The funder's mission is to utilize Lodging Tax revenues for cultural community benefits in King County. They aim to return these funds to the community, supporting local arts, heritage, preservation, and public art. Their mission encompasses enhancing public access to culture and the arts, and addressing geographic and funding disparities to ensure support reaches a wide range of communities, especially underrepresented ones.
The Arts Sustained Support grant program focuses on providing operational funding to arts organizations and Local Arts Agencies in King County over two-year cycles. This support is aimed at fostering creativity and ensuring the stable day-to-day operation of these entities. Specific areas funded include the clarity and achievement of an organization’s mission, community impact, the involvement of artists in organizational activities, and financial accountability. For Local Arts Agencies, emphasis is laid on the diversity and impact of programming, government commitment, responsiveness to community needs, and resource development. Additionally, the program includes a Geographic Equity Enhancement to address funding and resource access disparities, particularly benefiting organizations in locations outside of Seattle or in high Communities of Opportunity index areas. The program underlines the importance of public benefit through free or accessible cultural programming and events.