Ribbon-cutting ceremony at King Street Station. Photo by Alex Garland working for SKL Architecture.

The Office of Arts & Culture is thrilled to welcome our new downstairs neighbors Red Eagle Soaring, Totem Star, Jackson Street Music Program, Wh!psmart, and The Rhapsody Project. The newly renovated second floor of Seattle’s historic King Street Station is now home to Station Space, an arts hub for local youth-oriented organizations. The previously empty second floor of the Amtrak station in Pioneer Square is now filled with youth voices, music, theater, and more. Projects like this make us proud to live in Seattle! 

This long-term project, helmed by the Cultural Space Agency, celebrated its grand opening on November 11, 2023 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, short performances, and a heartfelt kick-off speech from local hero Anthony Ray, aka Sir Mix-a-lot. The building was absolutely packed with supporters, friends, and well-wishers. Station Space holds a 60-year, rent-free lease from the city.  This ground-breaking arrangement allows these vital organizations to focus on what matters most – providing young artists a space to be mentored, learn, and create. The organizations at Station Space focus on communities of color and Indigenous people who have long been underserved in Seattle. This is an important step in strengthening the cultural and economic growth of our city.  

“It is so important that these organizations have a stable workspace, a space to create, and space to thrive. The work being done at Station Space absolutely benefits our city as a whole. We are proud of our work with these organizations through our Creative Advantage work and look forward to learning from them as partners and collaborators. It is also especially important for the City of Seattle to prioritize and support Native organizations at King Street Station as they are the original landholders.” – Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Director Gülgün Kayim.

Welcome! We are honored to share the space with these incredible Seattle organizations and we are looking forward to the next 60 years!  

Learn more about Station Space, the tenants, and the grand opening in The Seattle Times and Crosscut.

More about our new neighbors:

Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre (RES) exists to empower American Indian and Alaska Native youth to express themselves with confidence and clarity through traditional and contemporary performing arts.

Totem Star is a diverse community of young recording artists building life skills in communication, collaboration, and critical thinking through their creative pursuits in music production and performance.

The Jackson Street Music Program provides experience-based learning via programs like the Jazz in the City Concert Series, the YouthAir radio show, and lectures and meet-and-greets with performing artists.

The Rhapsody Project is a multi-generational community that celebrates music and heritage through an anti-racist lens. They work to tap the power of music and culture to confront injustice and enrich their communities.

Wh!psmart is the only statewide trade association in Washington State dedicated to supporting creative workers and creative businesses. They work to promote culture and the arts, conduct research and educate others about the value of creativity, and provide resources to help build robust and flourishing creative communities.