Tacoma Arts Commission
Created in 1965, the Tacoma Arts Commission is one of the oldest arts commissions in Washington State. 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 groups to provide arts-focused services for the community, Tacoma Arts Month, and oversight of public art as part of the Municipal Art Program.
Meeting Information
Meetings are open to the public and are held on the Second Monday of each month, starting at 5 p.m. Meetings are hybrid with virtual and in-person options. In-Person meetings are held at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, Room 248, Tacoma, WA 98402) and virtually on Zoom. For details, see the agenda for the meeting you wish to attend.
The public may give oral comments related to agenda items at the beginning of the meeting. Speakers will have anywhere from 90 seconds to three minutes to provide comment, depending on the available time on the agenda. Or, the public may submit general comments in writing by 5 p.m. one day prior to the meeting. Written comments should be emailed and include “TAC Meeting Public Comment” in the subject line.
Membership
The Tacoma Arts Commission consists of 15 regular members, recommended by the Economic Development Committee and formally appointed by a resolution of the Council. The membership term is three years and is composed of City residents who are arts advocates and/or artists. The Commission’s functions are outlined in Chapter 1.28A and 1.28B of the Tacoma Municipal Code.
| Position | Name | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|
| At Large 1 | Jes Takla | December 31, 2026 |
| At Large 2 | Kenya Shakoor | December 31, 2025 |
| At Large 3 | Sarah Jane Hoppe | December 31, 2025 |
| At Large 4 | Jasmine Brown | December 31, 2026 |
| At Large 5 | Jeanette Sanchez | December 31, 2026 |
| At Large 6 | Hannah-Clarke Gilmore | December 31, 2026 |
| At Large 7 | Connie Behe | December 31, 2025 |
| At Large 8 | Erica Chang | December 31, 2027 |
| At Large 9 | Katie Dean | December 31, 2026 |
| Professional Position 1 | Michael Kula | December 31, 2025 |
| Professional Position 2 | Derek Nunn | December 31, 2025 |
| Professional Position 3 | Heide Fernandez-Llamazares | December 31, 2027 |
| Professional Position 4 | Vernon Ng | December 31, 2027 |
| Tacoma Public Education | Heidi Wygle | December 31, 2026 |
| Working Professional Artist | Ean Olsen | December 31, 2027 |
Staff Support
Staffing support to the Tacoma Arts Commission is provided by the Arts & Cultural Vitality Division.
Agendas, Minutes, and Meeting Records
View agendas, minutes, recordings, and other records for current and past meetings of the Tacoma Arts Commission.
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Meeting Date Agenda Materials Minutes Recording
April 14, 2025
March 10, 2025
February 10, 2025
January 13, 2025
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Meeting Date Agenda Summary Minutes Recording
December 9, 2024
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November 18, 2024
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October 14, 2024
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September 9, 2024
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August 12, 2024
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June 10, 2024
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May 13, 2024
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April 8, 2024
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April 7, 2024
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March 11, 2024
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February 12, 2024
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January 8, 2024
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Meeting Date Agenda Summary Minutes Recording
December 11, 2023
November 13, 2023
October 9, 2023
September 11, 2023
August 14, 2023
June 12, 2023
May 8, 2023
April 10, 2023
March 25, 2023
March 13, 2023
February 13, 2023
January 9, 2023
Service on the Tacoma Arts Commission
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Commission members are appointed by Tacoma City Council to three-year terms, following an application and interview process. To apply for the Tacoma Arts Commission please visit the Committees, Boards, and Commissions page.
BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, seniors, immigrants, and refugees are especially encouraged to apply.
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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.
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The Tacoma Arts Commission’s monthly 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 St., 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.
We encourage and welcome prospective applicants to attend a meeting of the Tacoma Arts Commission in advance of applying
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In accordance with the City of Tacoma’s ethics policy, serving on the Tacoma Arts Commission makes commission members and their immediate family (spouse/partner and children) ineligible, during their term of service, to enter into any funding contracts which the Tacoma Arts Commission has oversight. This includes contracts through any of the Tacoma Arts Commission’s funding programs including the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program and Community Arts Projects (cannot be administrative staff of any applicant organization and/or an artist, who will be paid with money received through Community Arts Projects funding). Commissioners would also be ineligible to apply for or receive any funding contracts for public art projects, Tacoma Poet Laureate, or any other program of the Commission which have monetary funds from the City associated with it. Service on the Commission would not prohibit commissioners from having a contract through Spaceworks Tacoma, which operates out of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. It is against the City’s ethics policy to accept gifts of any monetary value in relation to service on the Commission.
Meeting Information
Staff Liaison
Rebecca Solverson
(253) 591-5564
(253) 381-5397Â (cell)