Orchestral Recital Series of Tacoma is proud to be selected as a recipient of a Tacoma Creates grant for another year. Tacoma Creates is a voter-approved initiative to increase access to arts, culture, heritage, and science experiences throughout Tacoma by reducing barriers to access and expanding offerings, particularly for underserved youth. This funding helps eligible non-profits expand equitable access to public programs, increase opportunities in neighborhoods throughout Tacoma, expand educational options for youth, and build sustainability for ongoing cultural programs that provide value for residents throughout the City of Tacoma.
For ORS, that means that Tacoma Creates is dedicated to helping organizations like us fulfill our mission of making fine art accessible to all musicians. Following several pilot programs and capacity building projects over the past nine months, this is the first round of competitive funding for the Tacoma Creates initiative, which was approved by Tacoma voters in November 2018.
“The current restrictions on public gatherings have had a tremendous impact on the cultural sector, however their work has not stopped. The cultural sector is instrumental in lifting spirits and supporting social cohesion during physical distancing, and will be even more so during Tacoma’s recovery,” said Tacoma Creates Program Manager Lisa Jaret. “It is critical to preserve the cultural sector so that it is able to help sustain our community.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic offers an unprecedented opportunity for the cultural sector to serve the community in creative ways that are needed now more than ever,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “The pandemic does not change what Tacoma Creates was designed to do, it enhances the opportunity and these deserving organizations are providing meaningful public benefit.”
ORS is excited to put this funding to good use serving the Tacoma community.