As the flowers bloom this spring so does our roster of Office of Arts & Culture team members—join us in welcoming them! Sara Bateman (She/Her), Panel Operations & Data Specialist Sara Bateman (she/her) comes to the Office of Arts & Culture with a professional background that ranges from federal grant… [ Keep reading ]
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 ]
Join us in welcoming new Office of Arts & Culture team members! Michael Allen (He/Him), Grants Management Systems Administrator Michael started his career in production design for theatre and film. He’s been an interdisciplinary artist, and designed and built technology projects for non-profits most of his adult life. From 2002-2005,… [ Keep reading ]
Join us in welcoming the newest Office of Arts & Culture team members! Adetola Abatan, Public Art Project Manager (She/Her) Adetola Abatan is an artist, musician, curator, engineer, and arts leader based in Seattle, WA. She believes visual art amplifies her inner voice and articulates her musings on race, gender,… [ Keep reading ]
Join us in welcoming the newest members to the Office of Arts & Culture. Nadia Ahmed, Communications Specialist (She/Her) Nadia Ahmed is a Pakistani-American sculptor, performance artist, and arts administrator currently based in Seattle, WA. She moved from Los Angeles to Seattle in 2014, where she studied Art History and… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle, WA – Today, Gülgün Kayim was sworn in as the Director of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS). ARTS staff, wearing Director Kayim’s favorite color as a surprise, crowded the chamber in shades of red, joking that they should arrange themselves from cool to warm tones. This… [ Keep reading ]
On Feb. 5, our Public Art Program Manager, Jason Huff, and Director Gülgün Kayim joined Mayor Bruce Harrell, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, Acting Director Kiersten Grove of Finance and Administrative Services, and City and community leaders for a groundbreaking on the future site of Fire Station 31. Mayor Harrell said… [ Keep reading ]
