Chamber Opera. Redefined Stages. Bold Voices. Shared Justice. Connection.
Rising Waters
Collective
Rising Waters Collective
Dec 5, 2025
We’re thrilled to share some big news: Rising Waters Collective has been selected as one of the first-ever recipients of 4Culture’s Launch Grant, an extraordinary new program supporting emerging arts organizations across King County. Out of many applicants, only 26 groups were awarded, and we are honored to be among them.
This is a major milestone for us. The Launch Grant provides $90,000 over three years, offering stable, long-term support at a crucial moment in our growth. The application process was rigorous and deeply competitive, and we approached it with both ambition and care. To be recognized by 4Culture with this level of trust and investment means the world to us.
Huge congrats to the other orgs, and to everyone who applied, for doing the work that makes our communities healthier, stronger, and more connected. This region thrives because so many people keep showing up.
What This Grant Will Support
This generous funding directly fuels the work ahead:
Artist Fees: Ensuring that the singers, musicians, designers, and creative teams who bring our productions to life are compensated fairly and sustainably.
Venue Partnerships: Strengthening collaborations with community spaces, cultural hubs, and performance venues across the region—keeping our work accessible and rooted in place.
Performance Rights for the North American Premiere of disPLACE: This grant allows us to secure the rights for this important new opera and bring its premiere to Seattle as a cornerstone of our 2026 season.
About the Launch Grant
4Culture’s Launch Grant is a new initiative designed to help emerging arts organizations build capacity, expand programming, and strengthen their long-term impact. Funded through public resources dedicated to cultural development in King County, this program lifts up organizations whose missions reflect the cultural, social, and artistic vibrancy of the region. Rising Waters Collective is proud to be part of this first cohort.
Our Gratitude
Our deepest thanks go to 4Culture, the panelists who reviewed our application with care, and the broader community that continues to believe in our vision. This acknowledgment affirms that what we’re building: artist-centered, community-connected, and creatively bold work matters.
Every step of this journey has been shaped by the artists who trust us, the partners who open their doors to us, and the supporters who stand with us as we grow. We’re humbled and energized.
Join the Momentum
There is a wave building around Rising Waters: support, interest, and a shared desire to bring powerful stories to our stages and communities. We invite you to be part of it. Whether you attend a performance, share our work, or make a contribution, you help carry this wave forward.