Who We Serve
Artists
Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally.
Photo Credit Alaina Diehl
Jump To
- Grants;Networks;Technology;Advocacy;Other Projects and Services
Our direct-service work includes funding, programming, leadership development, convenings, and advocacy to move arts and cultural policy forward. Across all, we focus on distributive action that spreads power, information, and resources into our creative communities. We honor their agency by supporting their goals directly — seeking partnership, not power — knowing that our region contains multitudes.
Grants
We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers, and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change.
Networks
We facilitate network-building, knowledge-sharing, and collective learning, through various regional networks, coalitions and learning communities.
Technology
Our technology platforms equitably build bridges in the arts — connecting artists with opportunities and art-seekers with artists.
Advocacy
We amplify the work of creative organizations by building arts policy systems that can be delivered anywhere and invest in and strengthen state and federal-level advocacy to support public-sector involvement in the arts. We partner with coalitions and regional and national networks to connect and mobilize artists, administrators, public officials, advocates and influencers to build awareness of arts-related issues and drive action on legislative and regulatory change.
Photo Credit Mia Crivello
Photo Credit Patricia McCrystal
Photo Credit Jackie Amézquita
Photo Credit Blake Jackson
Other Projects and Services
We provide other services that support arts organizations and artists in our region, including consulting services and research, and letters for artist visas.
- We offer consulting services to member states and national colleagues on special projects, studies, and strategic responses to unexpected challenges.
- We collaborate with other arts service organizations and the NEA on initiatives that support the work of artists and creative workers like Performing Arts Discovery, a program managed by the Western Arts Alliance and Creative West in collaboration with the USRAOs that promotes U.S. performing artists to international programmers, festival directors, and venue managers.
Web Services powered by
Creative West
CaFÉ is an online application submission system that strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply.
GO Smart is an affordable grants management software that offers pre- and post-application forms, panel reviewing, and data reporting for grantmakers.
The Public Art Archive (PAA) is a free, searchable, and continually growing online database of completed public artworks throughout the U.S. and abroad, with a suite of resources and tools built for managing public art collections.
ZAPP provides art fair and festival administrators with a suite of tools to digitally collect and jury applications, manage booth payments, and communicate with applicants all in one easy-to-use digital platform. Artists can apply to hundreds of shows nationwide through a central website.