ArtsFund to distribute nearly $3 million in 2008

On Thursday ArtsFund held its 20th annual luncheon, and nearly 1,000 movers and shakers from the art community got together at the Westin in downtown Seattle to celebrate the arts, give awards and announce almost $3 million in funding for local arts groups.

Every year, ArtsFund provides millions of dollars to some 70 leading local nonprofit arts groups; the 2008 goal is to grant $2.975 million, an increase of about $50,000 from last year. Still, the corporate-arts-giving nonprofit has raised just 67 percent of that goal to date. Grants will be announced later this year.

ArtsFund donations may have slowed — at the time of last year's luncheon, the group was 77 percent of the way toward its goal — but the arts themselves are as robust as ever. In the past year, arts groups in King and Pierce counties have held 13,000 events, attracting audiences of 7.5 million adults and children.

Ben Cameron, program director for the art at New York's Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, gave the keynote address, and ArtsFund presented two awards: Mimi Gardner Gates, the Seattle Art Museum's Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director, was given the Outstanding Achievement in the Arts Award for transforming the museum with the opening of the Olympic Sculpture Park and SAM's expansion; and Richard and Betty Hedreen won the ArtsFund's Lifetime Dedication to the Arts Award, for their dedication to SAM and their fundraising, support and leadership throughout the community.

ArtsFund President and CEO James Tune also recognized Poncho (Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural and Charitable Organizations) for its role as a united arts fund, as well as former Seattle Times classical-music critic Melinda Bargreen, for her 31 years of service to the arts.

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com