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Kitsap Cultural Access
Public access to local culture
Kitsap Cultural Access is a community initiative to increase access to arts, culture, heritage, and science across Kitsap County, particularly for youth.
Our goals are to:
Support public programs in arts, culture, heritage, and science,
Increase access and remove barriers to these programs, particularly for youth,
Improve livability measures in Kitsap County, and
Strengthen Kitsap's creative economy.
Our first step is to develop a cultural access program for Kitsap County to adopt under RCW. 36.160.030, the tool set Washington State created for communities to create and fund cultural access plans for the public benefit.
Thriving, creative communities like Tacoma, King County, Olympia, San Juan County and Vancouver have used these tools to successfully remove barriers and increase access to local public programs. Kitsap County can join their ranks.
Established Plans
These Washington communities support cultural access
Tacoma Creates
Passed in 2018, Tacoma established Washington's first cultural access program with Tacoma Creates. This popular and successful program supported 80 nonprofits in arts, culture, heritage, and science in 2025-2026, with a particular focus on underserved youth.
Inspire Olympia
Passed in 2022, Olympia manages the Inspire Olympia program at the city level through applications reviewed by a group of community members and a Cultural Access Advisory Board. Focusing on youth and underserved populations, this program supported 60 local nonprofits during the last annual cycle.
Doors Open King County
King County’s Doors Open program was passed in December 2023. Administered by 4Culture, this program provides an estimated $100 million per year using an existing granting system already used to distribute lodging tax funds. The Open Doors program also focuses on wide distribution of funds, with a minimum of 25% of funds being granted to organizations outside of Seattle.
San Juan County
Approved at the December 2024 county council meeting, the San Juan County tax to support Cultural Access went into effect in April 2025 to begin funding the program. Managed by the Parks, Recreation and Fair Department of the county, collected funds will first be used to support access to arts, culture and science opportunities by schools.
Vancouver
Much like San Juan County, the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Access program was approved in December 2024 and began collecting funds in April 2025. Expected to generate up to $7 million each year, a portion will be used to support programs for K-12 education.
Kitsap?
If successful, a cultural access plan would expand public access to cultural institutions and experiences in Kitsap county, particularly for youth.
Impact
Arts
Art reflects our diverse human experiences, challenges what we think, and connects us to each other across time and space. It has benefits for mental health and improves educational outcomes.
Culture
Culture shares how we live and why we live the way we do. It roots us in the past, shapes our present, and guides us into the future.
Heritage
Heritage connects us to our roots, identity, and shared human story. It helps us understand ourselves, respect others, and build a more connected future.
Science
Science is the engine of progress. It improves lives, expands our knowledge, and helps us shape a better, more informed future.
Performing arts
Performing arts don’t just entertain—they educate, unite, and elevate. They make us feel, think, and see the world in new ways: building empathy by making stories tangible.
Arts & Culture improve livability
Arts and culture play an important role in the health and well-being of communities across Washington. Communities with more accessible and well-funded arts and culture are more connected, more involved, and have more economic opportunities.
You can help
Do you want better cultural access in Kitsap? Welcome to the team. You can:
Raise awareness of this issue
Advocate for increased cultural access
Join KCA as an individual or organizational partner
Serve on KCA's program committee to solidify plan details
To learn more, join our next meeting at 12 noon on Friday, July 25th at the Kitsap History Museum in Bremerton. Reach out by email to board@kitsapculturalaccess.org for more information or to get involved.
