Arts Commission ratifies FY27 project support grants totaling $100,297

The Arts Commission voted to ratify executive director approvals for FY27 Project Support grants totaling $100,297 at a special meeting called to address grant approvals.

Agency official Miguel told commissioners the program received 163 applications requesting about $468,000 while available funds were roughly $100,000. "We got a total of 163 applications. We were able to fund 57," Miguel said, adding that applicants faced a roughly 9% funding reduction and that priority scoring emphasized distressed counties and underserved communities.

Miguel described eligibility and timing for Project Support grants: awards run for one year, generally between $1,000 and $3,000, must be open to the public, focus on arts, heritage and culture, occur in Washington state between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, and applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), a tribal government, or a local arts agency.

The Chair asked for a motion to ratify the executive director's approvals as provided in the meeting packet. After a motion and multiple seconds, the Commission conducted a voice vote. The Chair announced the motion passed; no opposing votes or abstentions were recorded in the transcript.

The Commission also reviewed conflict-of-interest procedures before the vote. Commissioner Catherine named a conflict concerning "Mary Sigurd and artists" as read into the record; no other conflicts were declared. The Commission did not detail a line-by-line roll call vote in the transcript.

The ratification completes the board's formal approval of the executive director's FY27 Project Support awards and closes the item.