In 2025, we built a strong foundation for a more sustainable future by completing our five-year strategic plan. This living document positions us to lead in a rapidly evolving cultural and civic landscape and grounds us for the important work of developing Seattle’s first citywide Cultural Plan, starting in 2026…. [ Keep reading ]
The Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle City Light, and Chief Seattle Club are joining forces with the Raven Village community to bring new life to a Ballard City Light substation! This project will transform blank substation walls and fencing along Leary Way into a piece of public art, featuring… [ Keep reading ]
Gülgün Kayim joined our staff as director in July 2023 and concluded her role in January 2026. Here are some words of appreciation and gratitude from our staff: Gülgün, you brought your respectful “Yes, and…” willingness to listen and collaborate. You helped build bridges between people and ideas. I’m so grateful… [ Keep reading ]
From gallery exhibitions to grant workshops, thank you for being in community with us this year. As we look back at 2025, join us in celebrating a year of artist support! Keep reading to learn about some of our highlights and stay tuned for more in our upcoming Report to… [ Keep reading ]
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 ]
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 ]
Before we dig into the opportunities 2025 has to offer, The Creative Advantage would like to take a moment to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of 2024. Together we launched… We continued… We hosted… Way to go Creative Advantage community!
A Year of Stabilization at the Office of Arts & Culture 2024 was all about stabilization for us at the Office of Arts & Culture. We added 12 new staff and the membership of both the Seattle Arts Commission and the ARTS at King Street Station Advisors were filled, helping… [ Keep reading ]
The Creative Advantage unveiled A Creative Decade, their newly published 10-year Report, to the arts and education community at the 10th annual TCA Summer Institute on August 22, 2024. The report documents how The Creative Advantage supports equitable high-quality arts education to 50,000+ Seattle Public School students and highlights the… [ Keep reading ]
As we pause to reflect on the events and work of the last year, I am incredibly grateful to be directing Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture and to be surrounded by a dynamic and inspiring team. Despite many challenges and a tremendous amount of change, I’m proud of the… [ Keep reading ]
