Grants & Funding

Securing funding is one of the most practical challenges artists face. These organizations offer grants, fellowships, and financial support relevant to artists working in the Pacific Northwest.

  • Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) -- Offers individual artist fellowships, project grants, and organizational support. Check their website for current application deadlines.
  • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) -- Federal grants for individual artists and arts organizations. Programs include Art Works, Challenge America, and Creative Writing Fellowships.
  • Clallam County Cultural Commission -- Local grants for arts projects that benefit Clallam County residents. Applications are typically due in the spring.
  • Artist Trust (Seattle) -- A statewide nonprofit that provides funding, professional development, and career resources for Washington artists. Their EDGE program and GAP grants are worth knowing about.
  • 4Culture (King County) -- While focused on King County, their resources and networking opportunities are valuable for Washington artists broadly.

Exhibition Opportunities

Finding places to show your work is essential for any practicing artist. Here are avenues specific to the Sequim area and broader Olympic Peninsula region.

  • Sequim First Friday Art Walk -- Participating galleries accept proposals for featured exhibitions. Contact individual galleries directly for submission requirements.
  • Sequim Plein Air Festival -- Open to all outdoor painters. The juried exhibition at the end of the festival is a significant showcase.
  • Sequim Museum & Arts Center -- Maintains a rotating gallery that features local and regional artists. Exhibition proposals accepted year-round.
  • Port Angeles Fine Arts Center -- Located 17 miles west of Sequim, this museum and sculpture garden hosts contemporary exhibitions and an outdoor art park.
  • Bainbridge Island Museum of Art -- A regional museum that exhibits Pacific Northwest artists. Accessible via the Bainbridge ferry from Seattle.

Art Supply Sources

Working artists need reliable access to materials. The Sequim area has a few local options, and several online retailers serve the Pacific Northwest efficiently.

  • Olympic Stationery & Office Supply (Sequim) -- Carries a selection of artist papers, sketchbooks, and basic painting supplies.
  • Swain's General Store (Port Angeles) -- A legendary general store that stocks a broader selection of art materials than you might expect.
  • Artist & Craftsman Supply (Seattle) -- Full-service art supply store. Orders can be shipped or picked up on Seattle trips.
  • Dick Blick Art Materials (online) -- Comprehensive selection with reliable shipping to rural Washington addresses.
  • Jerry's Artarama (online) -- Competitive pricing on professional-grade supplies. Free shipping on orders over a certain threshold.

Professional Development

Building a sustainable art practice requires more than talent. These resources address the business, legal, and professional dimensions of being an artist.

  • Artist Trust EDGE Program -- A two-day professional development workshop covering marketing, financial planning, and business skills for artists. Offered in various Washington locations throughout the year.
  • SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) -- Free business mentoring available in Clallam County. Particularly useful for artists starting a gallery, studio, or online sales operation.
  • Washington Lawyers for the Arts -- Provides legal education and services for artists, including contracts, intellectual property, and nonprofit formation.
  • Sequim Arts Community Workshops -- Several of our workshops include professional development components such as portfolio review sessions and artist statement writing.

Regional Arts Organizations

Connecting with the broader arts ecosystem in Washington State opens doors for collaboration, exhibition, and funding. These organizations are active in our region.

  • ArtsWA (Washington State Arts Commission)
  • Allied Arts of Clallam County
  • Olympic Peninsula Art Association
  • Northwind Arts Center (Port Townsend)
  • Centrum (Port Townsend) -- Residencies and workshops in writing, music, and visual arts
  • San Juan Islands Museum of Art

Studio & Workspace

Finding affordable studio space is a perennial challenge for artists. A few options in the Sequim-Dungeness area:

  • Sequim Arts shared studio hours -- Members can access shared workspace during designated open studio sessions. Check the events calendar for current hours.
  • Private studios for rent -- Several downtown buildings offer studio spaces. Check with the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber or inquire with our office for current availability.
  • Home studio zoning -- The City of Sequim permits home-based art studios in most residential zones. Check with the city planning department for specific regulations regarding signage and customer visits.

Teaching & Education Opportunities

Artists looking to supplement their income through teaching have several avenues in the Sequim area.

  • Sequim Arts Workshop Program -- We accept proposals from teaching artists for community workshops. Instructors receive a fee plus a percentage of registration revenue. Proposals for the following season are reviewed in March and September.
  • Peninsula College (Port Angeles) -- The college's art department hires adjunct faculty for studio courses. A master's degree is typically required. Contact the Fine Arts division directly.
  • Community Education Programs -- The Sequim School District's community education program runs evening art classes and accepts instructor proposals. Topics that have done well include watercolor for beginners, pottery hand-building, and art journaling.
  • Youth Arts Program -- Teaching artists can apply to lead sessions in our youth program. Experience working with children ages 8 to 17 is required. Background checks are mandatory.
  • Private Instruction -- Several Sequim artists maintain private teaching practices from their home studios. Our office can advise on insurance, pricing norms, and marketing through our network.

Selling Your Work

Moving art from the studio to a buyer requires strategy. The Sequim market has its own dynamics worth understanding.

Local Sales Channels

  • Downtown Galleries -- Several galleries accept work on consignment. Commission rates in Sequim typically range from 30% to 50%. Some galleries require exclusive representation for pieces they display; others do not.
  • Sequim First Friday Art Walk -- High foot traffic and a receptive audience. Artists can sell from participating venues or apply for outdoor display permits during summer months.
  • Sequim Farmers Market -- The Saturday market (May through October) welcomes artists and craftspeople. Booth fees are modest compared to dedicated art fairs.
  • Holiday Art Sales -- Several venues host holiday markets in November and December. The Sequim Arts annual holiday show is a reliable sales event with strong community attendance.

Online Sales Platforms

For artists looking beyond the local market:

  • Etsy -- Works well for functional art, prints, ceramics, and jewelry. Sequim artists have reported success by highlighting the Pacific Northwest connection in their listings.
  • Saatchi Art -- Curated online gallery for original fine art. Higher price points than Etsy, with a 35% commission on sales.
  • Artfinder -- Similar to Saatchi but with a broader range of price points. Artists set their own prices and Artfinder takes a commission.
  • Personal Website -- Many successful Sequim artists sell directly through their own websites using platforms like Squarespace, Shopify, or WordPress with WooCommerce. This avoids marketplace commissions but requires driving your own traffic.

Pricing Your Work

Pricing is one of the most difficult aspects of professional art practice. A common formula for the Sequim market: (hourly rate x hours spent) + materials cost + overhead percentage = wholesale price. Retail price is typically 2x to 2.5x wholesale. Gallery prices should match your direct sale prices to avoid undercutting your gallery partners.

The economics of supporting local artists is worth understanding from the buyer's perspective as well, which can inform how you position and price your work.

Marketing & Promotion

Getting your work seen is half the battle. Here are channels that work for artists in the Sequim area.

  • Sequim Arts Newsletter -- Our monthly newsletter reaches over 2,000 subscribers. Members can submit event announcements and exhibition notices for inclusion.
  • Social Media -- Instagram remains the strongest platform for visual artists. Post consistently (3 to 5 times per week), use local hashtags (#SequimArts, #OlympicPeninsulaArt, #PNWartist), and engage with other local artists and venues.
  • Sequim Gazette -- The local newspaper covers arts events and profiles local artists. Send press releases for exhibitions, awards, or notable projects.
  • Peninsula Daily News -- Regional newspaper covering the Olympic Peninsula. Arts coverage includes exhibition reviews and event listings.
  • Open Studio Events -- Hosting an open studio during Art Walk weekends or as a standalone event builds your collector base. Our office can help promote these through our channels.

Insurance & Legal

Protecting your work and your practice is often overlooked but important.

  • Studio insurance -- Standard homeowner's insurance typically does not cover artwork or studio equipment used for commercial purposes. Specialized policies from companies like ACT Insurance or Philadelphia Insurance cover studio contents, artwork in transit, and public liability. Annual premiums for a small studio typically range from $300 to $800.
  • Business license -- Artists selling work in Sequim need a City of Sequim business license and a Washington State UBI number. Both are straightforward to obtain. A UBI number is free; city business licenses have a modest annual fee.
  • Sales tax -- Washington State requires sales tax collection on retail art sales. The current combined rate in Sequim is approximately 8.7%. Original artwork sold by the creating artist is subject to sales tax in Washington, unlike in some other states.
  • Copyright -- As the creator of an original work, you automatically hold copyright in the United States. Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office strengthens your legal position but is not required. U.S. copyright law provides protections that last for the life of the author plus 70 years.
  • Consignment agreements -- Always use a written agreement when placing work with a gallery. Washington State's consignment law (RCW 18.110) protects artists' work in gallery consignment relationships.

Moving to Sequim as an Artist

Sequim has become a destination for artists relocating from larger cities. If you are considering the move, here is practical information specific to establishing an art practice here.

Cost of Living

Housing costs in Sequim are significantly lower than Seattle, Portland, or the San Francisco Bay Area. As of early 2026, the median home price in Sequim is roughly $450,000 to $500,000, compared to $800,000+ in Seattle. Rental properties are limited, so purchasing or securing a lease early is advisable. Properties with outbuildings or attached garages suitable for studio conversion are available and represent good value for artists needing dedicated workspace.

Studio Setup

Converting a garage, outbuilding, or spare room into a studio is common in Sequim. The city's permitting process for home-based art studios is straightforward. Key considerations: north-facing windows for painters (consistent indirect light), ventilation for ceramicists and printmakers, adequate electrical capacity for kilns or power tools, and water access for cleanup. Many artists report that the quality of natural light on the Olympic Peninsula is exceptional, particularly the soft, diffused light that prevails for much of the year.

Connecting with the Community

The fastest way to integrate into the Sequim arts community is to attend the First Friday Art Walk, join Sequim Arts as a member, and introduce yourself to gallery owners downtown. The community is welcoming but, like any small town, relationships develop through consistent presence rather than a single introduction. Volunteering with Sequim Arts events is another effective way to build connections quickly.

Weather and the Working Year

Sequim sits in the Olympic rain shadow, receiving only about 16 inches of rain annually, less than Los Angeles. This means more outdoor painting days than most of the Pacific Northwest. Summers are warm and dry (typical highs around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit from June through September), making it ideal for plein air watercolor and outdoor festivals. Winters are mild but short on daylight, so a well-lit studio matters during November through February.

Inspiration & Community

The Olympic Peninsula offers an unusually rich environment for artistic inspiration. The convergence of ocean, mountains, rainforest, and lavender fields within a 30-mile radius creates a landscape diversity that drew artists long before the area became known for tourism.

David Hockney, one of the most influential living artists, described the quality of light on the Olympic Peninsula as remarkable during visits to the Pacific Northwest. Whether you paint landscapes, abstract work, or something entirely different, the sensory richness of this place tends to find its way into the work. Our guide to Olympic Peninsula artists profiles several artists whose work has been shaped by this landscape.

The Sequim arts community is notably collegial. Artists here support each other with practical help, shared knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm for one another's success. This culture of mutual support is one of the things that makes Sequim different from larger, more competitive art markets.

Shipping, Framing & Photography

Practical logistics that every selling artist needs to address.

Framing

Custom framing options on the Olympic Peninsula include Pen Print and Frame in Port Angeles (full custom framing with conservation-grade materials), and several independent framers working from home studios in the Sequim area. For artists who frame their own work, wholesale frame suppliers like American Frame (online), Frame Destination, and Larson-Juhl offer direct-to-artist pricing. Tip: standardize your painting sizes to common frame dimensions (11x14, 16x20, 18x24, 24x30) to reduce framing costs and simplify inventory management.

Photography

Quality photographs of your work are non-negotiable for online sales, exhibition submissions, and grant applications. For two-dimensional work, consistent lighting (two matched lights at 45-degree angles), a neutral background, and a tripod produce professional results with a decent camera or modern smartphone. For three-dimensional work (ceramics, sculpture), a lightbox or tent setup eliminates harsh shadows. Several Sequim-area photographers specialize in art documentation; contact our office for referrals.

Shipping

Shipping original artwork requires proper materials and carrier selection. For paintings, use corner protectors, acid-free glassine, and a sturdy cardboard art box or custom crate. The Sequim post office and the UPS Store in Sequim both handle art shipments, though insurance limits differ. For high-value pieces, specialized art shippers like Masterwork, Pak Mail, or UShip provide white-glove service with climate-controlled transport. Always photograph your packing process for insurance documentation.

Seasonal Calendar for Artists

Timing matters for grant applications, exhibition submissions, and sales planning. Here is a general annual calendar for the Sequim arts scene:

  • January to February: ArtsWA grant applications typically open. Good time for portfolio updates, website refreshes, and studio organization.
  • March: Sequim Arts workshop proposals due. Clallam County Cultural Commission grants typically due. Begin planning for summer outdoor painting.
  • April to May: First Friday Art Walk season picks up with tourist arrivals. Farmers Market begins (outdoor booth applications due in March).
  • June: Peak tourist season begins. Gallery sales tend to increase. Plein Air Festival typically held in late June.
  • July to August: Highest visitor traffic. Sequim Lavender Festival (mid-July) draws 30,000+ visitors. Prime time for studio tours and gallery exhibitions. See our article on the connection between lavender and art in Sequim.
  • September to October: Tourist numbers decline but serious collectors often visit in the quieter months. Good time for artist residency applications for the following year.
  • November to December: Holiday art sales and markets. Year-end tax planning for art-related deductions.

Have a Resource to Suggest?

This page is a living document. If you know of a grant, organization, supply source, or opportunity that belongs here, please email us at info@sequimarts.org. We update this resource guide quarterly.

For more information about what Sequim Arts offers directly, visit our Programs overview, explore our gallery directory, or contact our office.