Tacoma Arts Commission highlights $163 million arts economy, seeks space solutions and TPU participation in 1% for arts

Heidi Fernandez Yamazares, chair of the Tacoma Arts Commission, told the Economic Development Committee on Sept. 30 that the commission’s programs support both economic development and community well-being and outlined priorities including artist space, funding stability and potential Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) participation in the city’s 1% for art program.

Fernandez Yamazares said the Arts Commission — established in 1965 and composed of 15 volunteer commissioners with representation across Tacoma’s five council districts — advises the City Council on cultural policy, public art and grants that support artists and small creative businesses. She noted the commission manages two grant streams: the Tacoma Artists Initiative (individual artists) and the Community Arts Projects program (community projects and groups).

The commission presented data from a recent arts and economic prosperity study that showed Tacoma’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $163 million in economic activity in 2022. Fernandez Yamazares said the commission funded 25 of 72 Tacoma Artists Initiative applications and 21 of 54 Community Arts Projects applications in the most recent cycle; funded projects ranged from performances and murals to writing workshops and a skateboarding documentary.

Fernandez Yamazares and Rebecca Solverson of the Arts and Cultural Vitality division discussed public art funding via the city’s 1% for art program, which dedicates 1% of eligible capital-construction costs to public art. They said Tacoma Public Utilities does not currently participate (an exemption in the municipal code), but other city utilities have participated in other jurisdictions and TPU participation could expand…