Our Public Free Access program aims to reduce the significant barrier that admission fees pose to many King County residents— particularly underserved communities—and visitors in accessing quality, relevant, cultural experiences.

Grants may be used to support free and reduced cost participation in arts, heritage, historic preservation, or science and technology related experiences that meet the following criteria:

• Mission-based and meaningfully engages the attendee in the mission.

• In-person at venues in King County whereat head counts are taken and recorded.

• Provides an identical, not inferior, experience to attendees paying a standard fee.

• Produced/generated/created by your organization. This means actively engaged (e.g., providing financing and staffing) in generating the science or cultural programs, activities, exhibits, performances, or events. Active engagement must go beyond marketing and facility usage (e.g., house and technical staff). Partnerships with other eligible, King County cultural organizations for joint productions are allowed as long as you are actively engaged.

• Open and advertised to the general public without restriction or limitation by invitation, such that anyone who wishes to visit/attend/participate/purchase a ticket may do so. Programs presented in restricted institutional environments, such as nursing homes as well as youth, correctional, and transitional housing facilities, are eligible.  

Public Free Access grants will be based on the number of free and reduced cost attendance provided in the previous calendar year that meets the above criteria.

For this purpose, the following attendance definition applies:

• Attendance is per visit, event, performance, program, and such, rather than per individual, e.g., a person participating in programming for free on two separate days would count as two attendees.
• For ongoing courses requiring registration, attendance is counted as one student per course taken during the year (rather than per class session).
• Reduced cost attendance includes participants paying fees that are both:
  • less than or equal to 50% of the standard fee and
  • less than or equal to $10 per person.
• “Standard fee” means the advertised, one-time, per program cost (or most common, per program cost if fees vary by time of purchase) of general admission to access a program.

Attendance does not include:

• Remote or virtual participants.
• Reduced cost attendance does not include participants paying fees more than 50% of the standard fee or more than $10 per person.
• Participants at open-air, ungated, and/or unmonitored venues whereat head counts are not taken and recorded.
• K-12 in-school activities or participation funded by 4Culture’s Curiosity Pass grants at any other venues in King County. Please apply to our Curiosity Pass program, which is dedicated exclusively to funding access for public school students, for funds to support K-12 student programming.
• Unused tickets or memberships. Do not report sales numbers in your application, only documented, physical attendance at a venue in King County is eligible.
• Participants reported by another applicant for a Public Free Access grant.

Examples of attendance include: attending a performance in a theater, visiting an historic building, viewing a robotics demonstration, listening to a curator’s talk at a museum, touring a sculpture garden in which attendees are counted upon entry, taking a course on jewelry making, viewing a photography exhibit at a gallery, participating in a marine wildlife walking tour.

Examples of attendance do not include: attendance via online meetings, space rentals, private events, hosted events for which your organization is not the producer, activities in K-12 classrooms, passersby a window display in a public venue that otherwise do not interact with the exhibit, ungated festivals in which attendees are not individually counted upon entry, unused tickets, ticket sales numbers without any accompanying attendance verification, attendance at a 25% discount of the standard fee, fundraising events, web site visits, newsletter subscriptions.

Documentation Required

Under the ordinance authorizing funds for Public Free Access grants, attendance reported to 4Culture must be verifiable. This means applicants must have documented their free and reduced cost attendance by some mechanism that recorded a head count and preserved the documentation in their records.

Applicants must be prepared to produce documentation verifying the attendance reported in an application, or a request for payment of the grant award, at any time. Failure to produce requested, acceptable documentation to 4Culture verifying attendance head counts may result in your application not moving forward to the panel, withholding of payment, or termination of a grant award. 

Examples of acceptable documentation to verify attendance numbers (not an exhaustive list):

• Reports of redeemed tickets from a point of sale system.
• Signed and dated logs of attendee counts taken by volunteers with clickers at entrances.
• Signed and dated logs of counts of ticket stubs collected at a staffed gate. 
• Signed and dated logs of head counts taken by volunteers at a specific point in time at an event.
• Signed and dated logs of participant counts taken by volunteers conducting activities in the field. 
• Reports from automated people counters at venue entrances.

Attendance estimates cannot be accepted: attendance counts reported to 4Culture must match your documentation exactly, e.g, do not use rounded totals or event averages. Please contact 4Culture if you have any questions about whether your attendee counting methods or documentation meets this requirement.

If you intend to apply for a Public Free Access grant, plan now to ensure your organization is collecting and preserving attendance documentation.

Additional Guidance

• Programs, events, and activities funded by Public Free Access grants are intended to provide benefits to all members of the public in King County. There is no requirement for an income test for your audience nor is there a requirement to exclusively serve low-income communities.
• These grants may be used to support new or existing programs that meet the criteria in the guidelines. There is no requirement to have ever charged a fee for past programming.
• Donations can be received at activities supported by these grants so long as it remains clear that the public can participate for free or at a reduced cost and that it’s not a situation in which a reasonable person would believe they have to pay to participate.
• Attendance via discounted memberships may be eligible under this grant: for example, a $40 family membership that is a 60% discount over the regular family membership and could be used to admit six people per visit (adding up to less than $10 per person for a single visit).
• Free programs offered inside paid venues are not eligible as free attendance since the programs would not be accessible without paying a fee. Such programs might be eligible as reduced cost, however, depending upon the fees charged by the venue.
• Free tickets for volunteers may count toward free attendance so long as a reasonable person would understand that no transaction was required, e.g., requiring x number of hours of labor for a free ticket would constitute an exchange of labor for goods, thus not free.
• The channel or means by which an applicant distributes free or reduced cost tickets, either directly or through partners, is not a factor in determining eligibility. Regardless, only physical and documented attendance is eligible.
• Age-appropriate programs are not automatically ineligible, e.g., activities developed for youth, seniors, or 21+ audiences, so long as attendance is otherwise open and advertised to the general public without restriction or limitation by invitation.
• Requiring auditions for participation, such as to join a community chorus, would not make an applicant ineligible so long as the auditions are open to the general public.

Maintaining our focus on equitable access to funding, the Public Free Access program will minimize the burden of applying by automatically pre-qualifying current 4Culture Arts, Heritage, Historic Preservation, or Science and Technology Sustained Support grant recipients if they meet all other program eligibility requirements.

To be eligible to receive Public Free Access program funds, you must meet the following requirements:

• Approved for current year funding in 4Culture’s Arts, Heritage, Historic Preservation, or Science & Technology Sustained Support programs at the time of the posted application deadline.
• Provide mission-based, science or cultural experiences open and advertised to the public, King County residents and visitors, occurring between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2026.
• Have 501(c)(3) IRS determination or a fiscal sponsor.
• Be a nongovernmental organization.

Equity Investments

Applicants located outside Seattle, located in and primarily serving a King County Community of Opportunity (see the map below), with the smallest operating budgets, and/or exhibiting other socio-economic indicators associated with underserved communities may also be eligible to receive an equity investment.

Equity investments are restricted to applicants with total expenses less than $5 million in their most recently completed IRS Form 990. 

Communities of Opportunity

The Communities of Opportunity (COO) index was first developed in 2012 and includes a set of health and socioeconomic indicators to gauge community health and well-being. 4Culture aligns our equity investments with the COO index to identify the areas of King County in greatest need of support.

View this Communities of Opportunity map to determine whether your organization or primary venue is located in a COO. COO areas eligible for an equity investment in the Public Free Access program are outlined and in purple.

Contact Us

We are available by email and phone to assist you! Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.

Andres Guerrero-Guzman
andres.guerrero-guzman@4culture.org
206-263-3251

Bart J. Cannon, PhD

206-263-1584

Workshops

Workshops provide an opportunity for you to meet staff, learn about the process, ask questions, and get application feedback. All workshops will be held online. Registration is required via the links provided. Notetaker bots will not be admitted to the workshop.

Workshops for Public Free Access grants will be Q + A sessions; please read the guidelines and view the instructional video prior to attending a workshop.

Watching this instructional video is recommended prior to attending a workshop::

Substitulos en Español | 中文字幕（繁體)

Translation and Assistance

The guidelines, a detailed explanation of how to apply, and the application are in English. If this is a barrier that stops you from understanding the grant or applying due to limited English writing ability, visual impairment, or you would like to request assistance to create an application, please contact or call (206) 296-7580 or TTY 711, and we will make sure you get the support you need.

中文 (Chinese)

我们的 Public Free Access（公共免费开放）计划旨在减少门票费用对 King County 众多居民（尤其是服务不足的社区）以及游客在获得优质且相关的文化体验方面所造成的显著障碍。
资助可用于支持人们以免费或较低费用参与与艺术、文化遗产、历史保护或科学和技术相关的活动。

如果您是 Sustained Support（持续支持）计划的受资助者，您可以通过简短的申请流程申请参与 Public Free Access（公共免费开放）计划。该计划有助于降低贵机构项目实施中的障碍，提高可及性，同时减轻 King County 居民的经济负担。

我们会确保您获得所需的支持. 資助指南、如何申請的詳細說明以及資助申請表均為英文版。如果您因英語書寫能力有限、視力障礙而無法申請，或是在填寫申請表時需要協助，請發送電子郵件至 jackie.mixon@4culture.org 或致電 (206) 296-7580 或 TTY 711 進行聯絡，我們會確保您獲得所需的幫助。

Русский (Russian)

Наша программа Public Free Access (Публичный бесплатный доступ) призвана снизить стоимость входной платы для многих жителей King County, особенно малообеспеченных категорий населения, и посетителей округа, стремящихся получить доступ к качественным и актуальным культурным мероприятиям.Гранты могут использоваться для обеспечения бесплатного или льготного посещения мероприятий в сфере искусства, сохранения культурного и исторического наследия, а также науки и технологий.

Участники программы Sustained Support (Долгосрочная поддержка) имеют право подать краткую заявку на участие в программе Public Free Access (Публичный бесплатный доступ). Эта программа способствует устранению препятствий для деятельности вашей организации, повышая доступность и снижая финансовую нагрузку на жителей King County.

Правила предоставления гранта, подробная инструкция по подаче заявки, а также сама заявка на грант составлены на английском языке. Если вы не можете подать заявку из-за недостаточного владения письменной английской речью или нарушений зрения, либо нуждаетесь в помощи для составления заявки, напишите по адресу jackie.mixon@4culture.org или позвоните по телефону (206) 296-7580, либо TTY 711. Мы предоставим вам необходимую поддержку.

Soomaali (Somali)

Barnaamijkeena Public Free Access (Adeegga Bulshada Bilaashka ah) yoolkiisu waa inuu yareeyo caqabadaha waaweyn ee khidmadda aqbalaadu ku leedahay in badan oo kamid ah dadka degen King County— khaasatan bulshooyinka aan si buuxda loogu adeeggin oon loo taageerin—iyo dadka soo booqda taasoo ay ka wajahayaan helitaanka adeegyo tayo leh, ku habon, dhaqan ahaan.

Deeqaha waxaa loo isticmaali karaa ka qaybqaadashada bilaashka ah iyo tan qiimaha jaban ee farshaxanka, dhaqanka, ilaalinta taariikhda, ama sayniska iyo howlaha teknoolojiyadda la xiriira
Haddii aad tahay qof hela Sustained Support (Taageero Joogto ah), waad u qalantaa inaad codsato Public Free Access (Adeegga Bulshada ee Bilaashka ah) adigoo adeegsanay codsiga gaaban. Barnaamijkaanu wuxuu gacan ka gaysanayaa yaraynta caqbaadaha ku imaan kara barnaamijyada ururkaaga, asagoo kordhinaya helitaanka iyo fududaynta culayska dhaqaalaha ee dadka deggan King County.

Tilmaamaha deeqda, sharraxaada faahfaahsan ee ku saabsan sida loo codsado, iyo codsiga deeqda waxay dhammaan ku qoran yihiin Af-Ingiriisi. Haddii arrintaan ay tahay caqabad kaa hor istaageyso codsashada oo ay sabab u tahay awoodda qorista Af-Ingiriisiga oo xadidan, naafanimo aragga ah, ama aad jeclaan lahayd inaad codsato in lagaa caawiyo in aad codsi sameyso, fadlan la xiriir jackie.mixon@4culture.org ama wac (206) 296-7580 ama TTY 711, waxaana xaqiijin doonnaa inaad hesho taageerada aad u baahan tahay.

Español (Spanish)

Nuestro programa Public Free Access (Acceso Público Gratuito) tiene el objetivo de reducir la enorme barrera que representan las tarifas de admisión para muchos residentes de King County —en particular, las comunidades desatendidas— y para visitantes al momento de acceder a experiencias culturales relevantes y de calidad.

Las subvenciones pueden usarse para brindar acceso gratuito o a un costo reducido a experiencias relacionadas con el arte, el patrimonio, la preservación histórica o la ciencia y tecnología.
Si usted recibe Sustained Support (Apoyo Sostenido), es elegible para aplicar a Public Free Access (Acceso Público Gratuito) mediante una solicitud corta. Este programa ayuda a reducir las barreras para acceder a las actividades de su organización, lo que aumenta la accesibilidad y alivia la carga financiera de los residentes de King County. 

Las directrices de la subvención, la explicación detallada de cómo solicitarla y la solicitud de la subvención están redactadas en inglés. Si esto supone un impedimento para presentar la solicitud debido a una capacidad limitada para escribir en inglés, una discapacidad visual o necesita ayuda para crear una solicitud, póngase en contacto con jackie.mixon@4culture.org o llame al (206) 296-7580 o TTY 711, y nos aseguraremos de que reciba la ayuda que necesita.

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Chương trình Public Free Access (Tiếp Cận Miễn Phí Dành Cho Công Chúng) của chúng tôi nhằm mục đích giảm bớt khó khăn về chi phí vé vào cửa cho người dân King County—đặc biệt là các cộng đồng khó khăn—và du khách trong việc tiếp cận những trải nghiệm văn hóa chất lượng và phù hợp.Khoản tài trợ có thể được sử dụng để hỗ trợ việc tham gia miễn phí hoặc giảm chi phí các hoạt động liên quan đến nghệ thuật, di sản, bảo tồn lịch sử hoặc khoa học và công nghệ

Nếu là người nhận tài trợ Sustained Support (Hỗ Trợ Bền Vững), quý vị sẽ đủ điều kiện nộp đơn đăng ký chương trình Public Free Access (Tiếp Cận Miễn Phí Dành Cho Công Chúng) thông qua một đơn đăng ký ngắn. Chương trình này giúp giảm bớt rào cản cho hoạt động của tổ chức quý vị, tăng khả năng tiếp cận và giảm bớt gánh nặng tài chính cho người dân King County.

Các hướng dẫn về khoản tài trợ, giải thích chi tiết về cách nộp đơn và đơn đăng ký tài trợ đều bằng tiếng Anh. Nếu đây là rào cản khiến quý vị không thể nộp đơn đăng ký do khả năng viết tiếng Anh hạn chế, suy giảm thị lực hoặc quý vị muốn yêu cầu hỗ trợ để tạo đơn đăng ký, Làm ơn liên hệ jackie.mixon@4culture.org hoặc gọi (206) 296-7580 hoặc TTY 711 và chúng tôi sẽ hỗ trợ những gì quý vị cần.

Applications must be approved by a community panel, after which funding must be recommended by an advisory committee as well as approved by 4Culture’s Board of Directors. This process may take up to three months after the deadline.

Contracts and Payment

If you are awarded a grant, 4Culture will prepare a grant agreement for you to sign. You must complete all of the free and reduced cost programming listed in your application to receive final payment. 

An optional, partial payment of your award, prorated by month of the year, may be requested in addition to a final payment, e.g., submitting a payment request for 25% of your award on April 1st as on that date 25% of the year will have passed. 

Payments for your current Public Free Access grant will not be made until programs funded by previous Public Free Access grants have been completed and final payment requests for those grants have been submitted and approved. 

Requirements and Appeals

Learn about what will be required if you are awarded a grant, and about the process for appeal of a 4Culture decision.

When the grant opportunity opens, you will apply through our online grant portal. We suggest you make certain you have an active account and that your organization profile is up to date. 

Once you’ve started your application, it can be saved as a draft that you can continue to work on up until the deadline. Once you click “Submit,” your application is no longer editable. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions during the process.

What’s in the Application?

The Public Free Access application is intended to place minimal burdens on applicants, having few questions to answer:

1. Attendance (free, reduced cost, and other paid) during the previous calendar year?
2. How did you count the attendance reported?
3. What documentation of the attendance reported have you preserved in your records?
4. What are the science and cultural experiences in 2026 at which you plan to offer free or reduced cost participation?
5. How do you prioritize reaching underserved communities?

In addition, you must enter your most recent (at least 2023) Total Expenses as filed in your IRS Form 990 in your account profile. You must enter this information in your account profile by the application submission deadline for your application to be complete.

Demographic Information

Your profile in our application portal must provide demographic information for the current year for your board and staff by the application submission deadline. We use this information to help us understand how well we are doing in our efforts to reach all communities in King County.