The Tribal Cultural Grant is a non-competitive funding opportunity offered by the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) to support Federally recognized Tribes in Washington State. This grant is designed to assist Tribal communities in expanding, enhancing, or creating spaces for arts and cultural activities that are aligned with the specific needs of each Tribe. All eligible Tribes that apply will receive funding, provided their projects meet the grant requirements. The application for Fiscal Year 2026 (covering July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) closes on March 31, 2025.

Funding for this cycle is set at $18,000 per Tribe, assuming all 29 Federally recognized Tribes in Washington apply. Tribes have the option to request additional funding, which will be distributed if not all Tribes apply or if additional funds become available. Any unrequested funds at the application closing date will be reallocated to those that have applied. The previous rounds of funding in Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 provided financial support to a range of projects, including regalia making, language preservation through dictionary and book creation, cultural education, murals, youth and health center artwork, and traditional language camps.

To be eligible, applicants must be a Federally recognized Tribe in Washington State. Each Tribe may submit one application, but the funding may be allocated across multiple projects. Tribes that received funding in Fiscal Year 2025 must submit a final report for that grant period before they can access the Fiscal Year 2026 funds. The grant supports a wide variety of Tribal cultural activities such as language preservation, foodways, traditional arts like regalia making and carving, Tribal museum enhancements, and salaries for cultural teachers.

The grant covers costs including artist fees, Tribal museum exhibitions and consultations, space or equipment rentals, in-state travel for artists or consultants, administrative expenses, and accessibility enhancements such as translation services and closed captioning. However, it does not cover expenses outside of the grant period, reimbursement for past financial losses, or activities that have already taken place prior to the designated grant agreement timeframe.

The application process is straightforward, and applicants are encouraged to reach out to ArtsWA staff with any questions. Cheryl Wilcox, the Tribal Cultural Affairs Manager, along with Todd Clark and Linnea Ingalls from the Tribal Cultural Affairs Program, are available for assistance. The application must be submitted by March 31, 2025, to be considered for Fiscal Year 2026 funding.