Update: Official Statement Regarding New Home & BFA Funding

Earlier today we let you know that KEXP’s New Home at Seattle Center had been removed from the Senate’s Capital Budget for Building for the Arts (BFA) support, and asked you to help advocate to your senators immediately.

You took action right away sending emails and making phone calls, tweeting and texting and encouraging your neighbors to do the same. It was overwhelmingly heartwarming and deeply appreciated.

The Ways and Means Executive Session just concluded. Unfortunately, full funding for KEXP’s New Home in the Capital Budget was not restored. However, an amendment to fund $1 million (53% of the original amount) for KEXP’s New Home did pass.

The Senate budget will now move to the floor, and then the House and Senate versions will need to be reconciled before moving on to the Governor for his signature. That means there will be more opportunities for your voice to be heard, and more opportunities for us to restore the recommendations made through the Building for the Arts peer-reviewed competitive process.

With your help, we remain hopeful that full funding for all 14 BFA ranked arts organizations can be restored. In the meantime, please join us in thanking the senators you contacted. Let them know that you are grateful to them for listening to your concerns, respecting the work of the BFA panel, and continuing to enrich our vibrant Arts Community with their vote today.

We will continue to keep you posted as the budget moves through the State Legislature and, of course, on the construction progress of the New Home. We have more work to do. Stay tuned.

Thank you for your enduring support.

All my best,
Tom Mara
Executive Director