King County schools struggling to include art and cultural education in their curriculum receive a financial boost today from the Metropolitan King County Council with its approval of over $406,000 in Cultural Education Program Grants to be distributed to 64 schools.

“The Cultural Education Program has been a useful funding resource for local cultural programs, supporting projects that cover every district across the county,” said Carolyn Edmonds, Chair of the Council’s Natural Resource, Parks and Open Space Committee. “These funds help support artists, historians, and cultural organizations to integrate cultural education projects into existing school curriculum.”

The Cultural Education Program awards grants to artists, historians and cultural organizations to integrate cultural education projects into an existing school curriculum. Arts projects can include dance, drama/theater, music and visual arts. Heritage projects that are part of the program are those related to King County history including indigenous, immigrant and cultural history, archeology and historic preservation. The program is the region’s only curriculum-based arts and heritage education program. Revenue for the program does not come out of the County’s general fund. It is generated by the County’s two percent excise tax on hotel-motel room charges.

“Students will have the chance to work with dancers, historians, actors, writers, musicians and visual artists. It’s a marvelous opportunity for teachers to enrich their lesson plans by tapping into the skills of the local arts and cultural community,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, Chair of the Budget & Fiscal Management Committee. “These dedicated funds could not come at a better time, since so many school districts in King County are facing their own fiscal challenges.”