Community Accelerator Grants Awarded to 18 Thurston County arts and cultural organizations

Earlier today, ArtsFund announced that 18 Thurston County arts and cultural organizations are to receive over $247,000 in Community Accelerator Grants. The Thurston County organizations were part of 671 organizations awarded grants throughout the state totaling $10 million in grants funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and administered by ArtsFund. 

The release said the partnership between the foundation and ArtsFund was initially announced six months ago and was motivated by continued financial need from the arts and culture sector. 

“This community-driven model distributes urgently needed capital quickly, equitably, and efficiently to arts and culture organizations that are so important to a vibrant, healthy community,” said Lara Littlefield, executive director of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, in the release. “We are heartened by the diversity and geographic reach of this program as well as the speed and efficiency in which it was administered thanks to ArtsFund and the community advisory panel.”

According to the release, the grant program gave higher funding priority to organizations serving those often underrepresented by other funding programs, like rural, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities and communities living with disabilities. Still, every eligible organization that applied — more than half of whom reported an annual budget of less than $500,000 — was awarded a grant. Individual grants were between $2,500 and $25,000. 

“We are so proud to highlight the breadth and depth of Washington’s rich cultural landscape, and celebrate the leadership and vision of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation in funding this program,” said ArtsFund CEO and president Michael Greer in the release. “Our hope is that their philanthropy inspires others to continue to invest in this sector, and see how possible it is to make an investment that is meaningful, equitable, and expeditious.”

​The Thurston County organizations awarded grants are as follows. The grant amount is included.

Arbutus Folk School, Thurston, $5,300
Ballet Northwest, Thurston, $3,400
Hands On Children’s Museum, Thurston, $5,600
Harlequin Productions, Thurston, $5,900
Indigenous Performance Productions, Thurston, $25,000​
Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance, Thurston, $5,900
Olympia Family Theater, Thurston, $23,800
Olympia Film Society, Thurston, $11,900
Olympia Lamplighters, Thurston, $25,000
Olympia Musical Theatre (OMT), Thurston, $2,500
Olympia Symphony Orchestra, Thurston, $11,900
Pacific Northwest Theater, Thurston, $22,500
Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, Thurston, $4,700
Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre, Thurston, $11,900
The Bridge Music Project, Thurston, $25,000
Thurston Community Media, Thurston, $22,500
Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Thurston, $11,900
Window Seat Media, Thurston, $22,500​

For a complete list of recipients, click here.