About Artist Trust

WE ARE A COMMUNITY

With artists at the forefront, we collectively build community at all levels of our organization by being welcoming, sharing space, being transparent, and elevating artists’ vision and voice. We show up for artists beyond monetary support through genuine, kind, safe, and joyful actions. Our community includes all who feel a connection with our work, including artists of all disciplines and backgrounds, culture bearers, and creatives, arts enthusiasts, supporters, organizers, and advocates.

WE SEE ARTISTS AS LEADERS

We believe that the leadership of artists has the power to create just, equitable, and vibrant communities. We work to elevate artists as leaders throughout the entirety of Washington State, centering those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+, live with or have disabilities, or come from rural or less-resourced places. We build stronger relationships with artists by respecting their voice, elevating their expertise, and creating systems that positively impact their development and success. We exist because of artists.

WE SHARE POWER & RESOURCES

To be truly antiracist and respond to the complexities of the nonprofit sector, we must share power, funding, and resources. We meaningfully engage artists to inform our power-sharing strategies, especially for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), harmed, and underrepresented communities who have been historically shut out. Our fundraising efforts are community-centric and aligned with movement building. We engage our donors as partners and actively work to build relationships between donors and artists.

WE EARN TRUST

We believe that trust is earned through transparency and that our mission is best carried forward through antiracist action. We stay accountable by collaborating with artists to develop and evaluate our goals, ensuring we stay mission-focused and in line with our values. We provide accessible information about our business practices, make clear the processes and rationale for our decision making, and communicate changes regularly and consistently. We acknowledge the errors and harm to artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in our former practices and continue to learn from our mistakes.

WE ENGAGE IN CONTINUED LEARNING

Artist Trust is committed to change. We push boundaries and welcome new perspectives by asking artists to analyze, think critically, and actively inform our purpose, actions, and role in the community. We understand that knowledge is not always static. To eliminate the white supremacist roots in the education we have received, we must honor the lived experiences of artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). We do this with intention by creating accessible and transformative spaces that shape our decision-making and programming.

Racial Equity Framework

Artist Trust is a nonprofit organization that helps Washington State artists of all disciplines thrive through direct support, connections, and advocacy. We believe a fair and just society ensures artists of all backgrounds and identities are included in its cultural narratives.

Commitment to Geographic Equity

Artist Trust is dedicated to supporting artists across Washington State, with a focus on those historically excluded from funding and visibility, including artists in rural communities, under-resourced regions, and artists with immigrant status. This is ongoing work, and we are committed to making steady progress toward a more equitable future for all artists.

We recognize that geographic location, especially when combined with other identity factors, profoundly shapes access to resources. Artists across Washington State experience different levels of opportunity depending on the availability of local funding, education, community networks, and institutional support. Artist Trust’s history reflects these imbalances, and we are determined to do better.

For us, geographic equity means showing up across the state, listening deeply, and building relationships that last beyond a single program or event. It means naming the real gaps that exist and adapting our work so that artists everywhere can see themselves reflected in Artist Trust’s programs, networks, and funding opportunities, including grants, professional development, convenings, and advocacy. We know our impact is strongest when we are in authentic, sustained community with artists, wherever they live and work.

The Geographic Equity Statement grew out of a deliberate, collaborative process. Began under the leadership of Racial Equity Committee co-lead Kate Im and former Program Director Luther “Lue” Hughes, the statement was refined with guidance from our Geographic Equity Focus Group: HR Emi, Sheila Klein, Mana Mehrabian, Tamiko Nimura, and TS Pearson. The resulting statement was approved by the Artist Trust Board of Trustees in the fall of 2025.