The Tacoma Creates Advisory Board has approved contracts for the 2025-2026 funding cycle totaling approximately $6.4 million for 80 local nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to advance or preserve arts, culture, heritage, and science.
This marks the start of the 6th year of funding through Tacoma Creates, which is the first cultural access program of its kind in Washington state. The funding sustains and expands Tacoma’s vital and vibrant cultural sector, which serves community members of all ages and provides hundreds of large and small events throughout the city.
“Arts, culture, heritage, and science are the heart and soul of our community,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “They connect us to each other, inspire the next generation, and bring our city to life. Tacoma Creates is how we continue to invest in what makes our community strong.”
“From major institutions to grassroots organizations, Tacoma’s cultural ecosystem is broad, diverse, and deeply rooted in our neighborhoods,” said Deputy Mayor Kiara Daniels. “By supporting this full spectrum, Tacoma Creates makes our city more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient.”
“Tacoma Creates is a smart, long-term investment in our community,” said Council Member Jamika Scott. “We see the impact every day—in our local economy, in expanded access to programming, and in the continued growth of creative opportunities, even amid uncertain funding landscapes.”
“In addition to all of the great programming that our cultural organizations produce on their own, Tacoma Creates facilitates amazing community collaborations,” said Council Member Kristina Walker. “With this support, cultural organizations present free workshops at Tacoma Public Library branches and they provide learning opportunities for students at every single Tacoma Public School, including this year at the Summer Late Nights program.”
The Tacoma Creates 2025-2026 funding cycle covers programming that occurs between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
The 80 organizations receiving 2025-2026 Tacoma Creates funding are:
- 6th Ave Business District
- Alchemy Skateboarding
- ArtCity Tacoma
- Arts First
- Arts Impact
- Asia Pacific Cultural Center
- Barefoot Collective
- Buffalo Soldiers Museum
- Capoeira Vida
- Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation
- Classical Tuesdays in Old Town Tacoma
- Communities for a Healthy Bay
- Cousin Collective
- Creative Colloquy
- Das Biest Performance Project
- Elements of Education Partners
- Energize Tacoma
- Esperanza Movil
- Fablab Nonprofit
- Foss Waterway Seaport
- Greentrike
- Guma’Imahe
- Hilltop Artists
- Hilltop Urban Gardens
- Job Carr Cabin Museum
- Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy
- Kīkaha O Ke Kai Outrigger Canoe Club
- Latinx Unidos of the South Sound
- LeMay – America’s Car Museum
- Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma
- Mi Centro
- Momentum Musician
- Museum of Glass
- Music & Heart in Wright Park
- New Tacoma Neighborhood Council
- Northwest Sinfonietta
- Oasis Youth Center
- One Table Show
- Pacific Northwest Dance Foundation
- Permaculture Lifestyle Institute
- Puget Sound Revels
- Queer Northwest
- Rainbow Center
- Real Art Tacoma
- Remakery
- Southeast Asian Comedy Collective
- Spaceworks Tacoma
- Swan Creek Art Academy
- Symphony Tacoma
- Tacoma Art Museum
- Tacoma Arts Live
- Tacoma Boat Builders
- Tacoma Concert Band
- Tacoma Historical Society
- Tacoma Light Trail
- Tacoma Little Theatre
- Tacoma Music Academy
- Tacoma Music Collaborative
- Tacoma Musical Playhouse
- Tacoma Opera
- Tacoma Photo Center
- Tacoma Porchfest
- Tacoma Refugee Choir
- Tacoma Sister Cities
- Tacoma Tree Foundation
- Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center
- Tacoma Youth Symphony Association
- Tacoma Youth Theatre
- Tahoma Indian Center
- Ted Brown Music Outreach
- The Grand Cinema
- The Kareem Kandi World Orchestra
- The Night Media Foundation
- The Puget Sounds
- Toolbox Learning Laboratories
- Vision253
- WayOut Kids
- Wizards of Washington
- World Affairs Council of Tacoma
- Write253
About Tacoma Creates
Tacoma Creates is a community-supported initiative of the City of Tacoma to increase access to arts, culture, heritage, and science experiences by reducing barriers to access and expanding offerings, particularly for underserved youth. Tacoma Creates is a program of the Arts & Cultural Vitality Division of the City’s Community and Economic Development Department. Since 2020, it has provided over $24 million in funding to cultural organizations, who in turn have produced over 5,000 programs and events, counting over 4 million participants. More information on Tacoma Creates, including a map of locations and events calendar, is available at tacomacreates.org.