Touring Arts Roster Presenter Incentive Program in Washington

The Touring Arts Roster Presenter Incentive Program is administered by 4Culture, a cultural funding agency for King County, Washington. 4Culture operates with a mission to reinvest public funds generated from hotel and motel sales tax revenue back into King County communities through accessible cultural programs. It supports arts, heritage, preservation, and public art initiatives that strengthen community identity and broaden access to creative expression. This incentive program provides up to $2,500 annually to eligible organizations that present live performing arts events featuring artists listed on the 4Culture Touring Arts Roster. The grant is designed to support local arts by reimbursing up to 50% of the fees paid to these pre-approved performers. The objective is to foster accessible, community-based cultural events that are either free or low-cost for the public. Eligible organizations include King County Local Arts Agencies, business associations, city agencies, Public Development Authorities, and nonprofits with Sustained Support status. All events must occur within King County and be open and accessible to the public. The application process is straightforward and designed to minimize administrative burden. Applications must be submitted at least one month before the earliest planned event. Required information includes event title, date, descriptions emphasizing public benefit and accessibility, estimated attendance, performer names, and a clear budget for performer fees. For first-time applicants, a qualifications section is included to assess organizational capacity. Optional sections allow applicants to describe how their project supports historically marginalized communities, although this is not required for funding. Applications are evaluated based on public benefit, qualifications, feasibility, and optionally, the project’s advancement of equity. A strong emphasis is placed on ensuring that projects provide cultural access to King County residents and visitors. 4Culture’s Equity Investment practice is built into the review process, giving additional consideration to projects that address structural inequities in arts funding, including those that focus on underserved geographic locations or marginalized groups. The grant is open on an ongoing basis and does not operate within specific annual funding cycles. Once an application is submitted, applicants will typically receive notification of funding status within one to two weeks. If awarded, grantees will enter into a Letter of Agreement outlining all eligible events for the year. Payment is issued after completion of the event, pending submission of required documentation, including a brief evaluation. Program contact is Scott Oshima, who can be reached at scott.oshima@4culture.org or by phone at (206) 477-8064. Translation support and application assistance are available in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all applicants, including those with limited English proficiency or visual impairments.

Applications must be submitted at least 1 month before the earliest event; Optional equity narrative can strengthen proposal.