Seattle arts office seeks modest, targeted funding for Hope Corps, cultural plan and graffiti work

The Office of Arts & Culture asked the City Council Budget Committee on Sept. 30 to approve targeted 2026 investments intended to support creative workers, launch a citywide cultural planning process and expand graffiti-prevention work. The department27s presentation emphasized smaller, strategic increases rather than broad growth in base spending.

The request includes permanent ongoing funding of $350,000 a year to continue the Hope Corps program, a one-time $200,000 allocation for citywide cultural planning and $1,600,000 across city departments to support a 1 Seattle graffiti prevention initiative, the office said. The department also reported it has already committed $2,500,000 in 2025 for World Cup-related downtown activations that will be implemented next year.

Why it matters: Council members said arts and culture contribute to tourism, neighborhood activation and public safety through placemaking. Committee members pressed the department for details on how the requested funds would be used, how existing municipal art and admissions-tax resources are being managed,…