Seattle Arts Commission and Seattle Music Commission call for arts education funding in the upcoming renewal of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy.

Dear City Councilmembers,

The Seattle Arts Commission writes today urging you to include dedicated funding for arts education— specifically for The Creative Advantage—in the upcoming renewal of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy.

The FEPP Levy is designed to build a better future for Seattle students by supporting programs that increase academic achievement, mental health and well-being to prioritize the needs of students facing the greatest barriers to learning. Arts education is one of the most powerful, proven tools for accomplishing that mission and yet, arts education has never been included in FEPP funding. We believe
now is the time to change that.

The Creative Advantage (TCA), Seattle’s citywide arts education initiative, is a partnership between the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle Public Schools, and local arts partners. It is currently funded through the Office of Arts & Culture and outside philanthropic support—but not through FEPP. However, TCA’s mission aligns squarely with the Levy’s goals: to reduce barriers to learning, connect youth with caring adults, and foster culturally responsive programming that nurtures students’ wellbeing and academic growth.

And, it’s incredibly successful in meeting those outcomes. TCA now serves every school in the Seattle Public Schools system, and it has earned a reputation as a model of equitable, arts-rich education. But with no sustained public funding to match its growing impact, the program is under strain.

The need is urgent. Just this year, Seattle lost $100,000 in arts education collective impact funding when a federal NEA grant was withdrawn. Without new investments, our city risks losing momentum in a program that is already changing lives—and one that aligns directly with the FEPP Levy’s goals. Research consistently shows that arts learning improves student engagement, academic performance, social-emotional development, mental health, and a sense of belonging. It supports career readiness, fosters collaboration, and builds empathy. We can’t afford to overlook the powerful benefits that art education provides—it’s essential for emotional resilience and well-being, now more than ever.

Seattle has built something unique with The Creative Advantage, the arts reach children where they are. With Council support, we can sustain and expand its reach—ensuring that ALL students, especially those furthest from opportunity, have access to the transformative power of the arts.

We respectfully urge you to include arts education funding in the FEPP Levy renewal and to consider The Creative Advantage as a ready, effective partner in this effort.

Thank you for your continued leadership on behalf of Seattle’s students.

Sincerely,

Kayla DeMonte & Holly Jacobson
Co-Chairs, on behalf of Seattle Arts Commission

Jason Clackley & Jessica Toon
Co-Chairs, on behalf of Seattle Music Commission