Showing Up for Arts & Culture

As the new year begins, our work remains focused on our shared goal for the Mid-Columbia Performing Arts Center, while continuing the steady, behind-the-scenes efforts that support arts and culture in our community.

In early February, I — along with Justin Raffa, our Board Chair, and other arts and culture representatives — will be traveling to Olympia to participate in Arts, Heritage & Science Day, held during the Legislature’s Arts, Heritage & Science Week.

This annual gathering brings cultural and scientific advocates from across Washington together to engage directly with lawmakers, share local perspectives, and help ensure these sectors remain visible and well understood at the state level.

Why this matters this year

This year’s legislative session is unfolding under a very tight state budget, which realistically limits near-term funding opportunities. Even so, this remains an important moment for relationship-building and awareness.

While in Olympia, we are working to meet with legislators from both Legislative District 8 — which includes the planned location of the Mid-Columbia Performing Arts Center — and Legislative District 16, which represents much of the broader Tri-Cities community. Our focus is not on immediate funding asks, but on ensuring legislators understand:

•    The role arts and cultural organizations play in community vitality

•    The careful planning and feasibility work already underway locally

•    How future opportunities, when state resources allow, could translate into meaningful community benefit

We have also recently applied for a small planning grant through the Washington State Department of Commerce to support continued feasibility work. That application provides a timely, concrete example of how we are continuing to move forward thoughtfully and incrementally — while keeping long-term priorities in view.

Looking ahead

Just as importantly, our presence in Olympia helps ensure that legislators from our districts are familiar with our work when they return home. Those conversations often continue locally, strengthening alignment with city leaders and public partners and helping lay the groundwork for future opportunities when budget conditions improve.

Even in a constrained year, showing up matters.

We approach this work with a balance of optimism and realism — focused on listening, learning, and building understanding over time. I look forward to sharing more as these conversations continue.

Here’s to a happy, safe and prosperous New Year

Blake

Additional information about Arts, Heritage & Science Week is available through Inspire Washington at www.inspirewashington.org.