Tacoma 2027 Community Arts Projects: $4,000 or $6,000 for Local Visual and Media Arts, 26 October Deadline
The City of Tacoma, Washington, invites locally based organisations and groups to seek Community Arts Projects support for the year 2027. The online application deadline is Monday 26 October 2026 at 11:59 pm local time. Eligible applicants can choose a request of US$4,000 or US$6,000 for public-facing arts activity taking place in Tacoma.
ELIGIBILITY — The funding supports organisations and groups based in the city, with experience serving Tacoma communities. Examples of potentially eligible applicants include nonprofit corporations, organised groups with a shared cultural mission, qualifying tribes or Native nonprofits, and businesses or educational institutions presenting projects that are nonprofit in nature. The group must have offices or a place of business in Tacoma, or conduct the majority of its activities in Tacoma if it has no office.
DIGITAL AND MEDIA ART — Applications are accepted across artistic disciplines. A public exhibition, screening, participatory media installation, creative workshop or similar community-facing visual project may be suitable if it meets the published guidelines. The city explicitly states that artistic and cultural components must be made, performed or created by humans. Digital-art applicants using generative tools need to consider that requirement carefully.
GRANT SIZE AND TIMING — There are two advertised award options, $4,000 and $6,000. Supported activity must occur in Tacoma and be completed between 1 January and 31 December 2027. Awards are decided through competitive assessment, depend on available funds and require official city budget approval. This is not guaranteed support for every qualified applicant.
PROGRAMME PRIORITIES — The city's Arts & Cultural Vitality programme values projects that are inclusive, accessible to the public and attentive to equity. The 2027 funding priorities also discuss applicants who are not already funded through Tacoma Creates. A strong proposal should describe its intended audience, venue or place, community partners, accessibility and delivery schedule.
ABOUT THE FUNDER — Tacoma's Arts & Cultural Vitality Division administers local arts opportunities and publishes previous funded project examples. The city government announced the 2027 programme in September 2026 and provides its funding guidelines and online application pathway. The municipal source helps applicants assess the credibility and geographic limits of the programme.
HOW TO APPLY — Read the 2027 Community Arts Projects Funding Guidelines and submit through the Tacoma Arts Submittable form. The official opportunities page identifies the programme administrator and contact route for eligibility questions. Do not treat the programme as a general US-wide artist grant: the Tacoma location conditions are substantive.
OFFICIAL CITY ANNOUNCEMENT — https://tacoma.gov/news/application-for-2027-community-arts-projects-funding-now-available/
APPLICATION AND GUIDELINES — https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/arts-cultural-vitality/opportunities/
Information checked against the City of Tacoma's published 2027 notice on 20 October 2026.