Ellensburg Arts

PROGRAMMING

The Ellensburg Arts Commission supports artists, creators, innovators, and organizations throughout the community to enrich the arts and drive economic growth of the creative industry in Ellensburg. To successfully achieve its mission, the Ellensburg the Arts Commission focuses on five primary areas:

Project Grants
Through its annual grant funding cycle, the 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 for up to $2500 and successful applicants are reimbursed for all related expenses within the year they are granted. The grant cycle opens in May and closes on August 31st of each year. Awards are announced in November for the following year. 

First Friday Art Walk
In order to engage the community in an interaction with the arts, the Commission organizes and supports the monthly First Friday Art Walk which gives local business owners the opportunity to showcase local artists in their stores and galleries in a fun and family-friendly event. 

City Art Collection & Public Art
The Commission serves as curator for the City Art Collection. The collection are works of art that have been donated, purchased or are otherwise owned by the City of Ellensburg.  In order to grow the collection, the Commission makes a purchase from each year’s Kittitas County Juried Art Show for inclusion in the permanent collection. You will find pieces of the City Art Collection on display in all City owned public buildings. Additionally, the Ellensburg Arts Commission reviews and supports all public art and serves and advisory role in maintenance and development of our Public Art Program for Ellensburg. 

Poet Laureate
Ellensburg is one of nine cities and/or counties in the state of Washington to feature a Poet Laureate. The role of Poet Laureate is to enhance the presence and appreciation of poetry and literary arts in Ellensburg. The Poet Laureate will work with the Arts Commission and other community organizations to raise interest in poetry, encourage local poets to showcase their craft, and provide a public benefit through poetry during their tenure. The Poet Laureate's term of service is two years.  

Ellensburg Creative District (ECD)
In February 2023, Ellensburg was designated a certified Creative District in Washington. The ECD encompasses both the downtown area and Central Washington University campus, the first in the state and only second in the nation to include a university within the Creative District.  The Ellensburg Creative District is a vital component of a growing creative industry that is an important economic driver to the local economy. It helps increase tourism, build opportunities for artists and businesses, and enhances the quality of life in Ellensburg. The long-term goals of the Ellensburg Creative District are to:

• Build awareness for the creative economy
• Be an economic driver for the creative industry
• Provide opportunities for exploration and growth
• Establish life-long arts education
• Create affordable maker spaces and artist housing/residencies
• Expand and develop living-wage jobs within the creative sector