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Office of Arts & Culture news and events

The Creative Advantage Strives for Educational Justice

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First grade students sit in a circle, holding their hands up

Photo by KUOW/Marcie Sillman

Equitable access to arts learning is essential for all students. The Creative Advantage, a citywide initiative to establish equitable access to arts education for every student Seattle Public Schools, works to systemically address inequities in access to art education and provide a comprehensive, high-quality arts education for all students, across the city, especially those who have been historically underserved.

Comprehensive arts education cultivates:

  • 21st Century skills for students
  • Communication
  • Creative and critical thinking
  • Collaboration
  • Growth mindset

Through arts learning, young people experience the transformative power of creativity and gain a deepened belief in their own capacity to learn, take risks, persist, and achieve. The Creative Advantage is more than just a strategy for arts equity. Rather, it is step towards true educational justice.

Through a collective partnership between Seattle Public Schools, Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture, The Seattle Foundation, Seattle Art Museum, Arts Corps, ArtsEd Washington, and up to 100 community-based arts organizations, The Creative Advantage has enhanced arts access through increased certified arts staff, culturally responsive teaching practices, arts partnerships, professional development opportunities for the community, and connected students with career opportunities in creative industries.

Since 2013, the number of elementary schools with regular visual art and music classes has more than doubled and thousands of students are receiving arts instruction from Seattle’s diverse corps of professional teaching artists and cultural organizations on The Creative Advantage Partner Roster.

Check out this recent media highlight from KUOW, featuring The Creative Advantage in action at Concord International Elementary School: How the arts can be Seattle schools’ stealth weapons in the fight for racial equity.

Hello, Goodbye, Best Viaduct Party Evah!

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We came, we saw, we walked, ran, rolled, strolled and in general enjoyed our last time to enjoy the views from the Viaduct and checked out the new tunnel. In honor of one of the best bashes for a highway in history, we’ve created our own album of photos.

Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Bruce Clayton Tom.

Seattle Civic Poet Anastacia Renee Tolbert, out and about

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Seattle Civic Poet Anastacia-Renee has been busy. She was invited to give a TEDx talk, which you can view here and she was a 2018 resident of the Mineral School.  Mineral School nurtures literary, performing, and visual artists to generate new work and present that work to the public. They provide overnight artists residency programs and public events from a classic 1947 elementary school in a lake town near Mt. Rainier. Learn more about Anastacia-Renee’s residency here.

Speak to Me!: An Evening Honoring the Lorde (Audre)

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With Bettina Judd, Helen K. Thomas and Jourdan Imani Keith

Monday, February 18, 7 p.m.
Jack Straw Cultural Center
4261 Roosevelt Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98105
Free

I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.
-Audre Lorde

Speak to Me! is an intergenerational reading series showcasing poets and writers curated, hosted and moderated by Anastacia-Renee, Seattle Civic Poet (Seattle Office of Arts & Culture). This special installment of the series celebrates the birth, life, and work of Audre Lorde.

Featuring:

Bettina Judd is an interdisciplinary writer, artist and performer whose research focus is on Black women’s creative production and our use of visual art, literature, and music to develop feminist thought. Her current book manuscript argues that Black women’s creative production is feminist knowledge production produced by registers of affect she calls “feelin.” She is currently Assistant Professor of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Washington. She has received fellowships from the Five Colleges, The Vermont Studio Center and the University of Maryland. Her poems and essays have appeared in Torch, Mythium, Meridians and other journals and anthologies. Her collection of poems titled patient. which tackles the history of medical experimentation on and display of Black women won the Black Lawrence Press Hudson Book Prize and was released in November of 2014. As a performer she has been invited to perform for audiences within the United States and internationally. Find out more information about Bettina at www.bettinajudd.com.

Helen K. Thomas is a native of Seattle, WA by way of Lagos, Nigeria. She writes Young Adult fiction about black girls surviving, thriving and trying to figure it all out in the Pacific Northwest.

Jourdan Imani Keith is a poet, essayist, playwright, naturalist and activist. Her TEDx Talk, “Your Body of Water,” the theme for King County’s 2016-2018 Poetry on Buses program, won a 2018 Americans for the Arts Public Art award. Keith’s  Orion Magazine essays, “Desegregating Wilderness” and ” At Risk” were selected for the 2015 Best American Science and Nature Writing Anthology (Houghton Mifflin). Her ekphrastic poems and stories were commissioned by the Northwest African American Museum to be featured as over-sized text on its walls during the Glass Orchidarium exhibit and her creation myth, ” We Were All Water,” was commissioned by Seattle Art Museum for a featured performance at the REMIX .  A keeper of culture and history in the Griot (gree-oh) storytelling tradition, she has been awarded fellowships from Hedgebrook, Wildbranch, Santa Fe Science Writing workshop, VONA, and Jack Straw. She’s received multiple commissions and awards from University of Washington, Artist Trust, 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Her memoir in essays, Tugging at the Web is forthcoming from University of Washington Press.

*Speak to Me! is an intergenerational reading series showcasing poets and writers curated, hosted and moderated by Anastacia-Renee, Seattle Civic Poet (Seattle Office of Arts & Culture).

Be Seattle’s Next Civic Poet

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Seattle Civic Poet Anastacia-Renee Tolbert reads In partnership, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the Seattle Public Library supports an experienced poet with a two-year City residency as literary ambassador. In addition to annual City events, the Civic Poet will foster community dialogue and engagement between the City, the public and other artists, while celebrating the literary arts.

This call is open to Seattle-based poets who have an established body of work including published works, reading/spoken word and project planning experience with skills in racial equity practices. Applicants must be eligible to work in the US and show commitment to this commission purpose and a strong relationship to Seattle.

The compensation for the two-year Civic Poet commission is $10,000. Funding is allocated at $5,000 per year. It compensates time for writing, administration, performances, event costs, materials, travel, fees, taxes and other project-related costs.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 24, 2019; 10:59 p.m. PST. A workshop to learn how to make your strongest application will be offered on Saturday, February 16.

More details, including how to RSVP to the workshop, are on the open calls page on our website. Learn more about the Seattle Civic Poet program as well as our current Civic Poet, Anastacia-Renee Tolbert.

Enjoy art and say goodbye to the Viaduct, Hello Waterfront

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Don’t miss the biggest (and last) Viaduct party ever!

Saturday, Feb. 2, 12:30 – 6 p.m.

In celebration of the future waterfront and new tunnel and part of the overall StepForward99.com series of events, the Office of the Waterfront and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture will activate the top deck of Alaskan Way Viaduct with a once in a lifetime arts festival featuring unique performances, activities, artworks, installations and interventions from over 100 regional artists and organizations. All arts activities will take place on the top level of the Viaduct.

Highlights include:

12:30 p.m. – Musical and Performance Procession: Hello | Goodbye will begin with a processional featuring music and performances from Orkestar Zirkonium and Friends, Vamala, Fremont Art Council, Hālau Hula ʻO Lono, LelaVision, InterPlay, SANCA, Leela Kathak, Sara Lovett’s Giant Puppets, The Cabiri and more. The public is invited to join the procession which begins at Seneca St.

 

 

Artists:

  • Akira Ohiso, Native fish windsocks
  • Scott Trimble, Olympic Mountains 3-D installation
  • Aubrey Derush and Patrick Knie, Large scale wooden boat
  • Ulises Mariscal, Spray panted panels
  • Cedric Bomford, RV selfie station
  • April Soeterman, Revised road signs
  • Minh Carrico, Hidden message flags
  • Naomi Haverland, large scale 3-D mural
  • Roger Fernandez, Display of Native carved canoes with local tribal families
  • Tia Matthies, Whimsical goats
  • Lela Vision, Interactive, large scale bird sculpture
  • Seattle’s Art Cars
  • A series of vintage Shasta trailers

Office of the Waterfront info container and KUOW on site capturing histories of the viaduct.

Performances:

  • Dewa Dorje & Friends
  • Emmett Montgomery & Friends
  • AU Collective
  • LelaVision
  • Fabulous Downey Brothers
  • Hello/Goodbye Drag Queens
  • Lukas Spivey and Culture Hustlers
  • Evan Flory Barnes
  • SANCA
  • SuttonBeresCuller’s Department of Bearing and Orientation

Inclement weather

We advise guests to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, dress warmly for the weather, and prepare for possible rainfall.

Accessibility

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation

The Hello Goodbye Viaduct Arts Festival will feature activities, installations, and artworks from over 100 artists. ASL interpretation will be provided at storytelling and comedic performances occurring on the North end of the Viaduct between 2:00-5:30 p.m. ASL interpreters will also be available from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at programming stations operated by the Office of the Waterfront, located near the Pike Place Market overlook.

Wheelchair access and Viaduct slope grade information

Alaskan Way Viaduct was formerly an active roadway and has not been outfitted for full wheelchair access – guests should take care to avoid occasional potholes, gaps, and other irregularities in the pavement. Wheelchair-accessible portable restrooms will be available for use near both the northern and southern entrances to the Viaduct festival. Production staff members will be on site and available for additional questions and accessibility needs.

From Lenora to Pike Street the roadway’s longitudinal grade is 3.73% northbound and 4.04% southbound. The Viaduct is flat at a 0% longitudinal grade North and South of this area. Cross-slope of the roadway can be up to 4.0% around Virginia Street.

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture strives to make its events and programs accessible for everyone. For additional disability accommodations or accessibility information, contact Grace Chai at grace.chai-c@seattle.gov at your earliest opportunity.

 Getting there / parking

Please visit https://99stepforward.com/getting-there.htm for additional information on planning your transportation to the Hello Goodbye Viaduct Arts Festival.

Making lemonade from the Seattle Squeeze

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On January 14 Seattle Center, the Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS), and the Office of Film + Music convened a dynamic group of small businesses and arts and cultural organizations to learn more about the upcoming permanent closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the new SR 99 tunnel that will open in early February, the other upcoming challenges to our transportation system, and the opportunities to connect as we build a better city.

The meeting’s primary purpose was to collectively brainstorm promotional opportunities, share best practices and other ideas for attracting customers to your business during this highly impactful period.

You will find the presentations and notes from the brainstorming session here:

Seattle Squeeze Fact Sheet

Seattle Squeeze Community Toolkit

Seattle Squeeze additional messaging for organizations and businesses

Arts and Entertainment Local brainstorming notes

Seattle Department of Transportation SR 99 Closure and Seattle Squeeze presentation

SeattleTraffic.org

A big thank you to everyone who presented, Seattle Department of Transportation, Visit Seattle, Commute Seattle, and Seattle Center and everyone who came and participated in our fun brainstorming session.

Please feel free to send any questions or inquiries our way: ARTS, Erika Lindsay, Communications Manager (206.684.4337); Seattle Center, Denise Caruso, Marketing Development, (206.733.9711); Office of Film + Music, Scott Plusquellec, Nightlife Business Advocate, (206.256.5152)

Still Here: Art by Persons Living with Dementia

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January 8 – March 6, 2019
Reception on Thursday, January 10, 4 – 6pm

"Mountain" by Jane Kippenhan, watercolor

“Mountain” by Jane Kippenhan, watercolor

Forty-nine exhilarating paintings created by seven vibrant persons living with dementia— each sharing a unique view of the world.

Delightful and surprising, the artwork effortlessly connects us—a vivid illustration that persons living with memory loss and dementia are Still Here—living with dignity, purpose and joy.

Featured artists:

  • Julia Blackburn
  • Rosemary Freeman
  • Gloria Kinney
  • Jane Kippenhan
  • Pat Kristoferson
  • Lenny Larson
  • Rafe Schwimmer

Meet these valuable community artists and their families, along with care providers at the Opening Reception. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and an exhibition tour.

Presented by The Art of Alzheimer’s. Art created at Elderwise.

ARTS is moving to King Street Station!

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ARTS is busily preparing for the move at the beginning of January 2019 to our new location at King Street Station.

ARTS at King Street Station will officially open to the public on March 23, 2019 with the indigenous-centered inaugural exhibition yəhaw̓. An indigenous-centered showcase in recognition of the Coast Salish peoples who first inhabited the land on which the City of Seattle was built, yəhaw̓ will run until August 3, 2019.

ARTS at King Street Station’s public hours will be Tuesday-Saturday 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. with extended hours until 8:00 P.M. on the first Thursday of each month. Shaped by community feedback through a City-wide public outreach process, ARTS’ goal is for King Street Station to be a community and cultural space for the Seattle community to access exhibition and creative opportunities, ARTS staff and resources, professional development, meeting space, and other services.

Hello | Goodbye: Viaduct Arts Festival

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Saturday, February 2, 2019
12:30-6 PM

an image of a fish with text overlay: Hello WaterfrontIn celebration of the future waterfront and tunnel, the Office of the Waterfront and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture will activate the top deck of Alaskan Way Viaduct with a once in a lifetime arts festival featuring unique performances, activities, and site-specific art installations from over 100 regional artists and organizations.

12:30 p.m.: Musical and Performance Procession:

Hello | Goodbye will begin with a processional featuring music and performances from Orkestar Zirkonium, Sara Lovett’s Giant Puppets, The Cabiri and more. The public is invited to join the procession which begins at Seneca St.

All Day: Activities, Installations and Performances:

Engage youth and family with a variety of activities, performances and unique site specific installations from regional artists and organizations including Au Collective, Cedric Bomford, Minh Carrico, Scott Trimble, April Soetarman, Sutton Beres Culler, Aubrey DeRush, Dewa Dorje, Roger Fernandes, Naomi Haverland, LelaVision, Ulises Mariscal, Tia Matthies, Emmett Montgomery, Akira Ohiso, DK Pan, Shawn Parks, The Cabiri, The Fabulous Downey Brothers, SANCA, and more!

overlay of waterfront on viaductGetting there
The festival will be accessible via Seneca Street and the Battery Street Tunnel during the time period corresponding with your ticket.

BY CAR
Check Seattle Traffic website for the best way to get to the get around town.

Heading north: I-5 to Seneca St exit (#165), west on Seneca St to 1st Ave, and turn right (north) on 1st Ave.

Heading south: I-5 to Union St exit (#165B), west (toward Puget Sound) on Union St to 1st Ave.

From I-90: Heading west, merge onto I-5 North; take Madison St exit (#2C). Turn left on Madison and right on 1st Ave.

BY PUBLIC TRANSIT
Visit the Metro website for a complete guide to Seattle’s transit system and a map of nearby bus stops.

Sound Transit Link Light Rail University Street Station exits onto 2nd Ave.

BY BIKE
See the SDOT interactive bike map for all levels of riders. Multiple bike racks are available on-street and public racks can be accessed by ramp or elevator on Union between 1st and 2nd Avenue on the first parking level of the Russell Investment Center Garage.

BY FERRY
Boats from West Seattle, Bremerton, and Bainbridge, Blake, Vashon, and Vancouver Islands disembark within walking distance

Image credits:

Fish by Akira Ohiso

3D chalk by Naomi Haverland