In this Creative State podcast, dancers and WAYAL alumni Dhaya Sarathy and Olga Loktev speak with Carina A. del Rosario, WAYAL Program Specialist. They share about their experiences with dance and arts education, how what they learned has shaped other aspects of their life and their career plans. They also reflect on the impact the WAYAL program had on their views about the creative economy and the need for arts advocacy.

Join ArtsWA Wellness, Arts, and the Military Program Manager Bryan Bales for a conversation with our Vet Corps Navigator Gabriella Smith about her work serving Veterans and their communities.

In this special episode, we sit down with Eric Ballentine, regional coordinator for the Washington Department of Veteran's Affairs (WDVA) Vet Corps. Eric sheds light on how the Vet Corps works, what makes Veterans such powerful storytellers, the Minority Veterans organization, and his plans for a podcast of his own.

In this special episode, we sit down with Gabrielle Trautmann of Gabi's Olympic Cards and Comics to learn about how her shop - which she bought at 18 years old - creates community in Olympia, Washington. Gabi, whose father served in the military, holds regular events for Veterans to gather and build human connections (she even lifts the "no swearing" rule).

Learn more about Gabi's Olympic Cards and Comics here.

Jeremy Whittington: Jeremy is a 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Luminary Award honoree based in Spokane, Washington. He is the Artistic and Managing Director of Stage Left Theater. Click below to:

• Learn more about Stage Left Theatre
• Explore Jeremy Whittington's work
• Listen to the full interview

The 2022 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards: The 2022 Governor's Arts & Heritage Awards were held on November 1, 2022. Click below to:

• Learn more about the awards
• Watch the 2022 virtual presentation

Geoffrey Bowton: Geoffrey is a Veteran artist who works in “Pate de Verre”, a French term meaning “Paste of Glass”. Click here to learn more about Geoffrey.

Music: Icelandic Arpeggios – DivKid / Beyond – Patrick Patrikios

Faaluaina (Lua) Pritchard, Executive Director of Asia Pacific Cultural Center: Asia Pacific Cultural Center is a 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Luminary Award honoree based in Tacoma. Click here to learn more about Asia Pacific Cultural Center.

Janae Huber: Janae is the Collections Manager for the Art in Public Places program at ArtsWA. Click here to learn more about Art in Public Places, and click here to learn more about Circle of Light. Watch a video:

• Field Report: Dick Elliott's 'Circle of Light'

Jane Orleman: Jane is an artist and the widow of Circle of Light artist Dick Elliott. Click here to learn more about Jane.

Xavier Cavazos: Xavier is a poet and educator. Click here to learn more about Xavier.

Dru Holley: Dru the documentary filmmaker behind Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts. Click here to learn more about the film.

Music: Icelandic Arpeggios – DivKid / Beyond – Patrick Patrikios

Holly Jacobson, CEO of Path With Art: Path With Art is a 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Luminary Award honoree based in Seattle. Click here to learn more about Path With Art.

Tamar Krames: Tamar is the Program Manager for Arts in Education at ArtsWA. Click here to learn more about Arts in Education. Watch their videos:

• What is a Teaching Artist? (Audio described version)
• Arts Integration (Audio described version)

Carina Del Rosario: Carina is a Teaching Artist, visual artist, and cultural worker. Click here to learn more about Carina.

Bryan Bales: Bryan is the Program Manager for Wellness, Arts, and the Military at ArtsWA. Click here to learn more about Wellness, Arts, and the Military.

Music: Icelandic Arpeggios – DivKid / Beyond – Patrick Patrikios

The Working Washington Grants: Round 5 and Convention Center Grants programs bring $75 million in pandemic relief to small businesses and nonprofits across the state. In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Halberstadt to discuss both programs - and why it's important for everyone who is eligible to apply. Shannon is the Creative Economy Sector Lead for the Department of Commerce.

Learn more about both grants and apply by September 9 at commercegrants.com!