2015 marks the 13^th year Seattle has been celebrating our arts and culture scene with the Mayor’s Arts Awards. For the past 13 years three Mayor’s have been honoring the best organizations and individuals that make Seattle one of the most livable and fastest growing cities in the U.S. This year was no exception. So instead of a narrative about the day, we thought we’d let the numbers speak for themselves. Check out the video, http://www.seattlechannel.org/explore-videos?videoid=x58395

• 500 people attended the ceremony

Mayor Ed Murray, Councilmember Nick Licata and the 2015 Mayor’s Arts Awards recipients.
On September 4, 2015, Mayor Edward B. Murray honored the 2015 recipients of the MayorÕs Arts Awards at the Seattle CenterÕs Mural Amphitheater. Presented in partnership with Bumbershoot, the awards ceremony is part of the official opening of Bumbershoot 2015, which runs through Monday.
The 2015 honorees are:
¥ Cultural Ambassador: Dr. Robin K. Wright
¥ Arts & Innovation: Akio Takamori
¥ Cultural Preservation: Densho
¥ Future Focus: Seattle JazzED
¥ Creative Industries: Daniel Brown
Photo by Marcus R. Donner © 2015

• 600 programs printed
• 300 chairs were set up (so yes, there were quite a few standing)
• 25 members of the Chinese Community Girls Drill Team
• 1 Mayor
• 5 Mayors Arts Awards winners
• 14 Seattle Arts Commissioners
• 1 Seattle Councilmember

1 Civic Poet (here’s a link to the poem she read)

• 1 Seattle based glass artist Manuel Castro who designed and created the Mayor’s Arts Award, in partnership with Chihuly Garden and Glass
• 1 artwork Fear of Volcanos 46 unveiled that was dedicated to Councilmember Nick Licata (by artist Ryan Molenkamp, and purchased with Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Art funds)
• 75 volunteers to set up the event
• 7 temporary artworks in the Seattle Center Sculpture Walk
• 397 nominations
• 1 ukulele player, thank you Champagne Honeybee!
• 9 months of planning