Materials

Artists at the Center 2025-26

Artists at the Center introduces emerging and established artists to Seattle Center, while broadening the arts and cultural experiences in the Uptown Arts & Cultural District. Selected artists reflect the city’s cultural diversity and have the unique opportunity to perform at Seattle Center, enjoy technical production support, connect with new audiences, and showcase their talents. Visitors to the campus and the surrounding neighborhood benefit from surprising and delightful pop-up performances throughout the year.

Artists at the Center is a multi-year collaboration between Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) and Seattle Center, with support from Uptown Arts & Culture Coalition and the communities surrounding the Seattle Center campus. This project is made possible by a 10-year community benefit grant from Climate Pledge Arena and Seattle Kraken.

For more details on this grant, please read the full guidelines.

The guidelines are also available in these languages:

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for this grant if you meet the following criteria:

You are an individual artist, artist-led collective, organization, or community-based group presenting work regularly in Seattle.
You are located in King County or unincorporated King County within Washington State.
- Organizations and individual artists representing communities most impacted by systemic oppression including low-income, people with disabilities, immigrant and refugee communities, and communities of color are encouraged to apply.
You have a Federal Tax ID number (Social Security Number, ITIN, or Employee Identification Number) and are based in, or have current and active programming within, the City of Seattle.
- Groups applying are not required to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nor are they required to use a fiscal sponsor or fiscal agent.
You may submit only one application per cycle to this program.
Multiple applicants cannot submit separate applications for the same pop-up.
Awardees from the current season (2024-2025) are not eligible to apply for the 2025-2026 season.

Your pop-up is eligible to be funded by this grant if it meets the following criteria:

Your pop-up will be free and open to the public at one of the eligible Seattle Center locations.
Your pop-up will be between 40-90 minutes.

Funding

You may use the award funds for pop-up-related expenses, such as: artist fees, marketing and promotional fees, project management, personnel costs, supplies, equipment rentals or other production-related costs, required insurance, and up to 10% for food-related costs. Additional expenses may be allowed upon advance approval by the grant project manager.

Funds from this grant cannot be combined with other City funding sources nor with funds supporting another Seattle Center event (e.g. Festál, Folklife, etc.). Applicants are not allowed to be funded for the same project/pop-up twice by the City of Seattle.

You can apply for the following levels of funding:

$2,000 award (typically 1-2 performers), plus $750 in-kind production support from Seattle Center
$4,000 award (typically 3-5 performers), plus $1,360 in-kind production support from Seattle Center
$6,000 award (typically 6+ performers), plus $1,800 in-kind production support from Seattle Center

Due Date

Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 5 p.m. Pacific

Please allow ample time to complete your application; applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Information Sessions

Learn more about this opportunity and how to turn in your strongest application. We highly encourage first-time applicants to watch this recorded workshop:

Application

Apply online through the City of Seattle’s grant portal.

If this is your first time using FLUXX, you will have to create a user profile before you start your application.

Info

If you don’t have computer or internet access, contact Zach Frimmel, Grants Project Manager, as soon as possible at (206) 963-9226 or email Zach.Frimmel@seattle.gov.

For questions about the grant, please refer to these Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any further questions or need help with the online application, please reach out..

We have interpreters who can speak to you in your language, including American Sign Language (via video). Just call us and tell us what language you speak. Expect a short pause while we find an interpreter to join the call.

Manage your award

Log in to your account

The Artists at the Center application is on the new Citywide grants platform (FLUXX) that will produce a better experience for applicants and align with the City's race and social justice values by providing more equity in opportunities for artists and communities of color. Applicants will be able to submit applications and manage their awards by creating or logging into their accounts at the City of Seattle Grants Portal.

If you are managing an award for an organization or group and think they may already be in the system, please reach out to the program manager at Zach.Frimmel@seattle.gov.

Documents

Getting the Word Out

Want to get the word out about your arts, cultural event, or exhibit? Here are some tips on sending out information to the public and local media.

Gather all the details: Who, What, Where, When, and Why.\
Gather graphics and photos for publicity. Work with a designer on the look and any printed materials.
Write a press release and/or prepare a press kit and send it to the media.

Social Media

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Also, be sure you’re signed up for our email newsletter.
Post about your grant/event/program, and tag us. When you tag us, we get notified and can boost.
The sooner you tell your Project Manager about your event, the more likely we’ll be able to fit it into our social media calendar.
If you have promo materials, please remember to send anything you have produced (press releases, postcards, brochures, etc.) to your Project Manager. These items should include the Office of Arts & Culture name and/or logo.

We recommend circulating these items at least two weeks prior to your event to increase awareness and attendance.

The Press Release

Press releases inform the media about your event and can inspire them to publish a calendar listing or even cover the event. Search the internet for a description and walkthough of how to write a press release.

Try to let the media know what makes your event unique or relevant.
Be genuine. Exaggeration or inaccuracy will only hurt your chances of being a reliable media source. The more a press release reads like an actual news article, the better. Many smaller publications love releases they can print verbatim.
Press releases should look professional and be easy to read.
Make sure your organization's name, address, website, and contact information are visible.
Include the media contact's name, direct phone line, and e-mail address near the top of the first page.
Include a "pull date" (the last date of the event) near the top of the first page.
Include a headline that summarizes the event and invites people to read the details.
All the most pertinent information should be included in the first paragraph - the five W's. Who is presenting, What, Where, and When? Why should people attend? Include information on how people can attend, location, website, e-mail, and phone.
Additional paragraphs can provide more descriptive information about the event, artists involved, and quotes.
Use your mission statement or general description of the organization at the end of the press release.
If the press release is longer than one page, write "-More-" at the bottom of each page. At the end of the last page, include "# # #" to indicate the end of the release.

The Press Kit

Press kits provide useful background information for members of the press writing previews or reviews of your arts or cultural event. A press kit should be organized in a folder and generally includes:

1) Organization Information (front to back on the left side of the folder)

Mission statement
Brief organizational history
Organizational brochure
Feature articles on the organization or lead staff
Board list
Business card for media contact

2) Specific Event Information (front to back on the right side of the folder)

Press release for the event
Photos or artwork related to the event
Event postcard or flyer
Event program
Artists' bios, if not in the program
Preview articles about the event

Note: Do not include reviews of the event or previous events in the press packet. Most reviewers do not want to be influenced by the opinions of others.

Online calendars

There are numerous websites with online events calendars to use to publicize your event. Here are a few:

Daily and Weekly Papers

Send your press releases to local newspapers. Here are some of the dailies and weekly papers to begin with.

Neighborhood Newspapers

International Examiner - Contact
Northwest Asian Weekly - Contact
Pacific Publishing Company serves the University District, Ravenna, Roosevelt, Laurelhurst, Sand Point, Wedgewood, Wallingford, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Green Lake, Greenwood, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Madison Park, Broadmoor, Washington Park, Madrona, Madison Valley, Leschi, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Beacon Hill, Mt. Baker, South Hill, International District, and Kirkland
Westside Seattle publishes Ballard News Tribune, West Seattle Herald, and The Highline Times - Contact

Radio

Most radio stations accept a written public service announcement (PSA). Some will take a pre-recorded PSA. Check the website of the radio station you think best matches your audience. Many stations belong to the Puget Sound Broadcasters Association or Washington State Association of Broadcasters. Both organizations list links to their members.

Television

Seattle Channel, the city's municipal television channel, is committed to covering local arts and culture. Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on the Seattle Channel specifically covers the local art scene.

Local television stations are: