This month, we get ready to say goodbye to Charlie Rathbun, who is retiring after nearly 30 years at 4Culture—which was known as the King County Arts Commission at the time Charlie joined! Here, 4Culture staff and friends share their thoughts and wishes for our Arts Program Director:

“If there’s one thing to know about Charlie, it’s that he has a particular affection for the emergent: the emerging artist, the new theatre company, the green city arts administrator. Charlie is a sucker for possibility. And his cowboy countenance is a dead giveaway that he sees more than meets the eye; he’s about to place a bet. When I look out at the arts landscape in King County today, I mostly see Charlie’s bets. He’s given thousands of people, organizations, and communities their big break or the lifeline they needed to get from one year to the next.

Charlie has been with us from the beginning. He’s shaped every curve and angle, worked with everyone past and present. And to imagine 4Culture—and indeed the whole of the arts community—without Charlie seems nearly impossible. Who else as a heart and mind that big to hold us all? Perhaps Charlie’s biggest gift to us was that after all this time he taught us how to bet on ourselves. Which is precisely what this moment demands from us.”
—Joshua Heim, Deputy Director

“When people ask where I work and I tell them 4Culture, the next question is “Do you work with Charlie?!” Then they launch into a story about how Charlie helped them find – 50 tutus, a grassy field, a gumball machine – whatever crazy thing they needed for their art project. He’s not a bureaucrat, he’s an arts advocate. I can’t believe he’s gonna go. We love you Charlie.”
—Heather Dwyer, Arts Program Manager

“If you were to somehow look at most of the amazing or groundbreaking artistic happenings that have brightened the lives of King County residents during the past 20-plus years, chances are Charlie Rathbun was somewhere behind the scenes at each of those. Not only does he care deeply about artists, but he is one of those rare administrators whose first instinct is an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ We’ll all miss that.”
—Lucia Neare, artist

“Charlie Rathbun—in addition to be a cheerful, buoyant person who never fails to bring positive energy into any conversation—has been a guiding light for me. He champions serving our constituents over adhering to bureaucratic restrictions. He always wants to explore and experiment, both in the arts themselves and in how we fund them. He represents, to me, the spirit of 4Culture at its best.”
—Bret Fetzer, Arts Program Manager

“Thank you for being my mentor, guide and best friend here since the beginning. You’re the heart of this outfit and I will deeply miss your presence. For all the joy and goodwill you’ve spread for the past thirty years, you deserve the best and most fun retirement ever!”
—Doreen Mitchum, Arts Program Manager

“When I think about 4Culture, Charlie Rathbun is as much the visual image for me as the logo. He has been such an important part of this agency’s growth and development and he has inspired, innovated, guided and helped us find the joy in what King County has to offer us all through arts and culture. Charlie will be sorely missed, but make no mistake, his fingerprint is on so much of the organization’s work and will live on. Thank you Charlie for all of your contributions and all the best for an incredibly well-deserved retirement!”
—Vivian Phillips, 4Culture Board President

“You will be missed not only at 4Culture, but in the arts community in King County. When I think about you and your work, the one thing that stands out to me was your unfailing admiration for and love of artists, which was evident in every action you were engaged in for almost three decades. Others may not realize the essential role you played in expanding arts opportunities in the suburbs and in the rural parts of the county through the local arts agency network that you hosted for twenty years. You were a great colleague who constantly pushed to do the next big thing, to “bust a move,” when we were getting too complacent. Enjoy the next chapter.”
—Jim Kelly, former 4Culture Executive Director

“Charlie has an incredible ability to see the positive in every project and every person. Possessing a strong desire and tireless effort to make every project work for its community, he always leaves a positive and encouraging impact in everything he touches. I don’t think I have ever met a more gracious, hard working and humble person in my arts career.”
—Stephen Elliot, former 4Culture Board President

“Charlie knows every single arts group in King County. His unique Site Specific program brings creative expression to communities in every corner of King County, and his decades of dedication to promoting local arts agencies and advisors with patience and charm are legendary. I was so very lucky to learn from him.”
—Deb Twersky, former 4Culture Deputy Director

4Culture Heritage is now accepting remote internship proposals from heritage organizations in King County! Proposal deadline is at 5:00 pm PST on January 15, 2021.

The King County Heritage Internship Program has been part of our heritage capacity-building programs since 2018. In the past, we paired graduate students with host sites around the county to complete help complete projects—you can read testimonials from interns in 2018 and 2019. After the cancellation of the 2020 program due to COVID-19, we have reformatted the program to adapt to the reality of social distancing, to be open to the varying needs of heritage organizations during this time, and to be more inclusive for possible host sites.

In this iteration of the program, we are seeking engaging internship ideas that target a specific challenge that your organization is currently facing. We will select up to three heritage organizations to participate as remote host sites during the summer of 2021. We will ask that host sites to participate in orientation, communicate with the interns throughout the run of the internship, and participate in program evaluation at the end. We will provide stipends for the interns, administrative support in intern management, and overall project management.

Applicants can submit proposals by completing an application on the 4Culture grant portal and updating their 2021 demographic information. Please read this document for the full proposal instructions.

If you wish to learn more about the program or would like assistance creating an effective proposal, please join us for a virtual workshop on Wednesday, November 18, at 12:00 pm—register here.

Questions? Contact Megumi Nagata, Heritage Support Specialist, at or 206-263-3474.

We are happy to announce UrbanRock Design as the artist team selected to work with 4Culture and our partners at the King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). Based in Los Angeles, California, UrbanRock Design is the collaborative partnership of Jeanine Centuori and Russell Rock who have experience working on a range of public projects in a breadth of materials. The artist team will create a site-specific public artwork as part of the new Jameson building in the Interbay Industrial Area of Seattle, Washington.

To get a better understanding of the Jameson project, the current site houses employees who support construction, operations, and maintenance of King County’s regional sewer system. The WTD workers, who are based at this site, build and maintain sewer infrastructure that serves about a 100-square mile service area. One of the exciting aspects of the new Jameson building is WTD’s commitment to the Living Building Challenge (LBC) which is a goal of King County. The LBC certification fit well with the integrated design of the project and represents a holistic measure of sustainability in order to achieve a high level of green building goals. UrbanRock is mindful of environmental and sustainable practice in public art, which is in alignment with the principals of the LBC and goals of the Jameson project. The artists have a sustainable approach to art with experience working on green architecture as well as an interest in utilizing locally sourced and recycled materials.

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the artists have been able to build a successful and supportive long distance and remote working relationship with 4Culture, the project team and WTD project stakeholders. Jeanine and Russell are finding inspiration in this work and the dedication and stewardship of the workers. They are exploring details of the existing and future facility, from how the users will engage in the site to creating art that will contribute to a healthy and productive workspace – a goal of the LBC. We look forward to sharing more about this process as it unfolds and the creation of art that will celebrate the essential work of WTD and their connection to clean water in our region.

On September 1, the King County Council approved an additional $2 million in CARES Act funding to 4Culture’s ongoing COVID-19 response efforts. We thank King County Executive Constantine and the Council for this critical support. This amounts to $4 million to 4Culture in 2020 to distribute to the cultural sector in this time of persistent crisis.

Our goal is to get funds to the cultural sector as quickly and simply as possible, while also working within CARES Act guidelines. These federal funds must be spent by the end of the year, can only be used to offset a specific set expenses related to the shutdown, and recipients must demonstrate unanticipated losses due to COVID-19—all requirements that differ from our typical grant programs. We know requirements add barriers to accessing relief and are available to answer questions and help recipients meet them as best we can.

With this new addition, the full $4 million of CARES Act funding now supports three different arms of our relief effort:

Cultural Relief Fund for Individuals: new application now online
In the spring, we allocated $510,500 in 4Culture funds to relief for cultural workers in King County. Additional CARES Act funding will provide $500,000 for our updated grant program for cultural workers who are suffering financial losses due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. We are now accepting applications for grants of up to $2,000 to help cover costs of necessities, including housing, utilities, groceries, childcare, and transportation.

• The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 21 at 11:59 PDT.
• If you have not previously applied to 4Culture, request an account and get started at least one week prior to the deadline.
• You will need to fill out a simple online demographic profile and application; the estimated completion time is 30 minutes.
• If selected, you must be able to complete required contract documents by December 15, 2020.
• CARES Act funding comes with strict guidelines and deadlines that you must adhere to in order to receive funding. Reading the guidelines carefully answering required questions and documents is essential for this grant.
• Applications from Black and Indigenous people of color, transgender and nonbinary people, and people with disabilities are welcomed and encouraged.

Cultural Relief for Organizations: additional allocations
In June, we allocated a total of $1.39 million to 274 cultural organizations experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. Now, this additional CARES Act funding will help address unmet need demonstrated by applicants to our Cultural Relief fund.

• Organizations that already received Cultural Relief funds but are not receiving a Reopen Fund grant will receive either $1,500 or $2,500 in additional Cultural Relief funding.
• New awards of $3,000 or $3,500 will go to some eligible Cultural Relief applicants who did not receive funding in the first round.
• All of these awards are dependent on whether organizations can meet CARES Act requirements related to loss of income, eligible expenses, and other criteria that will be assessed through a preliminary survey. A prompt response to this survey is required and organizations that do not reply by October 5 will have their conditional award revoked.
• Notification of conditional awards and next steps were sent to organizations on Monday, September 28. Please contact your contract manager if you have questions.

Reopen Fund: Organizations and Landmarks
These additional funds from King County allowed us to augment our Reopen Fund, which was open earlier this summer. 171 cultural organizations and historic landmarks received grants of up to $24,000 to support either their reopening efforts or digital programming amid COVID-19. The CARES Act requirements listed above apply to these funds as well. Notification of conditional awards and next steps were sent to organizations on Monday, September 28. Please contact your contract manager if you have questions.

Thank you for your ongoing patience as we all navigate this crisis. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns at , 206-296-7580, or TTY: 711.

COVID-19 continues to impact every aspect of our lives and work. Each day presents new challenges, and as we move forward, our top priority is keeping our community informed and feeling supported as best we can.

Most recently, we’ve been working to figure out how to adapt our Sustained Support grant to the challenges cultural organizations are facing. Our grant managers know that many of the program’s normal application requirements—a two-year programming scope, fiscal projections, reviews by onsite visitors, and more—would be impossible for most organizations to provide right now.

We also know that the unrestricted, reliable funding that Sustained Support provides is more critical than ever, and only increasing. During the current 2019-2020 grant cycle, the program has provided funding to over 400 cultural organizations, local arts agencies, and municipalities.

To help balance these needs, we are making the following changes to Sustained Support for the upcoming 2021-2022 cycle:

• This year’s application cycle for 2021 funding: current Sustained Support recipients can submit a simple application in order to receive extended funding for a one-year period.
• Next year’s application cycle for 2022 funding: all current and potential Sustained Support recipients will go through our normal application process in the fall of 2021.

To organizations not currently receiving Sustained Support: we understand these changes will be disappointing. Earlier in the year, we had anticipated running Sustained Support—a core program that we’ve been thrilled to see grow steadily the past several years—like normal. As the effects of this pandemic continue to expand and evolve, however, it’s our hope that this compromise helps alleviate some of the stress organizations are facing and provides support for gradual reopening and recovery during the coming year. We hope, too, that organizations not currently in the Sustained Support funding pool have been able to access 4Culture support through our early emergency COVID-19 funding efforts and other grants. We’re currently working on plans for COVID-19 support in 2021.

As always, we want to hear your questions, concerns, and input—particularly if your organization has not yet applied for or received Sustained Support funding and/or COVID-19 Relief o Reopen funding. Please reach out to us at , (206) 296-7580, or TTY: 711, or contact our Sustained Support grant managers:

Heritage: Chieko Phillips
, 206-477-6811

Preservation: Brandi Link
, 206-263-1593

Arts: Bret Fetzer
, 206-263-1599

Rewind to December 2019: artist team Johnson | Ramirez rolled up their sleeves and began laying out a cohesive art plan for King County Metro’s RapidRide Expansion program, connecting the entire network of lines.

Over the past 8 months, they have honed a thoughtful and multi-layered plan, spending time with bus drivers, King County Metro Staff, riders, and transit-lovers alike. Even though the world of transit has been altered dramatically over the arc of this project, we see this plan as being integral to the RapidRide experience of the future. With its focus on the people that power RapidRide, we expect artworks and arts experiences to begin taking shape as each new line begins service between 2021-2025. In many ways, this Plan looks and feels different than standard plans. It is intended to tell the story of what makes RapidRide unique in an easy-to-read format. Notably, Johnson|Ramirez worked with artist, illustrator and avid bus-rider, Aaron Bagley, to capture visual vignettes which spark imagination and connect us with transit in a playful, accessible way.

Dig into the Plan, and visit us on Instagram to check out a gallery of Aaron’s illustrations!

Whether you ride the bus, live in an area serviced by RapidRide, or are transit-curious, there is something for everyone in this Plan.

What is RapidRide?
RapidRide is King County Metro’s premier transit service: arterial bus rapid transit. First implemented in 2009, there are now six existing lines (A-F) serving King County. Different from standard bus service, RapidRide lines look, feel and operate more like trains. RapidRide consistently scores the highest customer satisfaction marks among all Metro services and, when compared to routes it replaces, has 20% faster travel time and over 50% more riders.

RapidRide features include:

• Substantial, permanent stops and shelters.
• Real-time arrival information.
• Off-board fare payment so passengers spend more time moving and less time waiting.
• Significant roadway investment like bus-only lanes and opportunities to jump ahead at signals.
• Distinctive, branded red buses.

The Salaam Cultural Museum (SCM) exists to raise awareness about Arab American cultures and support refugees and immigrants both locally and internationally. Here, they share with us how they’re fulfilling that mission in Beirut: 

SCM has been part of the King County cultural community since 1996, promoting understanding of the people, cultures, languages, religions, and lands of Middle Eastern region. SCM provides teaching tools, maintains a speaker bureau, and cares for and loans out Middle Eastern cultural artifacts that were acquired by its founder, Rita Zawaideh. Rita recently received the Spirit of Liberty Award from the Ethnic Heritage Council for her decades of advocacy on behalf of Middle Eastern and North African communities in the U.S. and around the world.

In addition to this work, SCM has been seeking a permanent location for their cultural artifacts. Earlier this year, SCM held a community meeting at Cherry Street Mosque in Seattle, where they hope to establish a museum soon.

SCM’s work extends to humanitarian aid as well. When an explosion devastated the city of Beirut on August 4, SCM quickly joined relief efforts to assist the people of Beirut and Lebanon, who have already been impacted by national economic collapse and COVID-19. SCM’s fundraising campaign started the day after news of the explosion, collecting funds to purchase emergency medical supplies, walkers, wheelchairs, blankets, clothing and more. SCM’s Regional Manager in Jordan, Basel Sawalha, has been working with Jordan Hashemite Charities to transport the supplies overland and via airlift to Lebanon. In addition, a team from SCM is traveling to Beirut to set up distribution centers. SCM plans to continue fundraising and send aid to Lebanon for the foreseeable future.

Even as we face great uncertainty, many of King County’s capital projects are moving forward as planned,  and although the ways we commission and create work must shift, we’re thrilled to celebrate some recent triumphs!

Essential services are high on our minds right now. We extend gratitude to all essential workers, and in that spirit, we are excited to advance the replacement of the South County Recycling and Transfer Station into the next phase of design and development. This project has been long-anticipated, as the existing Algona Transfer Station facility cannot keep up with the volume of users and services a large swath of South King County. The new facility, which will be constructed north of the existing facility, will bring additional services including recycling, yard waste, and hazardous waste disposal and will also include roadway improvements to the West Valley Highway. Set to be completed by 2024, this project is seeking Petal Certification through the Living Building Challenge—it’s a demonstrated commitment to the County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan. We’re proud to join with King County Solid Waste Division to announce the selection of artists for two public art projects associated with this site.

First, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s Cultural Division, led by Willard Bill Jr. and Lead Cultural Arts Educators Tyson Simmons and Keith Stevenson, have been commissioned to create site-responsive and -integrated permanent artwork. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe seeks to “create regenerative spaces for people in natural ecosystems” and is committed to the support, cultivation, preservation, and sharing of cultural traditions. They are interested in accessing ancestral teachings, translated through design, artwork and a holistic approach to the environs of the site, which sits close to the Muckleshoot Reservation and whose wetlands and Algona Creek Tributary feed into the White River watershed—a sacred resource to the Muckleshoot. This team of artists have created work throughout the region, including commissions for the Burke Museum and, most recently, a project for the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

Second, a generative artist residency has been awarded to Evan Blackwell. Blackwell is a visual artist and a faculty member at Evergreen State College, where he has taught interdisciplinary courses since 2010. Evan’s work is deeply rooted in social practice and community engagement. He says that the “thread that connects my background in craft with my current studio practice is an abiding fascination with materials and objects,” some of which would otherwise enter the waste stream. “Changing the purpose of mass-produced and discarded products becomes a way for me to evoke a deeper meaning and a new awareness of the resources around me.” Blackwell will create a body of artwork over three years. Selected works will become part of the King County Art Collection and be installed at other Solid Waste Division facilities.

Both projects may occur with some overlap and interaction between the respective artists, and most certainly in coordination with the project design team. This is the first commission with 4Culture for both the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Evan Blackwell. We are eager to get to work and thankful to have come this far!

On April 1, we launched our COVID-19 relief fund for cultural workers, offering both emergency support for essentials like rent, groceries, and healthcare as well as grants for artists who had ideas for creative projects that could help King County residents through the pandemic.

Since April, the Creative Response arm of our relief fund has helped more than 30 projects come to life, with more taking shape in the coming weeks. We have been deeply inspired by the impactful ways artists have reacted to this crisis and by their committment to the well-being of King County communities. In their applications, many artists let us know that they were already at work on projects when our fund launched, and used these grants to pay collaborators and expand their reach.

Congratulations and thank you to all who put 4Culture funds to work in this way. Some projects have wrapped up, while some are still on the horizon—we’ll continue to add to this list as more projects take shape. Get to know each of them, and check back often!

Our commitment to racial equity demands that we say this clearly: the status quo is intolerable. The violence perpetrated against George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Charleena Lyles here in King County, and countless others by law enforcement and the white supremacist systems that disregard Black life cannot stand. As an agency that exists to support creativity in King County, we’re ready to play our role in imagining and building a new reality.

We recognize, too, that we are funded by a government body that also funds law enforcement—we are complicit in this system. We commit to using the power and privilege of our position within King County to push beyond dialogue and towards substantial action and accountability. Our work with the cultural sector is vital to the health of our communities and it is incumbent upon us to center anti-racism in policy and practice. This moment calls us to do more, listen better, and make meaningful impact so that our communities can thrive without fear.

We do not have all the answers—we will only find them together, centering Black voices and committing to long-term change.

In solidarity,
Brian J. Carter, Executive Director

Gallery 4Culture has exhibited innovative and underrepresented artists and art forms for over forty years. Our seasons typically run from September – July with ten, month-long solo or small-group shows. We are dark in December and August.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, however, all on-site programming is temporarily suspended and previously scheduled shows have been postponed. Nichole DeMent’s aptly titled Future Memory still hangs in our closed space.

When we reopen, we will pick up where we left off with the work of Nate Clark, Mia McNeal, Carlos Brache, and Philippe Hyojung Kim. This will very likely push our next season into 2021, although specifics are yet to be determined.

While we don’t have a set schedule, we are thrilled to announce that the following King County-based artists have been awarded shows:

Erin Elyse Burns
Lucy Copper
Hugo Cruz-Moro
Rebecca Cummins + Stephanie Simek
Kelsey Fernkopf
Elisheba Johnson
JoSaTo (John Osebold, Sara Osebold, and Tor Lee)
Tyna Ontko
Tatjana Pavićević
Junko Yamamoto

Many thanks to selection panelists Lucile Chich, Ko Kirk Yamahira, and Jennifer Zwick, Public Art Advisory Committee representative Janet Galore, and to the 109 artists who submitted applications for consideration. More information and new digital initiatives will be coming soon!

*Update: this list has been expanded and reformatted to make it easier for you to find what you need, here.*

As we experience ever-greater effects on the cultural sector due to COVID-19 restrictions, our staff continue to compile resources available to members of our communities. Please reach out via the links below if you need a hand, or if you can offer support. We’re all in this together!

Check back often—we’ll continue to update this list. For up-to-date information on how 4Culture is responding to COVID-19, click here. Special thanks to Kelly Lyles, Rad Care, SoCoCulture, and Janet Galore.

AGGREGATE RESOURCE LISTINGS

Artists & Creatives

• King County Creative: COVID-19 Handbook for Creative Industries
• King County Creative: Staying Afloat – Unemployment and Financial Help for Creatives
• Northwest Folklife: COVID-19 Artist & Community Resource List
• Office of Arts and Culture: Resources for Artists and Organizations amid COVID-19
• Pratt Fine Arts Center: Arts and Public Health Resources
• Artist Relief Coalition: Seattle Independent Artist Sustainability Resources By Gig-Based Sector
• Kirkland Arts Center: Resources for Families, Schools and Artists During COVID-19
• Artist Trust: COVID-19 Response & Recovery Resources
• ArtsWA: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) state, federal, and ArtsWA updates
• Inspire Washington COVID-19 Advocacy & Resources
• WESTAF COVID-19: General Resources and Arts Relief
• Americans for the Arts: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center
• NEA: COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
• Grantmakers for the Arts Resource List
• Resources to Guide Arts and Cultural Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• COVID-19 & Freelance Artists
• 3Arts Chicago Artists: Comprehensive List of Emergency Resources
• Women Arts: Emergency Funds – all art forms 
• Alliance of Artist Communities: Emergency Relief Programs
• Actors Fund: Emergency Financial Assistance Resources
• Artists Thr!ve: COVID-19 Resources
• New York Foundation For the Arts: Emergency Grants List
• Common Field: COVID-19 Resources for the Artist Organization Field
• Forecast Public Art: COVID-19 Artist Resources + Funding

Historic Preservation

• Main Street America: COVID-19 Main Street Resources
• Preservation Leadership Forum: Resources in Response to the Coronavirus (also for museums and nonprofits)

Museums and Collections

• American Alliance of Museums: Resources & Information for the Museum Field
• Association of Children’s Museums: Resources to Help Guide Your Museum’s Response to Coronavirus
• COSTEP MA: Collections Management and COVID-19
• Collections Stewardship: COVID-19 Resources for Museum Collections

Nonprofits & Small Businesses

• Seattle Met: A List of Resources to Help Seattle’s Small Businesses Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
• StartUp 425: Resources for Eastside Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
• City of Bellevue: COVID-19 Business/Nonprofit Resources
• Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Business Resources
• Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Updates for Businesses
• Washington Nonprofits: Coronavirus Response Resources for Nonprofits
• Nonprofit Finance Fund: COVID-19 Tools and Resources for Nonprofits
• Seattle Good Business Network Support Hub

Our Community

• COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Communities
• Friends of Historic Belltown: COVID-19 Resources for the Downtown Workforce
• COVID-19 Resources for Community: City, Community, County, State and Federal Resources

EMERGENCY FUNDING: APPLY

Artists

• Artist Trust: COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts: COVID-19 Relief and Emergency Grants (experimental artists)
• NYFA/Robert Rauschenberg Foundation: Rauschenberg Emergency Grants (medical emergencies)
• Emergency Grants for Visual Artists
• Craft Emergency Relief Fund: CERF+ The Artists Safety Net(COVID-19 medical emergencies)
• Intiman: COVID-19 Disaster Relief Grant Application (artists who have worked with the Intiman)
• Dramatists Guild Foundation
• Artly World Nonprofit: Artist Relief Project

Musicians

• Nate Omdal: Seattle Music Teachers Fund
• Recording Academy MusiCares: COVID-19 Relief Fund
• Sweet Relief: COVID-19 Fund  

Nonprofits & Small Businesses

• City of Seattle: Small Business Stabilization Fund

Our Community

• Guadalupe M.M: COVID-19 Relief for Undocumented People in Seattle
• Emily Gaggia/Casa Latina: Day laborer and household worker relief fund
• US Bartenders Guild National Charity Foundation: COVID-19 Relief and Response Information
• Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation: COVID-19 Relief Fund

EMERGENCY FUNDING: DONATE

Local

• Seattle Foundation: COVID-19 Response Fund
• COVID-19 Mutual Aid Fund for LGBTQI+ BIPOC Folks
• Ijeoma Oluo: Seattle Artist Relief Fund Amid COVID-19
• Nate Omdal: Seattle Music Teachers Fund
• Jessica Tousignant and Candace Whitney Morris: Seattle Hospitality Emergency Fund
• Guadalupe M.M: COVID-19 Relief for Undocumented People in Seattle
• Dane Garfield Wilson: ReBar Family Unite Fundraiser
• Intiman: Share the Love
• The Soze Foundation, TaskForce and Invisible Hand: Artist + Activist Relief Fund
• OneReel: Art Saves Lives

Regional

• ArtsFund: COVID-19 Arts Emergency Relief Fund
• Mutual Aid Solidarity Network: COVID-19 Survival Fund for the People
• Emily Gaggia/Casa Latina: Day laborer and household worker relief fund
• Big Table (Restaurant and Hospitality Industry): COVID-19 Response

Washington

• Artist Trust: COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund

National

• Craft Emergency Relief Fund: CERF+ The Artists Safety Net
• Recording Academy MusiCares: COVID-19 Relief Fund
• Musicians Foundation Emergency Fund
• Sweet Relief: COVID-19 Fund (for musicians)
• American Guild of Musical Artists: AGMA Relief Fund
• Artist Relief Tree
• Recording Academy MusiCares: COVID-19 Relief Fund
• New Music USA: New Music Solidarity Fund
• Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation: COVID-19 Relief Fund

COVID-19 IMPACT SURVEYS

• City of Seattle: Economic Impact Survey for the Greater Seattle Region
• Greater Seattle Partners: Economic Impact Survey
• Americans for the Arts: The Economic Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Arts and Cultural Sector
• Cerf+ The Artists Safety Net: COVID-19 Impact Survey
• New Music USA: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Freelance Performers in New Music
• Common Field: COVID-19 Response and Support survey

WEBINARS AND ONLINE INFO SHARING

• Office of Arts and Culture: COVID-19 Webinar for Artists, and Arts and Culture Organizations, 3/13/2020
• Artists in a Time of Global Pandemic (ASL captioned), 3/16/2020
• Grantmakers in the Arts: Emergency Response Webinar (ASL captioned), 3/19/2020
• Financial Strategies for Freelance Artists in a Time of Crisis (ASL captioned), 3/26/2020

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Finances & Un/Employment

• United Way of King County: Unemployed Due to Coronavirus Pandemic? Here’s Where to Get Help
• Worksource: Critical Job Opportunities – COVID-19
• COVID-19 Financial Help in WA State
• How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits in WA State
• How to Apply for Workers’ Compensation in WA State
• WA State Department of Financial Institutions: Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19
• Davis Wright Tremaine: WA and OR Moratorium on Residential and Commercial Evictions

Food Security

• Seattle Food Committee: Food Bank Map
• Seattle Area Food Resources

Mutual Aid

• Mutual Aid Solidarity Network: Seattle-area COVID-19 “Offer Support” Volunteer Form
• Mutual Aid Solidarity Network: Seattle area COVID-19 “Request Support” Form
• COVID-19/ Coronavirus South Seattle & Eastside Mutual Aid “Offer Support” / Volunteer Form
• COVID-19/ Coronavirus South Seattle & Eastside Mutual Aid “Request Support” Form
• Puget Sound Community Mutual Aid – intake form (for queer folks)
• King County: Regional Donations Connector
• Sum of Us: Covid Support Network

Our Community

• Decolonized Community Care In Response to COVID-19
• Seattle Chinatown-ID & South End POC Owned Restaurants w/Food Delivery
• City of Seattle: COVID-19 Resources for Community
• Seattle Times: Resources to support the community during the coronavirus outbreak
• Immigrant Accompaniment Networks & Covid-19
• King County: Health Care for the Homeless Network
• Public Health Insider: Resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community

Public Health

• King County Public Health: COVID-19 Updates
• WA Health Benefit Exchange: Special Enrollment Period in Response to Growing Coronavirus (deadline April 8)
• Center for Disease Control: What to Do if You Are Sick
• Washington health insurers to waive deductibles, coinsurance and copays for coronavirus testing
• American Psychiatric Association: Center: Working Remotely During COVID-19 – Your Mental Health and Well-Being

General Resources

• MRSC of Washington: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Local Governments
• Coronavirus Resource Kit
• South Arts: Arts Ready Alert – Preparing for the Potential Impact of Coronavirus
• National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response
• Howlround Theatre Commons: Ways of Gathering In the Age of COVID-19
• adrienne maree brown: Additional Resources for Facing Coronavirus/Covid19

CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY

Education & Entertainment

• SPACE 101.1: Arts on the Air
• DAE’s List: Art Online streaming in the covid-19 era
• Seattle Symphony: Broadcasts
• Live Music Seattle: Upcoming Livestream Events Listings
• E3 Washington: Go Outside – DIY ESE Learning
• Fender Play: 3 months of free lessons
• BOMB Magazine: Closing the Distance: New Spaces for Community
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• COVID-19 Art Stories

Virtual Tours

• West Seattle Art Walk: April 9
• ArtsWA: Women Artists in the state’s public art collection
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: 11 National Trust Historic Sites and National Treasures to Explore Virtually
• Whitney Museum of American Art: Here’s How To Whitney From Home
• Mental Floss: 12 World-Class Museums You Can Visit Online
• The Guardian: 10 of the world’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours

Keep Moving

• Brooklyn Museum: Disco Break
• YMCA: On-Demand Videos

Like you, we are closely monitoring the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In this evolving situation, we see and are inspired by all the artists, organizations, and individuals finding new ways to be responsive. We thank Seattle and King County Public Health for their diligent work to keep us informed, and encourage you to check their webpage often. We’ve also compiled a resource list for cultural organizations and practitioners in our region, which we’ll continue to update regularly.

We want to keep you informed about the ongoing steps we are taking:

*Updated October 14, 2021.*

4Culture is pleased to announce that cultural producers residing in King County may be eligible to apply to the Individual Recovery Fund beginning on January 5, 2022.

*Updated September 23, 2021.*

King County cultural organizations can now apply to 4Culture Sustained Support, the 4Culture Recovery Fund, and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Recovery Fund through a single application. Grant guidelines, workshop dates, and the application are all available online now. The deadline to apply is November 5, 2021 at 5:00 pm PDT.

*Updated September 9, 2021.*

We’ve spent the past few months working with our partners at King County to build new COVID-19 relief programs for the cultural sector, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Thank you for your patience during this process. Our shared goal is to put these federal dollars to work supporting as many King County cultural organizations and producers as possible. Here’s what we have to share with you at this time:

As always, we know navigating pandemic relief funding can be confusing and overwhelming! We’re here to help. Please contact us at or 206-296-7580, or check out our Staff page to find contact information for specific 4Culture grant managers.

This project was supported by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

*Updated May 25, 2021.*

Today, the King County Council passed its seventh emergency supplemental budget. In this budget, the council appropriated $9.4 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to 4Culture to support our ongoing response to COVID-19.

We are grateful to the Council and Executive Dow Constantine for this much-needed support for King County’s cultural workers and organizations, who continue to be deeply impacted by the pandemic. Details about the disbursal of these funds will be available shortly—please subscribe to our email list to be notified as soon as grant programs are open.

*Updated December 1, 2020.*

In November, the King County Council allocated an additional $350,000 of CARES Act funding to 4Culture for our ongoing COVID response to the cultural sector. This brings 4Culture’s total CARES Act funding to $4.35 million since March, supporting both our Reopen Fund and Cultural Relief Fund for individuals and organizations. We are grateful to have this support and we look forward to working with the Council and all our elected officials in 2021 to bring more federal relief to King County cultural workers and organizations.

*Updated September 28, 2020.*

Additional CARES Act funding from King County will provide $500,000 for ou relief program for King County cultural workers suffering financial losses due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. We are now accepting applications for grants of up to $2,000 to help cover costs of necessities, including housing, utilities, groceries, childcare, and transportation. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 21 at 11:59 PDT. If you are planning to apply, please read the guidelines carefully and in full and contact us with any questions!

*Updated September 1, 2020.*

Today, the King County Council voted to approve an additional $2 million towards our ongoing COVID-19 response efforts. We thank King County Executive Constantine and the Council for this critical support. These funds will help address already identified, unmet need demonstrated by applicants to our Cultural Relief and Reopen Funds. Please watch for more details about these additional funds as they are confirmed.

*Updated May 21, 2020.*

The COVID-19 crisis has deeply changed our world and been heartbreakingly hard on cultural workers and organizations. We’ve pivoted our funding focus to respond to the needs of our community. This strategy provides a framework for 4Culture’s programs and services moving forward, so we can respond to your needs as they emerge over the coming months:

To support this new focus, we are re-allocating funds from some programs, while continuing to offer the remainder of 4Culture’s 2020 grant roster:

*Updated March 25, 2020. Please read entire post.*

*Updated March 17, 2020. Please read entire post.*

*Posted March 11, 2020. Please read entire post.*

Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. We will announce any further updates on our website, via email, and on social media channels. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

The Washington Museum Association (WaMA) was established to represent and serve museums of all types and sizes throughout Washington State. WaMA offers an annual conference for peer-to-peer learning, networking, and idea exchange. The 2020 Washington Museum Association Conference will take place June 17 – 19, 2020 in Olympia, WA. This year’s theme is Museums and Democracy: Advocate, Educate, Participate.

To support professional development of heritage professionals in King County, we are offering three $350 stipends to individuals attending this year’s WaMA conference. The deadline to apply is April 17, 2020 at 5:00 pm PST.

To be eligible for an Attendee Stipend, you must attend the conference and be a King County resident, as well as a staff member, board member, volunteer, or intern at a heritage organization in King County, or a consultant, service provider, or independent historian who primarily works with King County heritage. 4Culture stipends may be used for conference registration, and to defray travel and lodging costs. To receive the stipend, you must attend the conference and be prepared to write a brief statement about your experiences.

To apply, please submit a letter of interest via email. The letter should be no longer than two pages, including your daytime phone number, mailing and email addresses. The letter should include the following:

• Itemized budget of conference attendance.
• Your current status with a King County heritage museum or organization.
• Please share how your conference participation will impact your career, your affiliated institution, and the heritage field. How will you utilize the information, connections, and inspirations you gain from attending the conference for your professional goals, your institution, and/or future of the heritage field?

Email your letter of interest to Megumi Nagata at with the subject line WaMA 2020 Attendee Stipend.

4Culture staff will review and select applications based on:

• Evidence of research on the cost, the conference, and WaMA.
• How clearly your interests or goals for career, affiliated institution, and the heritage field are articulated.
• How well your interests and goals align with the conference offering and WaMA’s mission.

We will notify stipend recipients via e-mail by April 24. Please contact Megumi Nagata, 4Culture Heritage Support Specialist, with any questions at or 206-263-3474.