Find Posts By Topic

Why art matters and a statement from the Office of Arts & Culture about proposed 2018 Federal Budget

Why does art matter?

April 12, 2017, 6-8 p.m. doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Youngstown Cultural Center
4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
RSVP here

What role does art play in society and how does it shape us? Please join Councilmember Lisa Herbold, KUOW and the Office of Arts & Culture as we explore art in today’s world. A panel moderated by KUOW’s Marcie Sillman will discuss the role of public investments in the arts and the health of our community, and the current landscape of dedicated arts funding. Confirmed panelists include Vivian Phillips, Seattle Arts Commission; Simon Woods, Seattle Symphony; and James Miles, Executive Director of Arts Corps. Break-out sessions after the panel will focus on diving more deeply into specific issues and action steps.

Now more than ever, the arts play an important role in defining our identity and leading the way for racial equity. The National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are vital for our community’s well-being. The President’s proposed budget would eliminate federal funding for these agencies, and brings up questions about how to continue this important work, as well as the larger question of what the elimination of government-sponsored cultural agencies communicates to Americans and the rest of the world.


Randy Engstrom, the Director of the Office of Arts & Culture, issued the following statement about the proposed 2018 Federal Budget.

The National Endowments for the Arts (NEA) has for 50 years supported cultural organizations, artists and communities nationwide. The 2018 proposed federal budget seeks to eliminate all funds for the NEA, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This action will have profound economic and social impacts in Seattle and throughout the country.

In In 2017 the Seattle community received $750,000 from the NEA, funding more than 23 organizations of all sizes, including The 5th Avenue Theatre, Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences, Northwest Film Forum, Earshot Jazz to Town Hall.

In addition, Seattle Public Schools received $100,000 per year for the last two years for our arts education initiative, The Creative Advantage, a partnership with the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the Seattle Foundation.

Our office envisions a city driven by creativity that provides the opportunity for everyone to engage in diverse arts and cultural experiences. The arts provide us with transformational experiences, opportunities to advance racial equity and social justice, and the means to better understand both ourselves and the world around us. We believe continued investment in federal arts funding reinforces the amazing work our arts and culture community produce in our city every day and we will continue to work locally, advancing our values along with the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for another 50 years.

#          #          #