On Jan. 21, 2026, Mayor Katie Wilson announced Amy Nguyen as the acting director of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Amy returns to us after working as our Public Art Director and Interim Deputy Director. Below is her vision and priorities for this new role. Seattle’s arts and… [ Keep reading ]
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 ]
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 ]
One of our proudest accomplishments in 2025 was the launch of our new strategic plan, published at the beginning of the year and created by and for the people who make this work possible: our staff. After years of disruption caused by the pandemic across Seattle’s creative sector and multiple… [ Keep reading ]
Funding will support World Cup celebrations in every district and downtown experiences led by local artists and cultural leaders Seattle, WA – Today, the City of Seattle announced nearly $1.3 million in investments to activate public spaces, celebrate local culture, and bring people together across the city through grants for… [ 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 Seattle Arts Commission, a group of citizen volunteers appointed by the Mayor and City Council to support and advocate for the Office of Arts & Culture, write to the Mayor to protect our budget and continue investing in what makes Seattle strong. Dear Mayor Harrell, On behalf of the Seattle Arts… [ Keep reading ]
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… [ Keep reading ]
We Still Dream a Future: Call for Downtown Activations & Exhibitions in 2026 The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture invites individual artists, cultural producers, arts administrators, creative workers, community groups, and arts and cultural organizations of all sizes to propose projects activating public spaces in Downtown Seattle in 2026. … [ Keep reading ]
