For more information, including planning and application materials and a list of existing creative districts, see ArtsWA: Creative Districts. 

Examples

• Edmonds Cultural Planning
• Issaquah
  • Creative District
  • Resolution No. 2020-03 (2020) – Designates area as creative district, subject to certification by the Washington State Arts Commission, and directs administration to petition for certification and execute any necessary documents
• Twisp Municipal Code Ch. 2.135 – Creative District Advisory Board

Cultural Access Programs

Any county, city, or town (or multiple entities via interlocal agreement) may establish a cultural access program under chapter 36.160 RCW to benefit or expand access to nonprofit cultural organizations. However, if a county has established a cultural access program, no city within the county may do so.

While most of the provisions in the statutes refer specifically to counties, RCW 36.160.030 states that if a city has created a cultural access program, all references to the county must also include the city unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

A "cultural organization" is defined in RCW 36.160.020 to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with the primary purpose of advancing and preserving science or technology, the visual or performing arts, zoology (national accreditation required), botany, anthropology, heritage, or natural history. State-related cultural organizations are also eligible, subject to certain restrictions.

A cultural access program may generally be funded by either:

• A sales tax up to seven years and 0.1% (RCW 82.15.525); or
• A property tax up to seven years (RCW 84.52.821). The total levy dollar amount for the first year may not exceed an amount equal to 0.1% of the total taxable retail sales and uses within the jurisdiction for the most recent calendar year for which data is available.

The revenues must be used in accordance with RCW 36.160.110, a very detailed code section that requires careful review. The revenues may not be used to replace or supplant existing funding (RCW 36.160.050), and a jurisdiction may not impose both the property tax and sales tax at the same time.

Examples

• Olympia
  • Inspire Olympia – A voter-approved cultural access program
  • Resolution No. M-2280 (2021) – Submitting cultural access program sales tax to voters and establishing advisory board
• Tacoma
  • Resolution No. 40046 (2018) – Submitting cultural access program sales tax to voters and establishing advisory board
  • Tacoma Creates – Voter-approved cultural access program; page includes funding opportunities and annual reports

Recommended Resources

The following are key organizations supporting the arts.

• Americans for the Arts – National nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing the arts and arts education
• ArtsWA – Washington State Arts Commission
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – Federal agency that funds and promotes the arts