Youth leaders were the center of a day of learning for Seattle’s arts educators. The 2025 Creative Advantage Institute kicked off with passionate speeches from Speak with Purpose scholars seeking to raise awareness of students with disabilities. Sam Martin, a 7th grader from Aki Kurose Middle School, spoke directly about… [ Keep reading ]
Our Director, Gülgün Kayim, is featured in the latest issue of AMA Magazine #373. She talks about how we’re working in Seattle to embed arts and culture into the city’s systems—from real estate and zoning, to public art, youth engagement, and economic resilience. As Director of Arts & Culture for… [ Keep reading ]
The Creative Advantage Institute is back at the Seattle Art Museum Saturday, Sept. 27. This day of professional learning in and through the arts is the creative start to the 2025-2026 school year and serves as a time for teachers, artists, community partners, arts administrators, and education leaders to reconvene,… [ Keep reading ]
We spoke with teaching artist and 2025 Fresh Perspectives lead artist, Janet Nechama Miller, about their background and insights on the program, leading up to the youth-curated show You, Me, & Everything Between Us. Read on to learn more. Janet is an artist and teacher based in Seattle, WA. Their… [ Keep reading ]
For the second year of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan (DAP), the Office of Arts & Culture has worked to lift up the arts and culture sector as a critical piece of a revitalized downtown. Earlier this year, we hosted “Downtown is Vibrant,” an event to share with community our… [ Keep reading ]
This summer, ten young artists became curators, collaborators, and storytellers through our 2025 Fresh Perspectives Program. Coordinated by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and funded by Seattle Public Utilities through the 1% for Art Fund, this intensive, paid summer program offers teens a chance to go behind the… [ Keep reading ]
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities, is thrilled to announce the return of Fresh Perspectives, a paid arts residency program designed for youth aged 15-17. This unique opportunity immerses participants in the world of curatorial practice and arts administration, culminating in a youth-curated… [ Keep reading ]
On June 9, our Arts Education team welcomed over 40 community members and stakeholders to celebrate The Creative Advantage as we close the 2024-25 school year. A great turnout of Seattle Public School educators, teaching artists, community-based arts organizations, and fellow funders were treated to live music from The Rhapsody… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle Arts Commission and Seattle Music Commission call for arts education funding in the upcoming renewal of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. Dear City Councilmembers, The Seattle Arts Commission writes today urging you to include dedicated funding for arts education— specifically for The Creative Advantage—in the upcoming… [ Keep reading ]
Written by Leah Mann “Shikata ga nai” (し か た が な い), translates to “it is what it is.” It’s a Japanese phrase that encourages acceptance of a situation, even if it’s difficult or undesirable, and finding peace within it. It’s an opportunity to pivot and prioritize what you… [ Keep reading ]
