Olympia seeks members for new cultural advisory committee

Olympia is accepting applications for its new Cultural Access Advisory Board.

The new committee will be comprised of nine members who will give recommendations to the city council that will lead to the achievement of the city’s cultural access program’s objectives:

• Enhance and extend educational reach and offerings
• Expand access
• Reach underserved populations
• Provide financial stability for organizations
• Promote community health
• Provide public benefit

“The Board should have a balanced representation of members with skills and perspectives from the performing and visual arts; culture, heritage, and scientific interests,” the city said in a press release, “and members that represent the communities the Cultural Access Program is intended to serve, with an emphasis on youth and traditionally underserved populations.”

Olympia also provided a list of qualities it’s seeking from the committee members, which include:

• Leadership in business, educational, and cultural communities
• Interest and familiarity with public programming in arts, culture, heritage, and science
• Interest or experience in integrating and practicing equity principles in public outreach and program implementation
• Experience working with schools, students, educators, and families
• Perspectives from minorities and traditionally underserved populations

As an incentive to the city’s committee members and to “reduce barriers to community member participation,” as Olympia puts it, a $25 stipend is given to them for every meeting they attend, with the stipend doubling if the committee member certifies coming from a low-income household.

Advisory committee members may also opt to waive the stipend.

Community members interested in joining the Cultural Access Advisory Board may fill out their application here until the deadline on Friday, January 13, 2023, at 5 p.m. Additional details about the vacancies are available on the city’s website.

Other questions and concerns may be addressed to Strategic Communications Director Kellie Purce Braseth at 360-753-8361 or kbraseth@ci.olympia.wa.us.