PRESS RELEASE- Arts Commission Announces Recipients of First Round of 2026 Grants

Eleven grants were awarded to arts organizations and individual artists in Jefferson County.

April  6, 2026 PORT TOWNSEND – In its first grant round of the year, the Port Townsend Arts Commission (PTAC) has awarded $13,500 to eleven creative projects by Jefferson County artists and organizations. Funded projects include: 

• Make Music Day East Jefferson County (Songwriting Works Educational Foundation)
• Bringing Supaman Back to Port Townsend! (Tristan Marcum)
• Community Street Mural (Jefferson County Farmers Market)
• Student Wearable Art Show (PT Artscape)
• Port Townsend Schools’ Student Art Exhibit (Port Townsend PTA)
• 2026 Salish Sea Butoh Festival Public Performances (Salish Sea Butoh Festival)
• Japanese Woodworking Festival (Port Townsend School of Woodworking)
• Port Townsend Community Dance (Port Townsend Community Dance)
• 2026 Port Townsend Artist Studio Tour (Raw Art Collective)
• Port Townsend Pride Stage (The Production Alliance)
• Flamenco Workshops & Performance (Leila Block)

PTAC provides grants to projects that enhance the experience of residents and visitors through accessible, public-facing activities, and that demonstrate artistic merit. The advisory body grant program has been supporting arts and civic engagement through reinvesting public funds since 2001, and PTAC is the only public funding source for individual artists in Jefferson County. Grantees in this round of funding received awards between $500 and $2,500. More than $50,000 was requested by 16 projects. Grants were reviewed during PTAC’s March 5 regular meeting, a recording of which can be viewed on the City’s website.

“These PTAC grants reflect the expanse and vibrancy of our local creative community. From youth arts and cultural festivals to public performances and community-driven arts projects, this first round of funding supports work that brings people together in meaningful ways, celebrates diverse voices, and ensures the arts are accessible to residents and visitors throughout our community,” said Melody Sky Weaver, Community Services Director.

In addition to receiving funding, eligible projects may be documented for a video series highlighting the creative work being supported by the City. PTAC began piloting this program in 2025, creating eight short videos of PTAC-funded projects. These videos can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@CityofPortTownsend

PTAC will review applications in two more rounds in 2026, with cycles closing on May 21 and August 20. The Commission has $9,000 to distribute in May and $7,500 to distribute in August. Because grant funds must be expended in 2026, the commission weighted the earlier rounds with more funds in order to support projects throughout the year as much as possible.

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Learn more at https://cityofpt.us/bc-ac/page/arts-grants