More money for local arts! The Washington State Arts Commission today announced that it will be investing $1.2 million in arts organizations and education across the state, some as a result of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the "stimulus" act.) Recognizing the role the arts play in the country's economic and cultural well-being, the Act provided $50 million in stimulus funding to the National Endowment for the Arts, which has in turn passed on $285,000 to the WSAC to preserve arts jobs in 24 non-profit cultural organizations throughout the state. Tacoma's Broadway Center for Performing Arts is one of the recipients.

“This funding will help arts organizations minimize layoffs during this economic downturn,” said governor Christine Gregoire. “Jobs in the arts are important to the health of our communities and to the economic future of our state.”

In addition, the NEA has provided $1.2 million dollars in stimulus funding directly to 23 Washington arts and cultural organizations, including the Evergreen Longhouse in Olympia and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Other WSAC grants include $525,000 in arts education money to support 29 community partnerships that develop arts education programs in K-12 public schools, and more than $350,000 in organizational grants to 115 arts groups around the state, including the Tacoma Art Museum, the Tacoma Symphony, the Tacoma Youth Symphony and the Tacoma Arts Commission.

A full list of WSAC funding recipients can be found at www.arts.wa.gov; more details on stimulus funding in Washington can be found at www.recovery.wa.gov.