DEPT. OF NICE! >>>

News arrived again at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters. We believe we saw this press release two week ago, but it ended up on the wrong refrigerator. It's worthy news, so here you go. And the Tacoma Arts Commission pile of money goes to ... (rip!) ... 20 lucky Tacoma arts organizations.

The Tacoma Arts Commission recently awarded $50,000 in 2013 Arts Projects funding to 20 Tacoma organizations in support of public outreach projects in the fields of music, dance, theater, literary and visual arts. The awards ranged in value from $1,000 to $5,000.

"These arts and culture programs - initiated and delivered by local, grassroots organizations - demonstrate a broad and strong commitment to accessible, homegrown arts experiences," said Robin Echtle, chair of the Tacoma Arts Commission. "Many of the funded art projects exhibit uniquely 'Tacoma' sensibilities and reflect the distinct and diverse voices of our community."

Funded projects include the production of five diverse cultural and arts festivals, poetry readings and spoken word performances, contemporary and multidisciplinary dance events, a variety of music performances, two theatrical productions, visual art programs for families, urban art classes for youth, a sculptural seating element and a community-wide guerilla art project.

Funded organizations include 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Black Student Union @ UW Tacoma, Children's Museum of Tacoma, DASH Center for the Arts, Elements of Education, Fab-5, Fort Nisqually Foundation, King's Bookstore, Local Life, Metropolitan Glass, Old Town Business and Professional Association, Puget Sound Poetry Connection, Ruston - Pt. Defiance Business District, Second City Chamber Series, Tacoma City Ballet, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Little Theatre, the BareFoot Collective and the Washington State Historical Society.

The Arts Projects funding program supports high quality community projects with a strong focus on arts that are accessible and affordable to the public. Twenty-eight Arts Projects applications were submitted to the Tacoma Arts Commission with requests totaling $115,568.?? Arts Projects is one of three funding programs administered by the Tacoma Arts Commission. For a complete listing of funding programs and information about the Tacoma Arts Commission, visit tacomaculture.org.