Tacoma Arts

Tacoma Arts City of Tacoma Arts and Cultural Vitality Division
Artist Opportunities - Funding Programs - Public Art - Creative Development - Events

The Tacoma Arts Commission encourages the development of the local arts community through the administration of funding programs for artists and arts-focused community projects, managing the City's public art collection, and producing a variety of public programs including Tacoma Arts Month and the Tacoma Poet Laureate program.

Tacoma artist Teresa Owens is building a large-scale crocheted lichen artwork, and she is seeking community to share in ...
06/03/2026

Tacoma artist Teresa Owens is building a large-scale crocheted lichen artwork, and she is seeking community to share in the process. If you can chain and single crochet, you are welcome! Or bring a friend who would like to learn. All supplies provided. Drop in for all or part of a session.
The crocheting is about 2/3 complete. Come help bring it home.
Upcoming community crochet sessions at Tacoma Public Library:
Tuesday, June 2
5:30–7:30 PM | South Tacoma Library

Friday, June 5
1–3:30 PM | Fern Hill Library

Tuesday, June 9
5:30–7:30 PM | South Tacoma Library

Saturday, June 13
1–3 PM | Moore Library

Saturday, June 20
10 AM–12:30 PM | Fern Hill Library

Tuesday, June 23
5:30–7:30 PM | South Tacoma Library

Friday, June 26
3–5:30 PM | Wheelock Library

Contact Teresa: 253-307-6350 (call or text) | [email protected]
Facebook:

Funded by the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program, City of Tacoma.

Student artists from across Tacoma made their gallery debut downtown at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch.In partner...
06/02/2026

Student artists from across Tacoma made their gallery debut downtown at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch.

In partnership with parents and community, Tacoma Public Schools provides a comprehensive educational experience that is rigorous, individualized, and enables students to contribute to a changing and diverse world.

With support from Community Arts Projects funding, Tacoma Public Schools held the inaugural TPS Secondary Art Exhibition at the Handforth Gallery in the downtown Main Tacoma Public Library. The exhibit showcased art produced by students from 13 middle and high schools across Tacoma on the theme "Between the Mountain and the Sea." The exhibition ran January through March 2026 with an opening night celebration on January 28th.

Community Arts Projects funding supported Tacoma Public Schools in bringing this project to life, directly empowering the district to provide students a professional public exhibition platform and deliver a free, accessible arts experience to the downtown Tacoma community.

The City of Tacoma's Community Arts Projects funding program financially supports organizations and groups producing arts-focused community projects that are inclusive, accessible, and address equity issues. This funding serves as seed money to help bring creative performances, workshops, and public experiences to life across Tacoma between January 1 – December 31, 2026. From parks to cafes to neighborhood gathering spaces, these projects invite the community to connect through shared creative moments.

tacomaschools.org

City of Tacoma Government Tacoma Public Schools Tacoma Public Library

Calling Tacoma artists and creatives!Applications are now open for the 2026 Tacoma Studio Tour and Arts at the Armory. A...
05/26/2026

Calling Tacoma artists and creatives!

Applications are now open for the 2026 Tacoma Studio Tour and Arts at the Armory. Apply once for one or both opportunities to share your work, connect with the community, and expand your audience. Artists at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply, from those just starting to longtime practitioners.

Apply now: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit or follow the link in our bio.
Deadline: Monday, June 22, 2026, by 11:59 pm

Tacoma Studio Tour
Open your working studio or creative space to the public and give them a behind-the-scenes look at your creative process.
• Dates: Saturday & Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2026
• Time: 11 AM – 5 PM (choose one or both days)
• Location: Your Tacoma-based studio or creative/performance space (you do not need a formal studio to participate)
• Free to apply and participate; no commission

Arts at the Armory
The City of Tacoma Arts & Cultural Vitality Division is proud to continue its partnership with Tacoma Arts Live as Arts at the Armory returns for its 6th year. Participate in this vibrant indoor arts market alongside fellow Tacoma creatives. Spots are limited.
• Dates: Saturday & Sunday, November 14 & 15, 2026
• Time: 11 AM – 5 PM (choose one or both days)
• Location: Tacoma Armory, 1001 S. Yakima Ave
• Free to apply and participate; no commission

Eligibility for both events
• Must live within Tacoma city limits and/or have a regular working studio or performance space in Tacoma
• All work must be created, performed, or made by the applicant, and cannot be commercially acquired, appropriated, or AI-generated

Creatives and artists who identify as members of the Global Majority; Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color (BBIPOC); African, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native-American (ALAANA) communities; economically or socio-economically marginalized communities; LGBTQIA+ communities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Questions? Contact Daniel Garcia at [email protected] or (253) 830-6763

Apply now: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit


City of Tacoma Government

Applications are now open for the 2026 Tacoma Studio Tour and Arts at the Armory. Apply once for one or both opportuniti...
05/26/2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Tacoma Studio Tour and Arts at the Armory. Apply once for one or both opportunities to share your work, connect with the community, and expand your audience. Artists at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply, from those just starting to longtime practitioners.

Apply now: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit or follow the link in our bio.
Deadline: Monday, June 22, 2026, by 11:59 pm

Tacoma Studio Tour
Open your working studio or creative space to the public and give them a behind-the-scenes look at your creative process.
• Dates: Saturday & Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2026
• Time: 11 AM – 5 PM (choose one or both days)
• Location: Your Tacoma-based studio or creative/performance space (you do not need a formal studio to participate)
• Free to apply and participate; no commission

Arts at the Armory
The City of Tacoma Arts & Cultural Vitality Division is proud to continue its partnership with Tacoma Arts Live as Arts at the Armory returns for its 6th year. Participate in this vibrant indoor arts market alongside fellow Tacoma creatives. Spots are limited.
• Dates: Saturday & Sunday, November 14 & 15, 2026
• Time: 11 AM – 5 PM (choose one or both days)
• Location: Tacoma Armory, 1001 S. Yakima Ave
• Free to apply and participate

Eligibility for both events
• Must live within Tacoma city limits and/or have a regular working studio or performance space in Tacoma
• All work must be created, performed, or made by the applicant, and cannot be commercially acquired, appropriated, or AI-generated

Creatives and artists who identify as members of the Global Majority; Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color (BBIPOC); African, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native-American (ALAANA) communities; economically or socio-economically marginalized communities; LGBTQIA+ communities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Questions - please contact Daniel Garcia at [email protected] or (253) 830-6763


City of Tacoma Government

500 students. One neighborhood. One mural.Sheridan PTA is a small non-profit formed by more than 60 volunteer family mem...
05/26/2026

500 students. One neighborhood. One mural.

Sheridan PTA is a small non-profit formed by more than 60 volunteer family members and staff at Sheridan Elementary. They strive to uplift the morale of their school community by creating opportunities to gather and serve together, as well as providing funds for miscellaneous activities throughout the school year.

With support from Community Arts Projects funding, Sheridan PTA is creating a welcoming and colorful outdoor mural at Sheridan Elementary, intended to bring joy to the families of its more than 500 students and the broader Eastside Tacoma community. The mural will be created by artist Saiyare Refaei.

Community Arts Projects funding will support Sheridan PTA in bringing this project to life, directly empowering the organization to provide artists fair compensation for their work and deliver a lasting piece of public art to the community.

The City of Tacoma's Community Arts Projects funding program financially supports organizations and groups producing arts-focused community projects that are inclusive, accessible, and address equity issues. This funding serves as seed money to help bring creative performances, workshops, and public experiences to life across Tacoma between January 1 – December 31, 2026. From parks to cafes to neighborhood gathering spaces, these projects invite the community to connect through shared creative moments.

https://sheridan.tacomaschools.org/about/pta

City of Tacoma Government

Art created from lived experience hits different.Alliance for Accessibility educates the public on ableism, the barriers...
05/19/2026

Art created from lived experience hits different.

Alliance for Accessibility educates the public on ableism, the barriers people with disabilities face daily, and ways to break down those barriers through hands-on experiences that simulate life with a disability.

With support from Community Arts Projects funding, the We Are Not Forgotten Showcase is a community celebration of music, poetry, dance, and artistic expression performed by people with disabilities. Rooted in lived experience, the project embeds accessibility into every aspect of performance, programming, and marketing, centering artists with disabilities and artists of color who are too often excluded from professional platforms.

Community Arts Projects funding will support the We Are Not Forgotten Showcase's free admission model, directly empowering Alliance for Accessibility to provide artists and performers fair compensation for their participation and provide free admission to all attendees.

The City of Tacoma's Community Arts Projects funding program financially supports organizations and groups producing arts-focused community projects that are inclusive, accessible, and address equity issues. This funding serves as seed money to help bring creative performances, workshops, and public experiences to life across Tacoma between January 1 – December 31, 2026. From parks to cafes to neighborhood gathering spaces, these projects invite the community to connect through shared creative moments.


City of Tacoma Government

How important do you think it is for the City of Tacoma to continue supporting opportunities to engage in cultural progr...
05/13/2026

How important do you think it is for the City of Tacoma to continue supporting opportunities to engage in cultural programming through Tacoma Arts Month?

It's one of the questions driving our current strategic planning process.

This past year brought important milestones and renewed commitments to Tacoma's cultural sector, including the reauthorization of Tacoma Creates, the 25th anniversary of the 1% for Art Program, and the 24th anniversary of Tacoma Arts Month.

We still have work to do!

The Arts & Cultural Vitality Division is currently updating our strategic plan to inform the next 10 years and would like your input.

Please take a short, anonymous survey to help us understand how well our programs and services are meeting community needs, how we can deepen equity and access, how we can communicate more effectively, what to prioritize moving forward, and how people experience Tacoma's cultural landscape.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspective with us.
surveymonkey.com/r/ACVplan

City of Tacoma Government

Seventy years of dance. Every body welcome.Tacoma City Ballet has been dedicated to providing after-school and summer da...
05/12/2026

Seventy years of dance. Every body welcome.

Tacoma City Ballet has been dedicated to providing after-school and summer dance education to the diverse youth of Tacoma for 70 years. TCB has also been offering Open Adult classes for the last five years and plans to bring Dance for Wellness to the senior residents of Tacoma in 2026. These programs are soundly supported by the organization, which has dedicated its most esteemed teachers to the effort. The community also continues to support the project by attending classes and contributing to the growth of adult dance opportunities in Tacoma.

With support from Community Arts Projects funding, Tacoma City Ballet (TCB) believes in teaching the technique and tradition of ballet and other dance forms in a supportive community that encourages both artistic and personal growth for all people of all ages. TCB believes that historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or age, should not be a barrier to experiencing dance. To reduce the financial obstacle, they have been offering two Open Adult classes for free every week, the other three classes are low-cost at $10 per class, and their Dance for Wellness classes will be free of charge.

Learn more and follow:
tacomacityballet.com



The City of Tacoma's Community Arts Projects funding program financially supports organizations and groups producing arts-focused community projects that are inclusive, accessible, and address equity issues. This funding serves as seed money to help bring creative performances, workshops, and public experiences to life across Tacoma between January 1 – December 31, 2026. From parks to cafes to neighborhood gathering spaces, these projects invite the community to connect through shared creative moments.

Already on Tacoma's Mural Artist Roster? We need you to resubmit your portfolio by June 2.Due to a change in where we ho...
05/11/2026

Already on Tacoma's Mural Artist Roster? We need you to resubmit your portfolio by June 2.

Due to a change in where we host portfolios online, we are asking all current roster members to resubmit to affirm your interest in mural opportunities, reconfirm eligibility, update your work samples, and ensure compatibility with our new hosting platform.

As a previously selected member, you will be automatically included in the updated roster upon confirmation of eligibility. No panel review required.
New to the roster? This cycle is open to all applicants.

We will send direct communications and reminders with instructions.

Deadline: June 2 at 5 PM Pacific.
https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit

The 2025 Arts and Cultural Vitality Annual Report is here. District highlights show how arts investment showed up in Tac...
05/08/2026

The 2025 Arts and Cultural Vitality Annual Report is here. District highlights show how arts investment showed up in Tacoma neighborhoods.

In Hilltop, the City partnered with local artists, historians, and community members to install 9 bronze plaques and granite markers along Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Led by artist and historian Whitney Brady, the first phase honored influential African American leaders whose lasting contributions helped define Hilltop's legacy.

In the Lincoln District, thousands of residents and visitors attended the free Lunar New Year Festival, celebrating Asian heritage through traditional performances, food, a marketplace, and family activities.

Swipe through for the full picture, then visit tacoma.gov/arts to read the complete report. Take the Strategic Plan Survey and help shape the future of arts in Tacoma. Link in comments.

tacoma.gov/arts

City of Tacoma Government

Address

747 Market Street, Rm 900
Tacoma, WA
98402

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12535915191

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tacoma Arts posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Tacoma Arts:

Shortcuts

Share