Art Calls and Grants

Please note that all submitted grant applications and Call for Artists are considered to be public records and are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW). Please contact Public Records Officer Dustin Davison at (509) 962-7241 if you have any questions or concerns about what this might mean for your grant application.

There are no current opportunities open. 

PAST OPPORTUNITIES

Bus Shelter Call for Artists

Congratulations to the three highly regarded artists selected to feature their artwork on three new bus shelters in Ellensburg. The artists chosen are:

Erin Oostra       Artist, Gallery Owner, and Curator

Justin Gibbens     Home | mysite

Sue Wright     Sue Wright Fine Art

Locations for the three new bus shelters:

• Near the roundabout at Rotary Park
• Ruby Street and Umptanum
• Ruby Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue

The artwork will be installed throughout 2026. Thank you to all who submitted work for this call. Final artist selection was made at the November 13, 2025, Arts Commission meeting.

2026 Arts Commission Project Grant cycle is now closed.

The Ellensburg Arts Commission 2027 Arts Commission Project Grant cycle will open from June 15, 2026, through August 30, 2026. 

Project Grants

Through its annual grant funding cycle, the Arts Commission distributes monetary support to applicants who can demonstrate the community benefit, artistic merit and achievability of their proposals for projects, activities or performances. Grants are $2,500 for an organization and $1,000 for individuals.  Successful applicants are reimbursed for all related expenses within the year they are granted, or reasonably soon after for those projects that take place in December of the project year. Only one application per organization/individual will be considered. 

The 2026 Project Grants

The Ellensburg Arts Commission supports artists, creators, innovators, and organizations throughout the community to create and enrich the performing arts, visual arts, and literary arts and drive economic growth of the creative industry in Ellensburg. The selection of projects for 2026 represents $22,000 in funding and explores artistic youth programming, offers a connection to the natural beauty of the region, literary arts, and celebrates the cultural history of the community. 

We thank all artists and organizations that submitted a Project Grant Application and their commitment to sharing art with the community. 

We are pleased to present the 2026 Project Grant recipients.  

Follow Ellensburg Arts Commission on social media for project announcements and updates.

Thank you to all the artists, arts organizations, and creators for helping make Ellensburg a place where art thrives.