press release

February 28, 2023

4Culture welcomes Jonathan Cunningham as Deputy Director

Summary

The 4Culture staff and board are excited to welcome Jonathan Cunningham as Deputy Director. Jonathan has dedicated his career to supporting arts and culture in our region and has a deep understanding of the impact of funding on the sector. He brings a wealth of experience in developing innovative grant programs, building strategic partnerships, and advancing racial equity and social justice.

Full Release

Previously, he served as Senior Program Officer at Seattle Foundation, designing and leading community initiatives. He was the principal architect of REPAIR (Racially Equitable Philanthropy Aimed at Initiating Reparations), a five-year, $25 million commitment to Black-led organizations in the greater Seattle region. Prior to that, he managed youth programs and community outreach at MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture). He currently serves as board president of The Residency, a hip-hop youth development organization he co-founded in 2015 and was a Seattle Arts Commissioner for 6 years. He has deep knowledge navigating public, private and municipal partnerships. He also spent many years covering Seattle’s cultural arts scene as a journalist and music editor.

The Deputy Director is a critical leadership position at 4Culture, providing long-range strategic planning, budget development, funding programs oversight, and staff management. The Deputy Director acts as liaison to King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget and works with staff, board, and advisory committees to develop and implement strategic partnerships and initiatives.

Quote

“Jonathan deeply understands the transformative potential of the role of funding for the cultural sector, I am excited to see him bring this focus to 4Culture in his role as Deputy Director.” —Brian J. Carter, Executive Director, 4Culture

4Culture is King County’s cultural funding and services agency, supported by Lodging Taxes and the 1% for Art ordinance. With a focus on racial equity, we fund, support, and advocate for culture to enhance the quality of life in King County. To learn more about our programs–arts, heritage, preservation, and public art –please visit 4culture.org, email , or call 206-296-7580. We encourage you contact staff directly if you are interested in learning more about a specific program area.