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Hello, Cultural Advocates!

On February 7th, cultural advocates from all over Washington State will convene in Olympia for Arts, Heritage, & Science (AHS) Day. Hosted by Inspire Washington and many of our state cultural agency partners, this is an energizing day when you get to meet your lawmakers and tell them what's on the docket for the cultural sector this year. Not only that, but you'll get to meet fellow cultural supporters from around the state and network with folks in your own community!

For those who are unable to join us in Olympia, there are virtual meetings with lawmakers all throughout Arts, Heritage, & Science Week.

Our friends at the Washington State Historical Society and Washington Museum Association are also hosting workshops, advocate info events, and a reception in Olympia on February 6th. ArtsWA is also having their annual Sip and Chat on February 6th! We are so looking forward to the activities hosted by our partners and encourage you to attend as well.

We need all hands on deck for AHS Week. Here's how you can participate:

1. Register as an advocate HERE!
2. Forward this email to at least five people in your community. We currently have 70 advocates signed up--can you help us get to 150 by the end of the week?
3. Unable to join us for AHS Week? Join the Inspiration League so that you can respond to I-Alerts throughout the session!

AHS Week Resources

• Curious about what you'll be advocating for this year? Read our 2024 Broad Cultural Agenda!
• AHS Week Event Schedule
• Advocacy Resources Page. Filled with briefing sheets, tips for talking to lawmakers, and more!

It is because of advocates like you that we have made progress for our sector in recent years. You deliver a powerful "boots on the ground" experience to lawmakers in your meetings and give a voice to the needs of your larger community. Advocacy is effective and FUN! We are so thankful to all our advocates, past and present, who have made our coalition what it is today.

I hope to see you in Olympia!

Warmly,

Madeline Dalton, Outreach Coordinator

advocacy@inspirewashington.org

Inspire WA along with our state-wide partners at ArtsWA, Humanities WA, Dept of Commerce, WAMA, ArtsFund, WA Filmworks, WA State Historical Society, announced our broad cultural agenda for the 2024 legislative session at the All in for Advocacy Online Virtual Rally on Friday, January 5th at Noon. At the rally, we shared the details of each request and provide resources so that advocates may confidently meet with their lawmakers before the holidays. It is vital that the legislature hears from their constituents about the needs of the sector before session begins. AHS Week is also a great opportunity to meet the people who represent you and your cultural work in the government space, ask all your questions, and provide feedback.

If you missed the rally, don't worry! You can watch the recording here.

ArtsFund is pleased to partner with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation on the second round of funding for the Community Accelerator Grant, a $10 million investment in Washington state’s arts and culture sector.

Administered by ArtsFund and funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, this program builds on the success of its 2023 pilot, which awarded 671 unrestricted grants, reaching 35 out of Washington’s 39 counties.

In 2024, the Community Accelerator Grant program will continue to provide unrestricted funding for cultural nonprofit organizations across Washington state. Funding will provide essential capital to Washington’s cultural organizations, including fiscally sponsored and tribal organizations, whose primary mission is to produce or support arts and cultural activities. The funds are intended to boost arts organizations’ ability to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state.

Applications for the 2024 program will run from February 5 to March 5, 2024. The process will again utilize a Community Advisory Panel, which will inform the application, outreach, and awardee slate. Further details about the application process, the advisory panel, and criteria will be shared in January of next year.

Visit www.www.artsfund.org/accelerator for more info!

About Inspire Washington

Inspire Washington nurtures the human spirit and strengthens communities by increasing access to science, heritage, and arts programming through advocacy, resource development, education, and coalition building.

Inspire Washington

info@inspirewashington.org

P.O. Box 806, Seattle, WA 98111

InspireWashington.org

Manuel R. Cawaling, Executive Director: manny@inspirewashington.org

Jessi Wasson, Programs and Operations Manager: jessi@inspirewashington.org

Anna Tatelman, Annual Fund Manager: anna@inspirewashington.org

Madeline Dalton, Outreach Coordinator: advocacy@inspirewashington.org

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