Opportunities

Current Opportunities

2026 Community Arts Projects Funding

About Community Arts Projects Funding

The Community Arts Projects funding program financially supports organizations and groups producing arts-focused community projects that are inclusive, accessible, and/or address equity issues. This funding is seed money to help support projects; we encourage applicants to consider multiple sources of funding and to scale their proposed projects to work within their available budget. Projects must take place in Tacoma and can happen anytime between January 1 – December 31, 2026. This funding can be used for artistic presentations, activities, events, workshops, experiences, festivals, performances, or other projects that are accessible to the general public. Admission may be charged for these projects, as long as the application demonstrates public benefit. The proposal may be for a one-time project, a number of projects that are closely related, or an annual or ongoing project. Collaborations between organizations and/or artists are encouraged but not required. Groups applying are not required to be a 501(c) non-profit nor are they required to use a fiscal sponsor. Only one application per producing organization or group will be accepted.

Proposed projects should be welcoming to all, inclusive, tolerant, and compassionate. Projects should align with the City’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and justice. The Tacoma Arts Commission is striving toward social justice. We are committed to supporting equitable opportunities to broaden artistic expression while encouraging inter-sectional communities through inclusive relationships and outreach. Arts and culture are uniquely positioned to touch every person and every part of Tacoma. We are committed to supporting the entirety of our community.

Funding availability is contingent on official approval of the budget by the City.

Dates to Note     

• Virtual Application Workshop (optional): A virtual application workshop was held on October 8. Applicants are encouraged to watch the recording of the application workshop, which explains and addresses questions about the application and funding process.
• Preliminary Application Feedback Deadline (optional): Friday, October 17, 2025
• Application Deadline: Monday, October 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
• Notification of Funding Decision: by Friday, December 12, 2025
• Contracting Process with Funded Organizations: December 2025 – January 2026
• Timeframe in Which Project Must be Completed: January 1 – December 31, 2026

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if you answer ‘YES’ to one of these:

• Are you a 501(c) non-profit corporation, incorporated under the laws of Washington State and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (i.e. 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4))?
• Are you an organized group of people working together for a specific mission or purpose, with an organizational bank account? This can include a fiscally sponsored group. Submissions must come from an organized group, not an individual.
• Are you a for-profit business, with a Federal Tax ID number (EIN), looking to produce a community arts project that is non-profit in nature? This means that the project is for public benefit rather than for profit, may be separate from your regular business functions, and is typically free for the public.
• Are you an educational institution looking to produce a community arts project that is non-profit in nature?
• Are you a tribe or Native non-profit organization?

AND, if you answer ‘yes’ to one of the above, then you need to answer ‘YES’ to all of these questions:

• Are you producing an arts-focused community project?
• Do you have a Federal Tax ID number (EIN)? This funding is for organizations and groups, not individuals; a Social Security Number (SSN) cannot be used for this funding.
• Is your office/place of business located within Tacoma city limits? This is confirmed by the address registered with the IRS, and your City of Tacoma business license. Or, if you have no office/place of business, do a majority of your activities take place within Tacoma city limits? Staff will verify addresses against the official City limit map. Check this map to verify that your organization is located within Tacoma city limits.
• Will the funded project happen within Tacoma city limits and be open to everyone? Projects can be designed to engage a specific cultural or identity group but cannot be exclusive to any group. If you are creating a permanent or semi-permanent project, such as a mural or public art piece, the project must be located in an area that is easily viewable by the public, such as the exterior of a building, in the public right of way, etc.
• If you are applying under a fiscal sponsor 501(c) organization, is the producing group based in Tacoma? The fiscal sponsor can be located outside of Tacoma, but the producing group must be located in Tacoma.
• Is this the only Community Arts Projects funding application the producing organization or group is submitting?

About the Money

Applicants can apply for a set amount of either $4,000 or $6,000 for their project. If the applicant applies for $6,000 of funding but is not selected for funding at that level, they have the option of being considered for funding at the $4,000 level. There is no advantage to applying for one level of funding over the other. Applicants are encouraged to apply for what they need to successfully complete their project, with the knowledge that funding at any level is not guaranteed.

Funding for Community Arts Projects is based on the availability of funds allocated by the City and is determined through a competitive application process. The number of contracts awarded will be based on the availability of funds. Funding availability is contingent on official approval of the budget by the City.

How to Apply

Before applying, please read the full 2026 Community Arts Projects funding guidelines for complete information.

Applications must be submitted through the 2026 Community Arts Projects Funding online application form at tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit.

A virtual application workshop was held on October 8. Applicants are encouraged to watch the recording of the application workshop, which explains and addresses questions about the application and funding process.

Questions?

Applicants are strongly encouraged to email or call Naomi Strom-Avila at nstrom-avila@tacoma.gov or (253) 591-5191 with questions or requests for assistance with any part of the application.

Serve on Tacoma Arts Commission or Tacoma Creates Advisory Board

Opportunity Overview & How to Apply

The Tacoma City Council is currently seeking applicants to fill seven open positions on the Tacoma Arts Commission and one open position on the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board. These are volunteer positions. Applicants must live within the City limits of Tacoma.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by noon on October 13, 2025, at tacoma.gov/cbcapplication. Questions about the application process, requests for the application in an alternate format, or requests to submit additional documents may be directed to Elizabeth Wing in the City Clerk’s Office at servetacoma@tacoma.gov or (253) 591-5178.

Tacoma Arts Commission Seats

• Four At-Large Positions – Individuals representative of acknowledged accomplishment or working outside of professional practice in the arts, but who demonstrate a deep interest in and appreciation of cultural and artistic activities.
• Two Professional Positions – Individuals who have had professional experience or training related to the arts, originating from employment or study within the following disciplines: arts or art history, arts administration, architecture, art criticism, art education, curation, conservation, heritage arts, literature, music, new media, performing arts, public art, visual arts, or a related field.
• One Tacoma Public Education Representative – Individuals working in the Tacoma public education community.

Tacoma Creates Advisory Board Seat

• One Council District Position – Individuals who reside in Council District 5.

About the Tacoma Arts Commission (TAC)

The TAC is comprised of 15 volunteer members who are appointed by the Economic Development Committee and confirmed by the Tacoma City Council to serve three-year terms. Applicants must live within the city of Tacoma.

The TAC provides leadership in supporting and enhancing the arts for the benefit of the City and its residents. The primary responsibility of the Commission is to create policies to support the ongoing development of arts programs and projects in Tacoma. Its primary programs include the funding of artists and organizations to provide arts and cultural services for the community in Tacoma, Tacoma Arts Month, and oversight of public art as part of the Municipal Art Program. The Commission’s functions are outlined in sections 1.28A and 1.28B of the Tacoma Municipal Code.

The TAC is striving towards social justice. They are committed to supporting equitable opportunities to broaden artistic expression while encouraging intersectional communities through inclusive relationships and outreach. Arts and culture are uniquely positioned to touch every person and every part of Tacoma and the TAC is committed to supporting the entirety of the community.

Individuals appointed to sit on the TAC are subject to the Tacoma Municipal Code 1.28A (Tacoma Arts Commission), 1.28B (Municipal Art Program), and 1.46 (Ethics Code). Therefore, commissioners and their immediate family members may not be eligible for programs or funding managed by the Tacoma Arts Commission.

TAC meetings are held from 5-7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are held virtually on Zoom and in-person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, Room 248). Regular attendance at these monthly meetings is required. Beyond monthly meetings, commissioners are asked to sit on at least one subcommittee and one selection panel each year. Commissioners are also asked to periodically attend and evaluate programs produced by artists and organizations that the Commission funds and are expected to attend and assist with all major programs the Commission produces. A major commitment of the Commission is helping support Tacoma Arts Month, which happens each October.

Additional information on the Tacoma Arts Commission is available here.

About the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board (TCAB)

The TCAB volunteer position is filling an unexpired term, for Tacoma residents living in Council District 5, who have interest in and familiarity with public programming in arts, culture, heritage, and/or science, as well as interest in Tacoma Creates goals regarding equity, access, and programs that provide public benefit for residents across Tacoma.

The Advisory Board advises Tacoma Creates Administration on funding programs. Its purpose is to guide program development and approve funding recommendations for the benefit of all residents of Tacoma. The primary responsibility of TCAB is to ensure compliance to Tacoma Creates guidelines and accountability standards. TCAB’s functions are outlined in section 1.55 of the Tacoma Municipal Code.

Additional information on the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board is available here.

About City of Tacoma Committees, Boards, and Commissions

The City is committed to fostering an equitable and anti-racist organization and wants its committees, boards, and commissions to reflect Tacoma’s diverse community. For these vacancies, all individuals, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, seniors, youth, immigrants, and refugees are especially encouraged to apply.

Appointed applicants are required to complete Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act trainings provided by the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, within 90 days of being appointed to a committee, board, or commission.

Panel Interest Form

What is a Panel?

A panel is a group of individuals pulled together by staff to review applications or nominations for Arts & Cultural Vitality managed programs or opportunities. Panel members use published review criteria to evaluate applications and make recommendations about who gets grant funding, public art projects, roster appointments, etc.

Panelists are selected for a variety of reasons which can include: their connection to community, knowledge of relevant subject matter, and the diversity of perspectives and experiences they bring to the group overall. For each opportunity, we assemble a unique panel of three to nine people to make collective recommendations about which applicants should receive funding or commissions through our division. Those recommendations generally go to the Tacoma Arts Commission or the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board for final approval.

Why be a Panelist?

The Arts & Cultural Vitality Division (ACV) is deeply appreciative of the time and expertise community members invest in serving on panels. Serving on a panel is a proactive way to impact how public funds are spent in Tacoma, and panelists receive valuable professional development as well as insight into how the application review process works from the inside.

ACV provides panelists with free parking and food during meetings, in addition to offering a monetary honorarium.

The length and number of meetings needed for a selection process vary based on the project. Depending on the application, some panels will require a small amount of prep work in advance, one to two hours, and some panels may require extensive reading and evaluation work in advance of the in-person panel meeting, anywhere from 10-50 hours. Community members will be offered an honorarium for their service as follows:

• Panel Meetings: panelists will receive between $25 – $225 for attending a panel meeting; staff will determine the exact rate, depending on the length of the meeting.
• Pre-Meeting Preparation: panelists will receive between $100 – $500 for pre‐meeting work to digitally read and score applications (only when requested); staff will determine the exact rate, depending on the estimated time this work will take.

Members of a City‐appointed commission or board are volunteers and are not eligible to receive an honorarium for their service on a panel. City of Tacoma employees and project staff are not eligible to receive an honorarium for their service on a panel.

Submit a Panel Interest Form

Please complete the online form to be considered for a position on an upcoming ACV panel: www.surveymonkey.com/r/tacomapanels

Staff will take into account many factors when putting together panels and may not be able to use the services of all qualified individuals who submit. If an individual is offered a position on a panel but is unable to participate because of scheduling or conflict of interest, ACV will continue to consider them for future panels. Panel Interest Forms will be saved and reviewed periodically for up to three years from the submission date.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Naomi Strom-Avila or (253) 591-5191.