Summary

King County has allocated $20 million in ARPA funding to support the reopening of the cultural sector including independently owned live music venues, independently owned movie theatres, and arts spaces. This funding would support cultural organizations and creative businesses that have mass gatherings as a part of their business model and have been gravely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story

In support of businesses reopening in the cultural sector, King County has allocated $20 million in funding for cultural organizations and creative businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 13^th, King County will open a cultural sector recovery fund which includes:

• $16.5 million to arts, culture, and heritage organizations with a pre-COVID 19 full operating season annual budget of more than $1 million
• $1.5 million to science organizations that promote science and nature conservation through education, exhibition, and other programs by public admission in King County
• $1 million to independently owned and operated live music venues
• $500,000 to independently owned and operated movie theatres 

These grants will focus funding where the needs are the greatest to ensure that King County’s investments produce gains for all.

This funding cycle will center those applicants that can also demonstrate they are inclusive and serve a variety of audiences and communities with diverse performances and programming.

The application process will be announced at kingcountycreative.com. Applications will open on September 13^th and will close October 18^th. Notifications of awards will be in mid-December.

A separate RFA will be released for a $300,000 fund to support facilities that provide space for afterschool cultural programs.

“Our arts industry and creative professions have struggled throughout this long pandemic. These grants will help save our exhibition spaces, concert venues, movie theatres, and creative places where we congregate and foster the culture that makes King County special,” said Executive Constantine. “We want to ensure that, as we find our way back to normal, King County's cultural life can bounce back too - vigorously and safely.”

Additional resources for the cultural field will be distributed by 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency, and the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Arts, heritage, and historic preservation-focused organizations with pre-COVID revenues under $1 million that lost funds between 2019 and 2020 will be able to apply for disaster relief grants via a single application process. This program will open on September 23; for more information please visit 4culture.org/covid-19-response. 

RELEVANT LINKS

• King County Creative webpage
• 4Culture COVID-19 Response webpage

Quotes

Our arts industry and creative professions have struggled throughout this long pandemic. These grants will help save our exhibition spaces, concert venues, movie theatres, and creative places where we congregate and foster the culture that makes King County special. We want to ensure that, as we find our way back to normal, King County's cultural life can bounce back too - vigorously and safely.

For more information, contact:

Kristin Elia, Executive Office, 206-369-7169