Heidi Fernandez Yamazares, chair of the Tacoma Arts Commission, presented the commission’s 2025 work and priorities to the Economic Development Committee on Sept. 30, underscoring the arts’ economic contribution and the commission’s program focus on geographic equity and artist support.

The commission said Tacoma’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $163 million in economic activity in 2022, citing the most recent Arts & Economic Prosperity study. Fernandez Yamazares described the commission’s two primary program areas: public art (funded by the city’s 1% for art program) and funding/community programs that support individual artists and grassroots organizations.

The Arts Commission said it completed 15 public-art projects in 2025, including artist‑in‑residence partnerships with Environmental Services and Public Works. Program statistics presented included the Tacoma Artists Initiative, which funded 25 of 72 applicants in the most recent round, and the Community Arts Projects fund, which supported 21 of 54 applications.

Commission priorities for the coming year include reauthorizing Tacoma Creates, maintaining current funding levels for artist and community grants, exploring improved access to affordable artist workspace and investigating participation by Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) in a 1% for art program. Rebecca Solverson, arts and cultural vitality staff, noted that general government utilities participate in 1% for art but that "TPU does not;" she said TPU’s exemption dates to language in the city code decades ago. Commissioners said they will explore how to link utility resources or city spaces to arts activation while being mindful of legal and programmatic nexus requirements.

Commissioners flagged space for artists as a high priority, with participants pointing to models such as shared studios, intermittent use of underused civic spaces, and partnerships like SpaceWERX. Commissioners said they will study options for co‑op or shared‑studio approaches, and follow up with staff and partners on potential pilot ideas.

The commission said Tacoma Arts Month (October) and programs such as the Tacoma Artists Initiative, Tacoma Studio Tours and Arts at the Armory help drive economic activity and foot traffic to small businesses. The commission also announced the city’s new poet laureate, Mari Griffin, and invited the council to Arts Month events.