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 | Civil Rights Matter Workshops Join the African American Writers’ Alliance throughout the month of June for a weekly showcase of their members’ literary gifts. | Kathya Alexander | COMMON OBJECTS | |
| 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, 8/7, 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 Festival A day of music, dance, visual art, spoken word, clowning, and a pageant highlighting decorated mobility devices. All are welcome. | Teresa Thuman | Waterfont | |
| 7/17 | 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 | |
| 7/26-27 | Black to my Roots A night of powerful storytelling – African American Tales from the Head and the Heart. | Kathya Alexander | Common Objects | |
| 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 | |
| 8/9 | 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | JamFest at Belltown Blast | MoJam | Bell St Park | |
| 8/29 | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Indigiefolk Music Fest Live music by indigenous performers! | Windz of Change | Victor Steinbrueck Park | |
| 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 | |
| 9/20 | 5-6:30 p.m. | The Road to: One Seattle Soul Join award-winning drummer, producer, and vocalist John Oliver & Friends for a special performance on the Plaza. Free snacks, great music, and a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community. | Rhapsody Project & Lady A | King Street Station | |
| 9/21 | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Echoes by the Water Coastal Jam Live music by indigenous performers! | Windz of Change | Victor Steinbrueck Park | |
| 10/18 | 12-10 p.m.; 10/19 |2:30-7:30 p.m. | The Artist Showcase A two-day showcase of BIPOC creativity — featuring live music, DJs, comedy, spoken word, poetry, an artist panel, food, vendors and more! | A Space Inside | River 1927 3rd Ave, Seattle | |
| 10/19 | 12-1 & 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Sea Change Within Us A dance performance that addresses local water issues and the consequences of climate change, using the voices of real people, combined with moving rigid structures of water images by dancing human bodies. | Karin Steven Dance | SAM Olympic Sculpture Park Paccar Pavilion |
