Artist Trust

Client: Artist Trust
Location: Seattle, Washington
Sector: Arts and Culture, Community Development, Equity and Access
Format: Fundraising film, campaign video, short documentary

Since 2018, we've partnered with Artist Trust to create short films highlighting Washington State artists. Each film centers a working artist supported by Artist Trust's grants, celebrating their creative process and what they contribute to their communities. Washington State artists across all disciplines tell their stories in this ongoing series. We've spent years building trust with painters, performers, writers, and makers, documenting how unrestricted grant support changes not just individual careers but entire creative ecosystems. Each film is a window into a practice, a place, and a person sharing their voice.

Goodness, YES has partnered with Artist Trust since 2018 to create fundraising and impact films that spotlight the working artists at the heart of their mission.

We said yes to stories that honor creative courage. We said yes to meeting artists where they are. We said yes to showing that trust can be transformative.

Supporting artists means supporting communities

Across Washington State, many artists navigate systems that undervalue creative labor. For artists whose identities or geographies have historically limited access, receiving support affirms both their work and its worth. Each story focuses on belonging, trust, and being seen. We created space for conversation and reflection, inviting audiences to remember that art is essential to healthy communities.

"When artists are trusted, entire communities begin to thrive."

Listening in studios, classrooms, and rehearsal rooms

Every production started with listening. We met each artist in their space: studios, classrooms, rehearsal rooms. We talked about what drives their practice, how they connect to place, and what the support made possible. Filming was collaborative and minimal. The camera followed each artist's rhythm as their process unfolded naturally. The films span disciplines and offer an honest look into the daily realities of creative life in Washington. Light, color, and texture mirror each artist's individuality. Every scene feels grounded and human.

When visibility creates new opportunities

The Artist Trust films have become central to the organization's storytelling and fundraising. They're shared during the annual Benefit Art Auction and across social media, connecting artists, donors, and partners. People respond to the work emotionally. There's a renewed appreciation for what artists contribute to civic life. The featured artists gain visibility and new opportunities as these stories continue to reach people. Each film invites viewers to see creativity as both labor and love.

We said yes to stories that honor creative courage. We said yes to meeting artists where they are. We said yes to showing that trust can be transformative.

Supporting artists means supporting communities

Across Washington State, many artists navigate systems that undervalue creative labor. For artists whose identities or geographies have historically limited access, receiving support affirms both their work and its worth. Each story focuses on belonging, trust, and being seen. We created space for conversation and reflection, inviting audiences to remember that art is essential to healthy communities.

"When artists are trusted, entire communities begin to thrive."

Listening in studios, classrooms, and rehearsal rooms

Every production started with listening. We met each artist in their space: studios, classrooms, rehearsal rooms. We talked about what drives their practice, how they connect to place, and what the support made possible. Filming was collaborative and minimal. The camera followed each artist's rhythm as their process unfolded naturally. The films span disciplines and offer an honest look into the daily realities of creative life in Washington. Light, color, and texture mirror each artist's individuality. Every scene feels grounded and human.

When visibility creates new opportunities

The Artist Trust films have become central to the organization's storytelling and fundraising. They're shared during the annual Benefit Art Auction and across social media, connecting artists, donors, and partners. People respond to the work emotionally. There's a renewed appreciation for what artists contribute to civic life. The featured artists gain visibility and new opportunities as these stories continue to reach people. Each film invites viewers to see creativity as both labor and love.

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