March 25, 2020
Dear Governor Jay Inslee,
We are a united coalition of non-profit cultural and science organizations and the commercial creative industry. Statewide, we are nearly 18,000 businesses, 70,000 employees, and countless creatives and contractors who drive significant economic activity and spur tremendous social impact. We exist to serve our communities and every city, town, and hamlet benefits from our programs in science, heritage, and the arts. As an economic sector, we add remarkable and recognizable value to Washington’s high quality of life. Culture is vital and inspirational: it ignites curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and connection to other people and the places around us.
We are grateful for your bold leadership during these perilous times and have adjusted our programs for the sake of public health and safety. This pivot has resulted in tremendous and unexpected financial losses. Like never before, our valuable work is threatened, and the survival of our organizations and livelihoods of many are uncertain. While we will continue to follow your lead, we want to be transparent about our immediate losses and long-term threats. We implore you to provide our sector with immediate financial relief and include us in conversations regarding economic strategy and recovery when we move beyond the current public health crisis.
This unprecedented emergency has resulted in staggering revenue losses throughout every branch of the cultural sector, in every city and town. On a normal day, tens of thousands of Washingtonians engage in our programming. But today, our zoos, museums, aquariums, concert and performance halls, science and technology centers, film and recording studios, theaters, galleries, conservation labs, education spaces and offices are closed. Countless people are out of work.
Existing factors make this particularly difficult:
- The decline in public, foundation, and corporate financial support over the past decade forces many of our organizations to operate on the edge with minimal cash reserves.
- Resources overwhelmingly go to programming.
- Many organizations in rural and suburban communities operate with minimal staff, relying on tremendous volunteer support.
- Limited resources and the loss of consistent media coverage for our sector has meant that audience growth has not kept apace with population growth despite our nationally and internationally renowned organizations.
We don’t have the resources to weather this economic depression, so the first wave of layoffs has begun. This is regrettable because workers need job stability and access to healthcare, but our many organizations are facing crushing debt and potential bankruptcy or permanent closure.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector contribute $41 billion to Washington’s economy, representing 8.3% of the state’s GDP—a larger share than many other industries. In addition to the economy we drive, there’s also the economy we inspire that is measured in the tens of billions. We inspire Washingtonians to put down their devices and leave their homes and workspaces. As result, they hire babysitters, buy a new outfit, pay for parking or use Uber, contribute taxes, and patronize a whole array of main street businesses, like restaurants and bars.
Cultural work also drives tourism and is a major contributor to Washington’s hotel/motel tax collection, especially in our urban communities where we have world renowned cultural assets. This is the valuable economic cultural ecosystem that took decades to nurture and sustains so many interconnected lives in the state. It cannot perish.
Public health and safety come first. And, we are more than cultural workers. We are also the children of frail and elderly parents. We are mothers on chemotherapy. We are caring for children with compromised immune systems. There is no us and them, right now. We are with you in this fight for Washington.
When the conversation focuses on mitigating the financial collapse, arts, culture, science, and heritage organizations must be at the table. When strategies are being developed to get Washington’s economy moving again, we will step up and share our abundant creativity. Who may we speak with immediately to begin building relationships for the sake of Washington’s future?
You are a recognized leader in the arts and culture sector and will continue in that role as we look at economic recovery. More public investment in science, heritage, and the arts pays off with more jobs, better education, and stronger places across the state. Together, we are poised to move beyond this pandemic and expand the cultural sector’s impact on Washington to an even greater level of service, prosperity, and vital human connection.
Sincerely,
Manuel R. Cawaling
Executive Director, Inspire Washington
Cc: Karen Hanan. Executive Director of ArtsWA
Cc: Dr. Lisa Brown. Director of Washington State Department of Commerce
Add your name or organization to this list!
Organizations




































































































Individuals
Theater of Possibility
Seattle & Bellevue, King County
KidsQuest Children’s Museum
Bellevue, King County
Jack Straw Cultural Center
Seattle, King County
Seattle Children’s Museum
Seattle, King County
Youth in Focus
Seattle, King County
Seattle Men’s Chorus/Seattle Women’s Chorus
Seattle, King County
Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
Seattle, King County
Arts Northwest
Spokane, Spokane County
Artist, Writer, Arts Consultant
Spokane, Spokane County
Auburn Symphony Orchestra
Auburn, King County
Grand Illusion Cinema – Lead Programmer
National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) - ED
Seattle, King County
Mount Baker Theatre
Bellingham, Whatcom County
Edmonds Center for the Arts
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Seattle Music Partners & Rooted in Vibrant Communities Seattle
Seattle, King County
Tieton Arts & Humanities
Tieton, Yakima County
Washington Nonprofits
Statewide
Pacific Science Center
Seattle, King County
On the Boards
Seattle, King County
Washington Festivals & Associations
Port Angeles, Clallam County
Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle, King County
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle, King County
Spokane Arts
Spokane, Spokane County
City of Kent Arts Commission
Kent, King County
ArtsFund
King & Pierce County
Kirkland Arts Council
Kirkland, King County
Queen Anne Historical Society
Seattle, King County
Cascadia Art Museum
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Seattle Opera
Seattle, King County
Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall
Seattle, King County
The Center for Wooden Boats
Seattle, King County
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Seattle, King County
Arts Center Task Force
Richland, Benton County
DrewBoy Creative
Richland, Benton County
South King County Culture Coalition (SoCoCulture)
Seattle, King County
Windz of Change Alliance
Seattle, King County
Mount Baker Theatre
Bellingham, Whatcom County
The 5th Avenue Theatre
Seattle, King County
Washington State Arts Commission Statewide
Mobius Children’s Museum & Science Center
Spokane, Spokane County
National Nordic Museum
Seattle, King County
San Juan Island Museum of Art
San Juan Island, San Juan County
ACT Theatre
Seattle, King County
206 Zulu
Seattle, King County
Arts Corps
Seattle, King County
Northwest Railway Museum
Snoqualmie, King County
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Olympia Symphony Orchestra
Olympia, Thurston County
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Spectrum Dance Theater
Seattle, King County
Freehold Theatre
Seattle, King County
Edmonds Arts Commission
Edmonds, Snohomish County
KEXP
Seattle, King County
Auburn, King County
Artist Trust
Washington State
Seattle-King County Cultural Accessibility Consortium
Seattle, King County
Humanities Washington
Washington State
Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre
Seattle, King County
Tasveer
Bellevue, King County
Mercer Island Arts Council
Mercer Island, King County
More Arts!
Woodinville, King County
ArtsED Washington
Washington State
Seattle, King County
Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council
Shoreline & Lake Forest Park, King County
Seattle, King County
Orcas Center
Eastsound, San Juan County
Maple Valley Creative Arts Council
Maple Valley, King County
Centerstage Theatre
Federal Way, King County
Cornish College of the Arts
Seattle, King County
Fall City Historical Society
Fall City, King county
Bellevue, King County
Gallery One Visual Arts Center
Ellensburg, Kittitas County
Symphony Tacoma
Tacoma, Pierce County
Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Black Diamond Historical Society/Museum
Black Diamond, King County
Northwind Arts Center
Port Townsend, Jefferson County
Vashon Center for the Arts
Vashon Island, King County
Seattle Chamber Music Society
Seattle, King County
Whidbey Island Fine Art Studio
Langley, Island County
Seattle Children’s Theatre
Seattle, King County
Washington Center for the Performing Arts
Olympia, Thurston County
Mid-Columbia Mastersingers
Richland, Benton County
ArtsEd Washington
Seattle, King County
ArtWalk Edmonds
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Jed Dorsey Fine Art
Camano Island, Island County
Velocity Dance Center
Seattle, King County
Pacific Bonsai Museum
Federal Way, King County
Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange
Seattle, King County
Pratt Fine Arts Center
Seattle, King County
Washington Filmworks
Statewide
Co-President, Ethnic Heritage Council of the Pacific Northwest
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, Washington State Jewish Historical Society
Mercer Island, King County
Executive Director, American Romanian Cultural Society
Seattle, King County
Pres, Fall City Arts
Fall City, King County
Grants Coordinator, Vashon Center for the Arts
Vashon, King County
Executive Director, Admiral Theatre
Bremerton, Kitsap County
Executive Artistic Director, Magenta Theater
Vancouver, Clark County
Artistic Director, Evergreen City Ballet
Renton, King County
Executive Director, Northwest Choirs
Development Director, Kirkland Arts Center
Kirkland, King County
Operations Manager, Tweflth Night Productions
Seattle, King County
Managing Director, Freehold Theatre Lab / Studio
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, Whim W'Him
Seattle, King County
CEO, Education and Research Consultant, More Arts! LLC
Woodinville, King County
Executive Director, Brazil Center
Kent, King County
Director, Fred Oldfield Western Heritage & Art Center
Puyallup, Pierce County
POSITION, Island County Museum
Greenbank, Island County
Co-founder, Student Art Spaces
Issaquah, King County
Executive Creative Producer, Indigenous Performance Productions
Olympia, Thurston County
Founder & CEO, Silver Kite Community Arts
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, Olympia Film Society
Olympia, Thurston County
Executive Director, Rad Care
Seattle, King County
Curator, Cascadia Art Museum
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Board President, Edmonds Public Facilities District, Edmonds Center for the Arts
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Board Member, Cascadia Art Museum
Seattle, King County
Managing Director, Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Manager, Folk Voice Band
Shoreline, King County
President & CEO, Seattle Aquarium
Seattle, King County
Queen Anne Historical Society
Seattle, King County
On the Boards
Seattle, King County
Managing Director, Kirkland Performance Center
Kirkland, King County
President and CEO, The Museum of Flight
Tukwila, King County
Managing Director, Living Voices
Seattle, King County
Managing Director, 5th Avenue Theatre
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, On the Boards
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, Pickford Film Center
Bellingham, Whatcom County
Costume Shop Assistant, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Seattle, King County
Treasurer, Cascadia Art Museum
Seattle, King County
Board Member, Cascadia Art Museum
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Board Member, Cascadia Art Museum
Edmonds, Snohomish County
Board Chair, ACT Theatre
Seattle, King County
Board of Trustees, ACT Theatre
Seattle, King County
Board Member, Act Theater
Seattle, King County
President, On the Boards
Seattle, King County
Technical Director, On the Boards
Seattle, King County
Director of External Relations, On the Boards
Seattle, King County
Curatorial Administrator, On the Boards
Executive Director, Save Habitat And Diversity of Wetlands
Renton, King County
Teaching Artist, Coyote Central
Seattle, King County
Director of Arts Engagement, Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Director of Marketing and Communications, Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Trustee, Seattle Repertory Theatre
Seattle, King County
Past Chair, Board of Trustees, Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Board Member, Seattle Rep Theater
Redmond, King County
Development Apprentice, Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Grants Associate, Seattle Rep
Seattle, King County
Trustee, Seattle Repertory Theater
Seattle, King County
President, Puget Sound Group NW Artists
Shoreline, King County
Board Member, Seattle Art Museum
Kirkland, King County
Database Admin, Seattle Opera
LOCATION
Director of Finance and Administration, Seattle Aquarium
Seattle, King County
Artistic Director, Seattle International Dance Festival
Seattle, King County
Associate Director, Museology Graduate Program, University of Washington
Seattle, King County
Principal, Equinox Studios/ Georgetown Steam Plant Community Development Authority
Seattle, King County
Board President, ArtsEd Washington
Spokane, Spokane County
Managing Director, Tacoma Historical Society
Tacoma, Pierce County
Creative Director, Spokane Civic Theatre
Spokane, Spokane County
Lead Artist, Parkeology
Anacortes, Skagit County
Member, Spokane Arts Commission
Spokane, Spokane County
Arts Commissioner, Spokane Arts Commission
Spokane, Spokane County
Chair, Spokane Arts Commission
Spokane, Spokane County
Box Office & Customer Service Manager,SIFF
Seattle, King County
Artistic Director, The Seagull Project
Seattle, King County
Committee Member, IATSE Local 15
Seattle, King County
Dancer, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Seattle, King County
Board Member, Artstra
Vancouver, Clark County
Executive Director, Washington State Jewish Historical Society
Mercer Island, King County
Costume Shop Floor Manager, 5th Avenue Theatre
Seattle, King County
Owner, Esther Ervin Creative Source
Seattle, King County
Founder & Executive Director, Underground Writing
Mount Vernon, Skagit County
Freelance Theatrical Designer
Seattle, King County
Artist
Olympia, Thurston County
Actor/Teaching Artist
Seattle, King County
Inspire Washington Board Member
Olympia, Thurston County
Executive Director, Kirkland Arts Center
Seattle, King County
Managing Director, Burien Actors Theatre
Burien, King County
Executive Director, The Swedish Finn Historical Society
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, Seattle Girls Choir
Seattle, King County
Executive Director, The Seattle Children's Museum
Seattle, King County
Managing Director, The Little Theatre of Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Walla Walla
Musician, Pacific NW Ballet / Auburn Symphony
Seattle, King County
Renton, King County
Spokane, Spokane County
Seattle, King County
Bellevue, King County
Bellevue, King County
Randle, Lewis County
Shoreline, King County
Seattle, King County
Seattle, King County
Seattle, King County
Seattle, King County
Port Orchard, Kitsap County
Seattle, King County
Seattle, King County
Seattle, King County
- Catherine Merlo, CFRE
- Kelly Sheetz
- Aunna Moriarty
- Becs Richards
- Alex K
- Andrea Budd
- Julia Colson