Building for the Arts was created by the Legislature in 1991 to award grants to performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations. The program awards grants to performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations for as much as 33% state match of eligible project costs for acquisition, construction, and/or major renovation of capital facilities.
The state’s investment in these local projects provide:
- Temporary construction jobs
- Permanent arts-related jobs
- Improved quality of life for residents
Funding availability
The 2025–2027 Building for the Arts grant application round is now closed.
The 2027-2029 Building for the Arts funding round will open in the spring of 2026.
Resources
This is a reimbursement-style grant and operating costs are ineligible. The grants are funded by the sale of state bonds only. Awardees are selected through a competitive grant application process held every two years. Grant applications are screened by staff and then ranked by an advisory board of Building for the Arts.
The maximum grant award amount is $2,000,000.
Eligibility criteria:
- Ability to complete the project expediently
- Organizational capacity to run facility effectively
- Community need
- Availability of other funding sources
The 2025-2027 online BFA Workshop was held on May 16, 2024. Our in-person workshops were held in Seattle on May 21, in Spokane on May 22 and in Yakima on May 28, 2024.
- Related law: 43.63A.750 RCW
When in doubt, ask us questions! Please call our staff at 360-725-3075, or email us at capprograms@commerce.wa.gov with any program questions you may have.