The Tacoma Arts Commission has awarded $100,000 in grants to 25 local artists through the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP), according to an announcement by the City of Tacoma. Each artist will receive $4,000 to support the creation of new work and to provide free public programming over the next two years.
According to the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Arts Commission Chair Heide Fernandez-Llamazares stated that the program supports artists across various disciplines, career stages, and neighborhoods. The goal is to fund projects that engage the public and offer access to cultural events.
Funded projects include a mix of artistic disciplines and themes. Examples include Tor Caspersen’s combination of hip-hop and Scandinavian music, Teresa Owens’ crocheted art exploring ecological issues, and Brendan Allen’s music performed on instruments made from reclaimed wood. Curtis Ashby will create a mural featuring local bird and plant life.
Other projects include Julia Josephine’s lantern-making workshop focused on community gathering and Saign Charlestein’s distribution of forged bronze medallions around the city to mark the year of the horse. Vaquero Azul will present a nichos exhibit addressing cultural identity, and Erin Guinup will host a concert focused on mental health. Additional projects feature writing workshops by Jenny Liou on nature and displacement, and a dance performance by TQ Spellman blending various movement styles.
TAIP, established in 1999, supports individual artists in Tacoma by funding new work and encouraging public participation in the arts. Information about the selected artists and upcoming public events can be found on the Tacoma Arts Commission's official website.
