SPARK CREATIVITY. INSPIRE THE CITY.

ARTS ∙ CULTURE ∙ HERITAGE ∙ SCIENCE


applications for the 2024-25 funding cycle have closed

Tacoma Creates is no longer accepting applications for the 2024-25 funding cycle. Please check in January 2025 for information on the 2025-26 funding cycle.

Tacoma Creates supports organizations whose primary purpose is to advance and/or preserve arts, culture, heritage, and/or science through two funding categories: Comprehensive Organizational Support and Impact Funding.

You can read more about these funding programs, including the Application Guidelines on the Funding Opportunities page.

Email staff with any questions you may have at tacomacreates@cityoftacoma.org.


Tacoma Creates 2022-23 Annual report!

We are excited to announce the release of the 2022-23 Tacoma Creates Annual Report, celebrating a third year of success and highlighting the impacts of funding 56 cultural organizations throughout the City of Tacoma! These highlights include:

  • $4.5 million in funding distributed to 56 organizations in the City of Tacoma.

  • Over 1,100 programs were produced by Tacoma Creates-funded organizations.

  • 78% of those programs were free for all participants.

Tacoma Creates nurtures the sustainability of the cultural sector by supporting organizations’ financial health, their ability to collaborate, and their programming and staffing capacity.

To learn more about the good work of Tacoma Creates-supported organizations and the impact of $4.5 million in Tacoma Creates contracts, check out the Tacoma Creates 2022-23 Annual Report.


Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study Released

From May 2022 - July 2023, the City of Tacoma's Arts & Cultural Vitality Division participated in a national study called Arts & Economic Prosperity 6. The study documented the economic and social benefits that nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and their audiences, have both locally and nationally.

In 2022, Tacoma's nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $163 million in economic activity - that's $87.1 million in spending by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, which leveraged an additional $75.9 million in event-related spending by their audiences. The impact of this activity is significant in Tacoma, supporting 2,065 jobs, generating $28.7 million in tax revenue, and providing $87.2 million in personal income to local residents.

Find out more at www.cityoftacoma.org/AEP


 Partnerships with Tacoma Public SchoolS students and teachers!

Tacoma Creates funds will cover round-trip bus costs for up to 200 school-day field trips, each school-year, for all Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) to attend Tacoma Creates-supported programming! This opportunity is open to classes serving all grade levels, pre-K-high school, at any Tacoma Public School, with a priority given to TPS Title 1 schools. Field trips eligible for this transportation support include any during-the-school-day cultural programming offered by currently funded organizations within the City of Tacoma.

Tacoma Creates is proud to be a partner on Beyond The Bell / Club B after-school programs, along with Tacoma Public Schools, Metro Parks Tacoma, Greentrike, and other community partners, which provides after school classes at TPS elementary and middle school campuses.

Visit our Youth Education page for more information on these TPS partnerships.


FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS

Who does Tacoma Creates fund, and what are these groups presenting? Check out Funded Organizations.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Explore the diverse array of events from our Tacoma Creates organizations by visiting our Events calendar.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Are you a non-profit cultural organization in Tacoma? Learn more about our Funding Opportunities

Photo credits L-R: Twins play in the water feature at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma. Youth learning calligraphy at Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s Korea Day. Hilltop Artists students and artist Minhi England working with glass.