Key to Change‘s mission is to inspire underserved youth through world-class music instruction and [to] support their development as self-aware leaders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Key to Change violin studio quadrupled its enrollment of students, serving over 150 racially and economically diverse middle and high school students across South King County.

Discipline: Music
Founded: 2016

Shunpike has been “empower[ing] artists through equitable access to vital expertise, opportunities, and business services” for 20 years. Shunpike fiscally sponsors over 140 artists and organizations, and through its programming, including Storefronts, Amazon Residency, Studio at 2+U, and ACES: Artists of Color Expo & Symposium, supports the arts across Washington State.

Discipline: Arts Service Organization
Founded: 2002

Sound Theatre defines itself as a social justice theatre company, with its mission to “empower artists to give voice to the dignity and diversity of the human experience – moving audiences toward a more just and compassionate world.” Over the past four years, Sound Theatre has been building relationships with the disabled artist communities and deaf communities and are committed to radically accessible programming.

Discipline: Theatre
Founded: 2013

Urban ArtWorks has been working with artists, businesses, and communities to collaboratively transform public spaces in King and Pierce counties for over 25 years.  Their mural apprentice program, which serves as an arts-based employment program for teens who face barriers to the arts, education, and employment, including those who are in the juvenile court system, exemplifies their mission “to engage youth and communities in th creation of public art that inspires connections and honors their voices.”

Discipline: Visual Arts
Founded: 1999

The Williams Project is a national professional theatre ensemble, producing plays in Seattle, WA. Their mission to “make theatrical excellence accessible to diverse and engaged audiences, while paying artists a living wage.” Since 2017, the Williams Project has been serving South Seattle residents through its pay-what-you-can pricing model.

Discipline: Theatre
Founded: 2017