Vancouver task force outlines draft Cultural Access Program and proposed grant structure funded by local sales tax

City cultural staff and members of the Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission task force on Monday presented a draft Cultural Access Program that would use revenue from a local sales tax to fund grants intended to expand access to arts, culture, heritage and science in Vancouver over a seven‑year cycle.

Stacy Donovan, Vancouver’s cultural services manager, said the program’s central intent is “to expand equitable access to arts, culture, heritage, and science in Vancouver,” and that the task force framed public benefits under four themes: expanding access and engagement, strengthening the cultural ecosystem, driving economic and community vitality, and fostering innovation.

The draft divides funds across five grant categories and administration. Donovan and Linda Reed (Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission) described the allocations staff and the task force are proposing: Impact grants (annual, $10,000–$75,000) representing 18% of funds; Innovation grants (annual, $5,000–$25,000) representing 7%; Comprehensive multi‑year grants representing 20%; Capital grants (two‑year cycle) representing 25%; school‑focused grants representing 20%; and administration up to 10%.

Program details in the presentation included examples and scale: Impact grants could fund roughly 18 grants at $75,000 in a year; comprehensive grants could look like five awards of about $300,000; capital grants were described as potentially supporting two $1.5 million investments every two years; and school grants would split the school allocation evenly between Vancouver and Evergreen school districts, with 10% of total funds going directly to districts for field‑trip transportation and admission and another 10% available to nonprofits for school‑based programs.

Donovan noted legal guidance that the program’s public‑benefit language must align with the relevant Revised Code of Washington (RCW). She and task force members said eligible applicants will generally be cultural nonprofits or projects that use qualified fiscal sponsors and that certain entities are ineligible for grants, including government agencies, media outlets (broadcasting, cable, internet), newspapers or magazines, and umbrella fundraising organizations.

Council members asked for clearer eligibility distinctions between grant categories and stronger definitions of capital grants and multi‑year awards. Councilor Fox noted that the draft eligibility pages in the packet were identical across categories and asked staff to return with distinct eligibility criteria and illustrative examples. Councilor Paulson urged flexibility to allow the program to shift funds toward a large, high‑impact capital project if community support and need justify it. Multiple councilors emphasized outreach and an application assistance program so smaller or nontraditional cultural providers across the city can apply.

Staff outlined the timeline: an updated draft will be provided to council on June 30; council feedback is scheduled for August 4; staff will return with a final proposal on August 25; first reading of the ordinance is scheduled Sept. 11 with second reading and adoption Sept. 15. No ordinance was adopted at the work session; staff sought council feedback to refine eligibility, scoring and outreach plans.