Head Young Women Dancers Brianna and Mia Jamison (Yakama) and Ledger Artist, Robert Running Fisher Upham, Gros Ventre lineage of Chief Running Fisher, Assiniboine, Salish, Pend Oreille, adopted Blackfeet and Lakota. His Lakota “Hunka” name is “Red Whirlwind". Photo by Stacy Taken Alive.

The Arts in Parks grant is a collaboration between the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Parks and Recreation. It supports neighborhood arts councils, community groups, and individual artists who want to bring new and existing festivals or events to Seattle parks, especially to underserved and economically challenged areas.

Here are the 32 awardees of our Arts in Parks grant for 2023:

• ADEFUA Cultural Education Workshop – $7,800 for Summer Saturdays – Family Drumming & Dance Activities
• Aorta Artists Productions – $5,200 for Concerts in the Mini Park
• Claudia Villalobos – $7,800
• Conspiracy of Geniuses – $7,800 for MOVEment
• Dreaming in Color Entertainment/Hold Your Crown – $7,800 for Hold Your Crown Festival
• Experience Education – $7,800 for Future Ancient Soul Healing Festival
• Free Flo Fit – $7,800 for Fit Melanin Summer 2023
• Golden Bricks, LLC – $5,200 for Sundaes Outside: A Celebration of Black Folks
• Griot Girlz – $5,200 for The Circle: An Exploration in Rhythm and Performance
• Healthy Othello Safer Through Environmental Design – $7,800 for a community mural in an Othello neighborhood park
• Inspired Child – $7,800 for Inspired Child Movies & Shakers
• Joyas Mestizas – $5,200 for Seattle Folklorico Festival
• Malawi Seattle Association – $7,800 for A Day in the Life of a Malawian Village
• Northwest Tap Connection – $7,800 for Tap Into Your Inner Beat Cultural Education Camp
• Orquesta Northwest – $7,800 for Música for Youth Summer Program
• Othello Park Alliance – $5,200 for Othello Park International Festival
• Pratt Fine Arts Center – $5,200 for Pratt Fine Arts Center’s Fall Open House
• Seattle Chamber Music Festival – $5,200 for The Concert Truck
• Seattle Children’s Theatre Association – $5,200 for Theatre in the Garden with Seattle PlayGarden
• Seattle Composers Alliance – $5,200 for Seattle Composers Alliance: SPARKS
• Seattle Opera – $7,800 for Bilingual Youth Opera Performances
• Silver Kite Community Arts Consulting – $7,800 for Arts for All
• Somali Family Safety Task Force – $7,800 for Summer Youth Cultural Arts Workshop
• SouthEast Effective Development – $5,200 for SEEDArts Summer Series: Cinema Under the Stars and Porch Concerts
• Taking Black Pride – $7,800 for Taking Black Pride – The Cook-Out
• The Rhapsody Project – $7,800 for The Rhapsody Project Block Party featuring Panorama Jazz Band
• Umoja Peace Center – $5,200 for Umoja Fest 2023
• Washington Capoeira Center LLC – $7,800 for Free Weekly Capoeira Roda
• Whim W’Him – $7,800 for Let’s Be in the World As We Are
• Windz of Change Alliance – $7,800 for Tribute to The Seattle All American Indian Dancers:  Honoring Jeannie Halliday & Sacred Waters

Please Note: 2023 awardees Kathya Alexander and Northwest Folklife deferred their projects/awards to 2024.

Here’s What Awardees Are Saying

Our event had a particular focus on serving the Rainier Beach community, which is predominantly composed of Black, Brown, and Muslim families. This demographic composition was significant as it aligned with our goal of inclusivity and representation. It was heartening to see a substantial number of families with two or more children in attendance, as this fostered a collaborative atmosphere where family members could engage in creative activities together.

– Claudia Villalobos

Judkins Park is our old stomping grounds. We have played capoeira here for over 10 years. We are happy to see that our neighborhood is still diverse. People of color and multigeneration come through … Extra special audiences are those who have come and gone in our community but when they see us again at events like Arts in Parks at Judkins Park they might revisit the school as well. Having the exposure from programs like this are so important to what we do.

– Washington Capoeira Center LLC

The park feels good like it used to be when families and children were here enjoying it. This powwow is healing this park and peoples who come here.

– Windz of Change Alliance

Check out our other grants and apply.