PROGRAMS

To successfully achieve its mission of supporting the activities of local individuals and organizations for the development and enrichment of the performing, visual and literary arts within the city of Ellensburg the Arts Commission focuses on three primary areas.

Grants
Through its annual grant funding cycle, the Commission distributes monetary support to applicants who can demonstrate the community benefit, artistic merit and achievability of their proposals for projects, activities or performances. Grants are for up to $2500 and successful applicants are reimbursed for all related expenses within the year they are granted.

First Friday Art Walk
In order to engage the community in an interaction with the arts, the Commission organizes and supports the monthly First Friday Art Walk which gives local business owners the opportunity to showcase local artists in their stores and galleries in a fun and family-friendly event. Art Walk venues are free to display works by artists of their own choosing or may ask the Commission to recommend someone from the Commission’s artist roster.

City Art Collection
The Commission maintains and continuously adds to a collection of art works that have been donated, purchased or are otherwise owned by the City of Ellensburg.  In order to grow the collection the Commission makes a purchase from each year’s Kittitas County Juried Art Show for inclusion in the permanent collection.