Deadline: 17-Oct-2025
The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) has launched a new project grant called Cultivating Healthy Communities – Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Rural Communities to support creative work in rural parts of the state.
This program aims to harness the power of arts and culture to build social connection, foster belonging, and enhance wellbeing in communities where resources and access may be limited.
Through this grant, ArtsWA hopes to work with trusted local partners—such as libraries, parks, community centers, and arts nonprofits—to bring collaborative and publicly accessible arts projects to rural areas. The idea is to use creative practices to reduce social isolation, promote mental health, and deepen civic participation in places that often lack the infrastructure or means to do so independently. Projects across all artistic disciplines will be considered, provided they are open to the public and rooted in community engagement.
Grants are modest, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, and are reimbursement based, meaning awarded funds are paid after project expenses have been incurred and documented. Projects should take place between July 1, 2025, and August 30, 2026.
To be eligible, organizations must be non-profit and focused on arts, heritage, or culture, or a social impact nonprofit willing to sponsor a cultural project under the arts umbrella. Projects must occur in Washington state and include arts, heritage, or culture as a central component. Collaborative proposals—those involving cultural organizations and community or service providers—are preferred, especially in counties with strong agricultural or generational food processing economies.
Because funds are limited, the program anticipates supporting only six to eight projects in this round. Preference will be given to smaller, newer, or underserved organisations, and to projects serving populations historically excluded from arts access, whether by geography, economic barrier, or social marginalization. This grant offers community groups in rural Washington a meaningful chance to use creative expression as a pathway to healing, belonging, and stronger social connections.
For more information, visit Washington State Arts Commission.