Summary

Facilities to receive economic boost from Building for Culture Program

Story

The development of an arts center in Auburn and the construction of a performing arts facility in Federal Way are projects that will receive funding for arts and heritage programs in King County.

“Today’s vote will help strengthen the arts and heritage programs of South King County and confirms the importance these arts centers will have on our region,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “These centers will be great venues for cultural events benefiting visitors of all ages, and will enrich the lives of future generations.”

The funding for maintenance, repairs, and preservation were allocated from the Building for Culture Program and unanimously approved by the County Council. Building for Culture is a partnership between King County and 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency, using bonds backed by the hotel-motel tax to build, maintain, expand, preserve, and improve new and existing cultural facilities.

After the Council approved the creation of the Building for Culture Program, 4Culture put out a request for proposals to nonprofit arts, heritage and cultural organizations and eligible public agencies, as well as owners of national-, state-, or local-designated or eligible landmark properties. 4Culture then convened independent peer panels composed of arts, heritage, and preservation professionals, and other community representatives to review applications and make the final selections.

Click here to see the facilities receiving funding in District 7.

The bonds supporting these projects are made possible by early retirement of the Kingdome debt. State law requires that hotel-motel tax revenues King County collects this year after repayment of the Kingdome debt be directed to arts and cultural programs.

Councilmember von Reichbauer meets with Federal Way representatives after the vote awarding cultural funds to the City of Federal Way.
Federal Way Performing Arts Center Executive Director Theresa Yvonne, Federal Way Coalition for Performing Arts Member Joann Piquette, Councilmember von Reichbauer, and  Federal Way Deputy Mayor Jeanne Burbidge.