Contact:
Myles Haslam, Director of Communications & Development | myles@shunpike.org
For immediate release
Sept. 24, 2024 – SEATTLE – Shunpike receives $1.6 million over three years as part of a suite of eight grants announced today by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to support the cultural vitality of downtown Seattle. This $9 million+ investment supports arts and culture programming, space, and community access in downtown Seattle, an area that’s home to two-thirds of Seattle’s art sector jobs and 10% of Seattle residents.
Shunpike envisions a community where independent artists and arts groups thrive creatively and economically. This funding will deepen Shunpike’s efforts to empower artists through equitable access to vital expertise, opportunities, and business services in Seattle.
“With this extraordinary funding, we’re able to multiply and amplify the downtown activation programs we already produce, while also piloting new residencies, increasing stipends to artists, and developing marketing tools that reward visitors to downtown Seattle who engage with the arts,” said Line Sandsmark, Executive Director at Shunpike. “We also get to increase our impact by collaborating closely with the other grant recipients, as we together reimagine spaces and support creators and innovative programs.”
Shunpike’s funding is part of a collective effort from the foundation to support the downtown area as a vibrant hub for those who live and work in the area, along with visitors near and far that benefit from the diverse cultural offerings of the city.
These grants will help fuel organizations’ ability to pursue critical and creative programming and initiatives as Seattle arts and culture organizations continue to address pandemic-related impacts such as lower ticket sales and subscriptions; and decreased sector employment.
“The road back has been challenging for everyone in the arts and entertainment sector,” said Sandsmark. “One of the most difficult challenges has been the exodus from downtown Seattle—and that’s where our Storefronts and Seattle Restored programs, especially, have been instrumental in keeping our downtown streetscapes activated and engaging through artwork and partnerships with creative entrepreneurs.”
“A vibrant arts and culture sector is critical for our economy and an essential element of any thriving community,” said Anh Nguyen, director of Arts, Youth, and Communities at the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “As a Seattle-based foundation, we value our neighbors—the local venues, artists and creators—who share this community with us, and we support audience access to a range of experiences that increase perspective-taking, cultural understanding, and community connection.”
The suite of grants will increase access and opportunities for audiences and artists alike via upgraded and expanded cultural spaces downtown, as well as free or low-cost programs that showcase diverse, multidisciplinary artists. Fellow grantees include Base Camp Studios (BCS), Common Area Maintenance (CAM), Friends of Waterfront Park, Seattle Art Museum (SAM), Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall, Shunpike, SIFF, and Theatre Off Jackson (TOJ).
About Shunpike
Shunpike’s mission is to empower artists with equitable access to vital expertise, opportunities, and business services. Shunpike is a Seattle-based 501c3 nonprofit that provides administrative and financial services to arts organizations throughout Washington State. Additionally, Shunpike develops and operates unique programs that support, enrich, and elevate the work of artists in and around Seattle. We fiscally sponsor an average of 200 arts organizations annually, enabling us to share resources and keep administrative expenses low and in proportion to the size of each organization. These services enable independent arts groups to focus on their mission-related work, and channel much more of their funding into publicly accessible productions and exhibits. Shunpike also produces arts programming such as ACES//Artists of Color Expo & Symposium, Storefronts, Seattle Restored, and facilitates The Studio at 2+U. Shunpike also provides free Arts Business Clinics that help arts groups develop nonprofit management and entrepreneurial skills to grow their business and fund their work.
About the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation:
Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the foundation invests in communities across the Pacific Northwest to enhance the human experience of arts & culture, center under-served populations, and mobilize young people to make impact. In addition, the foundation supports a global portfolio of nonprofit partners working across science and technology solutions to protect wildlife, preserve ocean health, and create lasting change. The foundation also funds the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, which works to advance cutting-edge research in all areas of bioscience.