About Us

The Problem

Cities like Seattle are making less and less sense for artists without a financial safety net.

Artists are relied upon to create culture: throw events, craft art for public consumption, and generally make their neighborhoods desirable. Then they are priced out of living there.

What We’re Doing

Living Artists Collective is a nonprofit organization empowering low-income artists to spend more time creating and less time struggling to make ends meet. We offer grants, hold public art events, provide educational materials for artists and the public, and help build artistic community. All these programs are designed to fairly pay and lift up the city’s hardworking creatives.

We have worked carefully as a leadership board to build our organization, and in March of 2023 received our 501(c)3 charity status. Please donate to support our programming and grants.

Our Vision for the Future

We want a community filled with art appreciators that possesses a clear roadmap to retaining culture-making artists. We want artists to have increased creative freedom and access to practical resources. We want to see more low-income artists living, working, and thriving in Seattle.

It’s a great start to purchase from local artists. This empowers creatives to build their own businesses and support themselves.

It’s even better to financially support low-income creatives so that Seattle prices can be a more manageable reality.

Our Programs

Grants

One-time financial awards given to qualifying low-income visual artists via application process. The first round’s winners have been announced! 3 artists received $1,000 each on February 2, 2024. This is just the beginning; please help us fund future grants by making a tax-deductible donation.

Events

Shows, gatherings, and presentations open to the public that display art, educate the viewer on why artists are important, and sell that art to attendees. Check out our upcoming and past events here. Own or work for a business in Seattle and want to work together? Learn about sponsoring an event.

Artist Community

Meet-ups, collaborations, social gatherings, and more in service of connecting folks and delivering a sense of belonging. See our current directory artists here.

Artist Education

Articles, guides, demonstrations, shared resources, workshops, peer examples, and more in service of furthering the artist’s technical skill and business knowledge.

Public Education

Stories that showcase artists, art supporters, and those in creative industries. This is in service of creating a more artistically-aware culture that values local artists and their work.

Want to get involved as an artist or volunteer? Check out our current opportunities.