If you’ve enjoyed a theatrical performance, attended a free concert, or discovered a new mural in Burien, there’s a good chance what you experienced was brought to life with the help of funding from the City of Burien.
Grant programs offered through the City support arts and heritage organizations, and artists who provide cultural opportunities for Burien residents. The program also aims to attract regional artists and audiences who can contribute to Burien’s identity as an arts- and culture-oriented city.
Arts and Culture Grants
The City’s annual Arts and Culture Grants program funds one-time performances, exhibits, special events, and programs. It can also be used to provide opportunities for independent artists to grow, and for the improvement of equitable access to arts and culture.
After thoroughly reviewing applications, Burien’s Arts Commission approved a total of $34,750 in grants to 11 different organizations for the 2025 cycle:
- Burien Arts Association ($2,000): “7 Stories” program at the Highline Heritage Museum
- Burien Actors Theatre ($5,500): Live theater productions, including discounted tickets and free summer concerts
- The Hi-Liners ($4,000): Production of the musical “Newsies” at the Highline Performing Arts Center
- Momentum Dance Academy ($3,000): Scholarship assistance for ballet students and support for two performances
- Northwest Associated Arts ($3,000): Two spring concerts for the Silver Sounds Choir, composed of retirees and seniors
- Northwest Symphony Orchestra ($8,000): Concerts and support for free clinics and workshops for students and seniors
- The Sound Ensemble ($1,500): A concert and composition clinics at local middle schools
- Encanto Arts ($2,000): High school mariachi club workshop and a concert
- Orchestra of Flight ($750): Free concerts at a local church and retirement facility
- Highline Community Symphonic Band ($1,000): Concerts in Burien featuring a multigenerational band
- Arts Corps ($4,000): Artist residencies for two grades at a Burien elementary school
Open for Arts Grants
The $5,250 unallocated from the 2025 Arts and Culture Grants program’s $40,000 budget was made available to the 2025 Open for Arts grant program. Organizations and individuals can apply for Open for Arts grants annually. Each grant is reviewed as it is received, and grants of up to $1,200 are awarded until all funds are distributed.
Two programs funded in 2024 through Open for Arts grants include a very special violin concert and a downtown mural festival.
On November 22, 2024, the Burien Library multipurpose room filled with violin and electronic music for the free Sound Worlds Concert, funded by the Open for Arts grants program. Sound Worlds uses live music experiences to bring awareness to underrepresented composers by allowing them to tell their stories through music.
The concert showcased several musicians, including teen composer Brannon Warn-Johnson, who, along with violinist Ilana Zaks, performed an original composition titled “My Year with Cancer,” an exploration of her own life experience battling cancer.
Downtown Burien was transformed into a vibrant canvas for three days in June 2024 for the 7th Annual Mural Masters Graffiti and Mural Festival. Local and international mural artists brought their diverse styles and disciplines to Burien’s Art Alley, located between Southwest 152nd and 153rd Streets, spanning from Fourth Avenue Southwest to Ambaum Boulevard Southwest.
Featuring live painting sessions, engaging artist talks, interactive activities, music, and food, Mural Masters is a unique event that allows community members to witness the magic of creativity in action. Learn more at MuralMasters.org and watch for the next festival happening June 20-22, 2025.
Learn more about the City’s arts grant programs and how to apply at burienwa.gov/ArtsGrant.
