Check out Mayor-elect Mike McGinn’s music and nightlife and arts and cultural policies.

And don’t forget, you can welcome incoming Mayor McGinn and incoming King County Executive Dow Constantine, Monday, Nov. 23 at The Paramount Theatre. Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is putting on a party, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 911 Pine St. Drop by to meet, mingle and make new connections. The event is free and open to the public. Click here to view the invitation.

The Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop is a pedestrian trail that surrounds Lake Union in Seattle. The selected artist will create a new media project drawing on the history and/or context of the site. Possible media include podcast- or cell-phone based audio work, audio and/or video tours using mobile media and GPS, and walking tours or interactive events using the Web.

The call is open to professional artists living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and California. Application deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.

Go here to learn more.

Image: Jogger on the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop near Lake Union Park. Photo courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives.

“While grants to individual artists are becoming increasingly scarce, we are committed to nourishing the work of independent artists,” said Michael Killoren, director of the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. “Artists are the heart and soul of Seattle, making important contributions to our quality of life and economic prosperity.”

The program received a record 189 applicants, a 12.5 percent increase in applications from the previous 2008 funding cycle for visual, literary and media arts. Twenty-six of the 48 funded artist projects are first-time recipients, representing 54 percent of the awards. The awards range from $1,500 to $10,000, with an average award of $4,875.

The CityArtists program provides funding to different artistic disciplines in alternating years. In 2009, the program awarded $225,000 to 39 artists working in the performing arts.

Taub performs works by composers ranging from new voices in the avant such as Toshio Hosokawa and DJ Spooky to established stars like Astor Piazzolla, John Zorn, and Alfred Schnittke. Released in 2001 to commemorate his 20 years in Seattle, Taub’s solo disc, Oo-ee includes pieces by locals including Robin Holcomb, Janice Giteck, Jarrad Powell and composer David Mahler.

This concert is part of Seattle Presents, the free year-round concert series at City Hall. View our full concert calendar.

Image: Paul Taub, photo courtesy of the artist.

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is pleased to partner with STG to invite you to this free, public gathering featuring complimentary appetizers and a no-host bar.

The exhibition features 38 quilt artworks that incorporate paints, maps, buttons, beads, found objects, discharged fabrics (color removal from previously-dyed material), and fabrics ranging from hand-dyed to commercially-dyed. Beyond the Block showcases 26 Northwest artists.

A free artist reception with light refreshments will take place 4 to 6 p.m, Nov. 19 at City Hall.

Image: Carol To, Buildings I (detail), 2009, quilt, 18″x15″. Photo by the artist.

Image: East West Double Trio, photo courtesy of the group.

Last week in our November eNews, Michael Killoren, director of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, wrote about the importance of emergency preparedness for arts and cultural organizations. Read his message and link to resources here.

During the summer of 1909, nearly 4 million people passed through the fair’s gates on the UW campus. The fair helped Seattle shed its frontier past and became a gateway to Alaska and Asia. Filmmaker John Forsen brings the A-Y-P back to life through thousands of historical images, archival footage and interviews. Actor and former Seattle Arts Commissioner Tom Skerritt narrates. The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural—coordinator of the communitywide A-Y-P centennial celebration – is a film sponsor.

Image: Courtesy of the University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division.

For Water Calling, three artists and five filmmakers explored water—examining its flow and its history, offering ways to care for our urban watersheds, and celebrating water’s mythical power. The temporary projects took place at various locations throughout the city.

The panel discussion is part of SAM’s series Creatively Speaking: The Artist’s Point of View. The talk is free, but registration is required. Seating is limited.

The Water Calling projects were commissioned with Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Art funds and were managed by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

Image: Mandy Greer and Zoe Scofield, Mater Matrix Mother and Medium, 2009, fiber, performance. The temporary installation ran through late August at Camp Long in West Seattle. The performance was held in July.