Photo courtesy of Washington Capoeira Join us for a summer of art events! The 2025 Hope Corps program is part of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan and supports an exciting range of free, artist-led public offerings throughout the year. Envisioned as an economic recovery program for Seattle’s creative workforce, Hope Corps seeks to connect under- and unemployed artists and creative workers with career opportunities that contribute to the well-being of Seattle.
2025 projects focus on these downtown neighborhoods: Belltown, Chinatown-International District, Central Downtown, Denny Triangle, Pioneer Square, and Stadium District. Learn more about the 2025 Hope Corps recipients and save the dates for upcoming activations!
Summer Event Calendar:
| Date & Time | Event | Grantee | Location |
| 3/21-6/21 | Meeting at the Balance On going exhibition featuring light-based art installations by regional artists. | Freeway Park Association | Freeway Park |
| 5/3 – 8/16 | 50 Years After the Vietnam War: Community Reflections in Seattle’s Little Sài Gòn Join community to commemorate 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War featuring voices and stories from King County’s Vietnamese community. | Friends of Little Sài Gòn | Hoa Mai Park & Friends of Little Sài Gòn |
| 5/10-11, 5/17-18, 5/24-25, 5/30 | 1-5 p.m. | Sustainable Style Seattle Showcase Participate in any and all of the free sustainable fashion focused events: clothing swaps, mending workshops, upcycling lessons, and a fashion show. | Sustainable Style Seattle | Common Objects |
| 5/16 – 9/28 | Downtown Seattle Capoeira Join Capoeira dancers and musicians at Street Rodas taking place in various neighborhoods thorughout the spring and summer. | Washington Capoeira Center | Occidental Park, Hing Hay Park, Seattle Art Museum, Westlake Park, Waterfront |
| 6/5, 8/7, 10/2, 12/4 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Jazz in the City Intimate jazz performances on the 2nd floor mezzanine at King Street Station. | Jackson Street Music Program | King Street Station Mezzanine |
| 6/5, 6/28, 9/20 | The Road to: One Seattle Soul Experience Seattle musical legends at various venues throughout downtown- Josephine Howell, Lady A, John Oliver III. | Rhapsody Project & Lady A | Seattle Art Museum, King Street Station, The Moore |
| 6/15, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26 | Black to My Roots Join the African American Writers’ Alliance throughout the month of June for a weekly showcase of their members’ literary gifts. | Kathya Alexander | COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE |
| 6/18 | 7:30 p.m. | Totem Star Artist Showcase Free all-ages showcase featuring four musical guests. | Totem Star | Baba Yaga, Pioneer Square |
| 6/20-21 | Cabinet of Curiosities Distributing free art gifts, made by local artists at select locations. | Angie Hinojos | 1st and Pike Park, King Street Station |
| Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 6/25, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13, 8/27, 9/3, 9/10 | Beat Our Future Intergenerational percussion collective featuring the BWB Drumline and special guests! | Big World Breaks | Waterfront Park: Pier 58 |
| 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26, 9/1 | 12-3 p.m. | Art to the People Try your hand at a variety of artistic mediums in beautiful downtown settings during drop-in workshops facilitated by Art to the People’s mobile art studio. | Vivid Matter Collective | Parks throughout Downtown |
| 7/10, 7/15, 7/23, 8/14, 8/21, 9/10, 9/16 | 12-1 p.m. | Indigenous Presentations Gather with outstanding tribal peoples for a series of Indigenous presentations and installed art in the park. | Windz of Change | City Hall Park |
| 7/12 | 12-5 p.m. | Seattle Disability Arts + Pride Festival A day of music, dance, visual art, spoken word, clowning, and a pageant highlighting decorated mobility devices. All are welcome. | Teresa Thuman | Waterfont |
| 7/13 | 5-7 p.m. | Summer Kickback Showcase All-ages showcase featuring live performances from emerging youth artists. | Totem Star | Occidental Square |
| 7/17 | 5-8 p.m. | Jam Fest A celebration of the neighborhood, featuring live music, dance, games and activities for all ages, and opportunities to learn about community projects. | Wing Luke | King St between 7th and 8th Avenue in front of Wing Luke Museum |
| 8/2 | 12-3 p.m. | Freeway Park In Bloom A day in the park with live music, fresh food, public artworks, and a chance to learn about local resources and stewardship opportunities centered around sustainability. | Freeway Park Association | 600 Seneca St. |
| 8/6-10 | jumpstART!- Pop-Up Street Performances Pop-up performances featuring over 60 performing artists in throughout Downtown, delighting audiences through play, dance, music, and circus performances. | EnJoy Productions | Pier 62, Occidental Park, Harbor Steps, Salish Steps, Waterfront |
| 8/9 | 1-5 p.m. | Hai Japantown Celebrate the joy and vibrancy of Seattle’s Japantown at Hai! Japantown, the neighborhood’s all-ages block party: shop, eat, and enjoy musical and cultural performances. | Wing Luke | Nihonmachi Alley in Seattle’s Historic Japantown |
| 9/20 | 12-6 p.m. | Walk Don’t Run A free community art event that will activate Seattle’s urban parks, sidewalks, plazas, and vacant storefronts with music, visual art, and performance/dance. | Don’t Run Art Marathon | Various locations from Pioneer Square to Belltown |
