ArtsWA grantee photo by Isobel Coney

Our Work

Arts education is Washington State law!

RCW 28A.150.210 The law defines arts as a core subject area and it is included in the state’s definition of basic education.

RCW 28A.230.305 The law requires that all schools with more than 200 students offer at least one visual art or a least one performing art course throughout the school year and that students must have access to arts coursework “that is commensurate with instruction in other core subject arts.”

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Increased access to arts learning serves students and communities

  • Enhances academic achievement

  • Social-emotional well-being

  • Civic engagement

  • Pathways to creative careers

Arts for All believes that arts education must be:

Line drawing of saxophone and music notes, theatrical stage with stage light on it, person dancing in baseball cap, desktop computer with sound wave on it, painting and a sculpture
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Continuous

Access to arts instruction throughout elementary, middle, and high school education.

Accessible

Arts instruction as part of basic education for all students provided by a certificated teacher with content area expertise.

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Career Connected

Career connected learning helps students make connections between classroom learning, career exploration, creative industry, workforce development, and career pathways.

Culturally Responsive

Teaching that invites student knowledge, culture, language, and experiences into the classroom.

Photograph of a female teacher with long dark hair demonstrating ribbon tying with a mixed gender group of eight students of late elementary age

Photo courtesy of Allied Arts of Whatcom County

Mission

The A4A Coalition works for equitable access to arts education for all students across Washington State. 

Vision

All Washington State PreK-12 students have access to culturally responsive, continuous arts education.

Values

Belonging, Creativity, Empowerment, Innovation

Education Resources
Line drawing of a boy wearing a sweatshirt with short hair, a man with long hair, a girl in a striped shirt with ponytail, a girl shorter girl with braids, all playing hand drums

Leveraging a constellation of partners

The A4A Coalition is made up of statewide partners that work together to expand access for PreK-12 students.

Partners include

  • PreK-12 educators

  • Tribal educators

  • Non-profit leaders

  • Youth leaders

  • Teaching artists

  • Researchers

  • Arts education associations

Our Team & Coalition
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Coalition History: 2019 – 2026

2019

  • OSPI, ArtsEd Washington, Inspire Washington, ArtsWA, and The Creative Advantage identify a need for a statewide focus on arts education, accessibility, and research.

2020

  • Partners draft a collective impact plan and explore funding sources.

2021

  • Early partnership named "Arts for All Coalition".

  • OSPI Arts program granted ESSER funding to support collect impact model.

  • Coalition expands to include a diversity of regional voices.

2022

  • Inspire WA awarded a 2022-2023 NEA collective impact grant.

  • WA Arts Education Data Dashboard begins construction with Quadrant Research.

2023

  • Inspire WA awarded a 2023-2024 NEA collective impact grant.

2024

  • ArtsWA submits a successful Legislative Budget Request for arts education research funding (one year only).

  • Inspire WA awarded a 2024-2025 NEA collective impact grant.

2025

  • A4A published governance charter

  • Inspire WA awarded a 2025-2026 NEA collective impact grant.

  • A4A completes State of the Arts Education Survey, data dashboard, and technical report.

2026

  • A4A publishes new website with data pages and resources.

Photograph of a young elementary age girl with braids showing a painting of a rainbow, clouds and sun to the camera and smiling

Photo courtesy of Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center, Pierce County

Photograph of a male teacher standing in front of a mixed gender group of students with their backs to the camera. The man has his hands cupped to amplify the sound from his mouth

Photo courtesy of Seattle Opera, Opera Time, Yakima County

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2025 Survey Results