Washington’s Federal Way Symphony is among the organizations receiving support from a 0.1% county sale tax.
In Wednesday’s (12/11) Seattle Times, Margo Vansynghel writes, “King County will send about $70 million in funding to 720 local arts, science, history and heritage nonprofits next year; 4Culture, the county’s cultural agency, announced the grant recipients Wednesday. The funding—largely drawn from a sales tax increase that began accruing in April—is part of a blockbuster new program expected to inject $700 million into the cultural sector over the next seven years. The new cultural access program, Doors Open, is run by 4Culture, the semipublic county organization that distributes public funds to arts and culture projects…. 4Culture usually sends out about $10 million to $15 million per year. With Doors Open, the agency’s 2025 grants are increasing to $70.1 million across 720 organizations. Organizations are receiving unrestricted ‘sustained support’ funds for day-to-day operational costs … Doors Open is funded by a 0.1% sales tax increase that began accruing in April. The Metropolitan King County Council approved the levy in December 2023 … joining the state’s other cultural access programs in Tacoma and Olympia, as well as similar initiatives in St. Louis and Denver…. The program is meant to expand access to culture and education, increase quality of life and boost the economy.”
