Washington State Arts Commission

09/01/2026

📣Open now: The Washington State Poet Laureate program is accepting indications of interest from September 1 – October 15 for the 2027-29 Washington State Poet Laureate position. Full guidelines at the link below.

📆Deadline: October 15, 2026
👉🏽Learn more: https://www.arts.wa.gov/washington-state-poet-laureate/

ID: Could you be Washington’s next State Poet Laureate? Info same as above, including link and logos for Humanities Washington, Washington State Poet Laureate, and ArtsWA.

The Washington State Poet Laureate program is a collaboration between The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) and Humanities WA.

Washington State Poet Laureate Humanities Washington

09/01/2026

📣 Apply now! Grant: Cultivating Healthy Communities – Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Rural Communities.

📆Deadline: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
• Info session: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | Register at the link below
• Office hours: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | Register at the link below
💵 Grant amount: $3,000 – $5,000
👉🏽Learn more and apply: https://www.arts.wa.gov/cultivating-healthy-communities/

The program supports arts and cultural initiatives in rural Washington that strengthen social connections, foster belonging, and improve community well-being.

ID: Pink geometric background with dark red plant holding a plus sign. FY27 Grants to Organizations Cultivating Healthy Communities Grant.

09/01/2026

🎉Read about the recent installation at Lexington Elementary in Kelso. Three large, fused glass salmon titled “Three Streams. One Spirit. Together We Flow” by artist Lisa Stirrett. Full article requires subscription to read.

👉🏽View “Three Streams. One Spirit. Together We Flow” on My Public Art Portal: https://www.arts.wa.gov/collection/artwork/?id=14151

The glass piece is part of Washington's Art in Public Places program, which provided $65,000. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

09/01/2026

💡 Grants to Organizations FY27 Project Support Grantee Highlights! Funded Organization and Project: Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association. Project: - Dia de los Mu***os-Celebration of Life - A public event sponsored every year, celebrating and honoring the deceased with art, music, dance, and altar exhibits. This event is sponsored by the Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association and is open at no cost to all of the Yakima Valley residents.
👉🏽 Learn more about the Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association: yakimamorelia.org

👉🏽 Learn more about ArtsWA Grants to Organizations grants: https://www.arts.wa.gov/grants-to-organizations/

ID: Poster for Dia de los Mu***os festival. Black background with multiple images of flowers and butterflies forming a skull. Image courtesy Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association

Yakima Morelia Sister City Association

08/31/2026

🎉Check out these recent public art installations!

Artist Felix Solomon (Lummi) created “Sundog” for the entrance doors to Western Washington University's Lhaq ’temish-ew’xw e tse XwLemi’ House of Healing.
👉🏽View “Sundog” on My Public Art Portal: https://www.arts.wa.gov/collection/artwork/?id=14079

Lexington Elementary in Kelso is now home to three large, fused glass salmon titled “Three Streams. One Spirit. Together We Flow” by artist Lisa Stirrett.
👉🏽View “Three Streams. One Spirit. Together We Flow” on My Public Art Portal: https://www.arts.wa.gov/collection/artwork/?id=14151

Artist Reham Aarti recently installed “Seeds of Potential”, a large glass mosaic spanning three walls at Olympic View K-8 in Federal Way.
👉🏽View “Seeds of Potential” on My Public Art Portal: https://www.arts.wa.gov/collection/artwork/?id=14222

ID: 1) Felix Solomon (left) and Ralph Bennett (right) at Felix’s studio. Portion of “Sundog” artwork on table in front of them. Tools and wood stove visible in the studio background. 2) “Three Streams. One Spirit. Together We Flow” (2026) by Lisa Stirrett. Glass salmon mounted on wall, each salmon has a red head and fins and holds evergreen trees, logs, and other animals on a white body that looks like a streambed. 3) “Seeds of Potential” (2026) by Reham Aarti. Vibrant, whimsical design features colorful stylized flowers and seedpods containing words selected by the school.

08/31/2026

Opportunity for teaching artists from Allied Arts Foundation! Note that there is a $20 application fee, but fee waivers are available. Please contact artistgrants at alliedartsfoundation dot org if the fee would prevent you from applying.

🎨 Unrestricted $5,000 Awards for WA Teaching Artists 🎨

Allied Arts Foundation is seeking WA-based visual artists who consider teaching a meaningful part of their artistic practice—whether through K–12 education, community arts programs, higher education, or other forms of teaching and learning.

Who can apply?
• Visual artists of any medium
• Artistic medium and teaching discipline can differ
• 18+ and living in Washington State
• Early- or mid-career artists
• Not currently enrolled as a student
• No teaching certificate required
Full eligibility details are at alliedartsfoundation.org/artistgrants

Your application should demonstrate both your artistic practice and teaching experience. No project proposal, budget, or needs statement is required.

💰 3 awards of $5,000
📅 Deadline: September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM
💻 Apply at alliedartsfoundation.org/artistgrants

A $20 application fee helps us administer the program, but fee waivers are available; please contact artistgrants at alliedartsfoundation dot org if the fee would prevent you from applying.

Learn more and apply at alliedartsfoundation.org/artistgrants

This year's grant cycle is supported, in part, by grants from 4Culture, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Washington State Arts Commission. Please share this opportunity widely and help make this support available to the arts educators that make a difference in your community!

08/31/2026

📣Apply now to the 2026-2030 Curator Roster! The Curator Roster is ArtsWA’s list of people available to research and suggest artworks for the State Art Collection. We hire curators to help us choose artwork for public buildings or campuses.

📆 Deadline: September 15, 2026 at 5 p.m. Pacific
👉🏽Learn more and apply: https://www.arts.wa.gov/curator-roster/

Curators have diverse backgrounds. Their experience may include work with galleries, museums, academic institutions, or as professional artists, tribal leaders, or consultants.

ID: 1) Artworks along corridor wall. 2026-2030 Curator Roster Call for applications. 2) Info about the open call for the Curator Roster. 3) How to apply with eligibility info. Info on all slides available at the link in the post above.

08/31/2026

✨Washington Poet Spotlight: Kathleen Flenniken

Meet Kathleen Flenniken, a Seattle-based poet, 2012-2014 Washington State Poet Laureate, who won the Washington State Book Award winner for *Plume*. ✒️

👉🏽Explore her works on her website AND learn more https://kathleenflenniken.com/

Get Involved with poetry this school year:
📆 Registration for all youth poetry programs is currently open.
👉🏽Learn more: https://www.arts.wa.gov/poetry-out-loud/

ID: Washington Poets Corner featuring portrait of Seattle Poet, Kathleen Flenniken. Poetry Pulse logo.

08/29/2026

💡 Grants to Organizations FY27 Project Support Grantee Highlights! Funded Organization and Project: Seattle Chapter Black Panther Party Legacy Group. Project: Black Panther Legacy: Community Memory in Motion - A series of free public programs, workshops, and storytelling activations preserving Seattle Black Panther history through intergenerational engagement.
👉🏽 Learn more about Seattle Chapter Black Panther Party Legacy Group: www.seattleblackpantherpartyinterpretivecenter.org/

👉🏽 Learn more about ArtsWA Grants to Organizations grants: https://www.arts.wa.gov/grants-to-organizations/

ID: Portrait of Garry Owens, September 1988, Courtesy MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Collection, 2000.107.136.40.01, photo by Kurt Smith

Seattle Black Panther Party Interpretive Center

08/28/2026

📣 Teaching artists and arts/cultural educators across Washington State: Save the dates!

TAT Lab’s Community of Practice is back for a new season. These free, online office hours are a place to bring your teaching questions, challenges, or works in progress and talk them through with peers and TAT Lab faculty.

🌐 Zoom/online | Free
📆 Wednesday, September, 23, 4-5pm: https://tinyurl.com/FY27CoPSept22
📆 Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026 5-6pm: https://tinyurl.com/FY27CoPNov4
📆 Wednesday, February 10, 2027, 4-5pm: https://tinyurl.com/FY27CoPFeb10
📆 Tuesday, April 20, 2027, 6-7pm: https://tinyurl.com/FY27CoPApril20
👉🏽 Save the dates and register: https://www.arts.wa.gov/tat-lab/

💬 Each session is shaped by the people who join us! Conversations might explore lesson planning, learning goals, assessment, building partnerships, culturally responsive teaching, and more.

Community of Practice is free and open to teaching artists and arts/cultural educators in ALL creative disciplines across Washington State. No prior TAT Lab experience required, and TAT Lab alumni are always welcome!

ID: Text on graphic reads: TAT Lab Community of Practice. Free online office hours for teaching artists and arts educators across Washington State. Upcoming sessions: Sept. 23 and Nov. 4, 2026; Feb. 10 and April 20, 2027. All creative disciplines welcome.

Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab