Apply by March 1 for King County 4Culture arts funding, March 8 for preservation grants

February 14, 2017 1:30 am
Harrison Goodall, a conservation architect, examines the planks of the Fall City hop shed in July. His work was partially funded by a grant from King County 4Culture. Carol Ladwig/Staff Photo
Harrison Goodall, a conservation architect, examines the planks of the Fall City hop shed in July. His work was partially funded by a grant from King County 4Culture. Carol Ladwig/Staff Photo

King County’s cultural funding agency, 4Culture, is currently offering grants to support projects for individuals and groups working in the arts, heritage and preservation, and the deadlines to apply are quickly approaching.

Grants are awarded in three disciplines, arts, heritage and preservation. The application deadline is March 1 for arts projects, March 8 for heritage and preservation projects.

The program is one of 4Culture’s largest grant programs, open to King County artists, art groups, local historian, or historic property owners.

So, what are these grants for, exactly?

Art project grants fund artists and small arts groups, from traditional to contemporary, emerging to established, who are working in all creative disciplines and genres to enhance the cultural life of King County. Last year, dancer and choreographer Veronica Lee-Baik received funding for Giselle Deconstruct, her reinterpretation of classic ballet through the lens of the experiences of marginalized young women in Southeast Asia.

Heritage project grants supports work uncovering, illuminating, and sharing the rich history in King County. Oral histories, research, online exhibitions, heritage project grants can fund it all. Community historian and Central District resident Jill Freidberg is putting her 2016 Heritage Projects grant to work documenting the stories of the Red Apple grocery store at 23rd and Jackson before it is torn down to make way for new development.

Preservation special project grants funds neighborhood surveys, landmark nominations, building assessments, planning projects, and advocacy efforts. They support projects utilizing new technologies and reaching audiences that are new to historic preservation. The Fall City Historical Society used its grant to hire a timber consultant to assess the condition of the iconic 1888 Fall City Hop Shed, the only remaining building of its type in King County.

Grant writing can be challenging, so 4Culture provides step-by-step guidance throughout the process as well as a series of informal workshops. Applications are reviewed by a panel of peers working in their field of practice.

Learn more at 4Culture.org, or contact the following offices with your project ideas:

• Preservation special projects, Brandi Link at brandi.link@4culture.org or 206-263-1593;

• Heritage projects, Chieko Phillips at chieko.phillips@4culture.org or 206-477-6811;

• Art projects by individual artists, Heather Dwyer, heather.dwyer@4culture.org or 206-263-1597;

• Art projects by groups, Doreen Mitchum, Doreen.mitchum@4culture.org or 206-263-1605.