Office of Arts & Culture Seattle

There's one more week to apply to be the next Seattle Civic Poet!

The Civic Poet is a cultural ambassador for Seattle's rich, multi-hued literary landscape and represents Seattle's diverse cultural community. The selected awardee will receive $25,000 for their two-year commission from early 2025 through the end of 2026. 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.

➡️ Open to poets of all backgrounds. Learn more and apply at: seattle.gov/arts/programs/civic-poet

📅 Due Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, 5 p.m. (Pacific)

Thank you for joining us for August's First Thursday Artwalk in Pioneer Square!

We celebrated the opening of "FRESSSSSH!," the culmination of our intensive summer program, Fresh Perspectives, that offers a deep dive into the world of arts curation and administration to BIPOC young adults/youth. All pieces in the exhibition were selected by the cohort of young curators, including work by artists Damon Brown, Aramis Hamer, Warren W. Pope, Warren A. Pope, and Kellie Colemon. See the show in person until October 5! Also, don't miss Luminous Being by Zabia Colovos, on view until September 7. See more photos at: artbeat.seattle.gov/2024/08/09/aug-first-thurs

ARTS at King Street Station is FREE and open Wednesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on First Thursdays. The gallery is located at 303 S. Jackson St., Top Floor, Seattle, WA 98104.

Last week, ARTS staff attended the annual LEAD Conference right here in Downtown Seattle! Over 800 people representing 48 states and 7 countries attended, with half visiting Seattle for the very first time. ARTS provided $20,000 of scholorships to offset the cost for Seattle artists and cultural workers to attend.

"The Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) program advances the full inclusion of people with disabilities in arts and culture." We attended insightful professional development workshops and panels, and connected with peers from Seattle and across the country.

Artist Stephanie Syjuco often uses archives and museum collections to reexamine historical narratives. Our exhibition "After/Images" contains a brand new piece that Syjuco researched and designed over a series of visits to the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) archive here in Seattle. The resulting piece "Tender, Sifter, Keeper, Center" lovingly unearths and presents personal histories of Filipino Americans rarely seen in museums.
This piece and exhibition were made possible by the support of the Office of Arts & Culture Seattle.

[Installation view of Stephanie Syjuco: After/Images, Frye Art Museum. Seattle, June 1–September 8, 2024. Photo: Jueqian Fang]

Our friends at ARTE NOIR recently launched their Black Artist Roster, open to artists across Washington State working in an array of disciplines!

The Roster was created as a means to bring greater visibility and access to Black artists across the creative spectrum. From public and private art commissions to speaking engagements, performing arts requests, residencies, retreats, professional development workshops, and more, the Black Artist Roster provides a singular location for artists to learn about available opportunities.

Open until September 30; free to join. ARTE NOIR is offering $25 gift cards to the first 100 King County Residents to join! Apply at artenoir.org/black-artist-roster

CID (Chinatown-International District) Block Party is a free daylong, all ages celebration of Asian Pacific American music, arts, food, and culture at the I-5 freeway underpass on Aug. 17!

The event kicks off at 12pm at Mam’s Book’s featuring the all vinyl DJ group SEA Vinyl Society, followed by dynamic performances at the main stage at 3pm under I-5 by Mak Fai, southendsiva, JusMoni, KBOOGIE, XOUL, JoeMari, and Noodles. Hosted by Prometheus Brown.

Featuring over 100 vendors offering everything from jewelry to pet accessories, food trucks serving up delicious bites, an indoor market at Reclaim Clay, and a neighborhood self-guided bar crawl! Learn more at cidblockparty.com.

Thinking about applying to be Seattle's next Civic Poet? Watch the latest information session, now streaming! Led by ARTS program managers Irene Gomez and Zach Frimmel, learn more about the program and how to submit your best application: youtu.be/7Ir7NxShERE?si=f5qc1BwqkLZa9Udg

The Civic Poet is a cultural ambassador for Seattle's rich, multi-hued literary landscape and represents Seattle's diverse cultural community. The selected awardee will receive $25,000 for their two-year commission from early 2025 through the end of 2026. Applications are due Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, 5 p.m. (Pacific).

Join us on First Thursday, August 1 for two exhibits, Luminous Being by Zabia Colovos and the opening of "FRESSSSSH!" at ARTS at King Street Station!

Curated by the 2024 Fresh Perspectives cohort, "FRESSSSSH!" features artists Damon Brown, Aramis Hamer, Warren W. Pope, Warren A. Pope, and Kellie Colemon. These artists have captured the presence, history, and identity of some of the most hidden narratives in American culture. In the process of curating these works, the cohort was introduced to the world of art curation, culture, and critical design through interpersonal connections with curators, museum administrators, educators, artists, and more.

🎉 Opening reception August 1, 5-8 p.m.

📍ARTS at King Street Station, 303 S. Jackson St., Top Floor, Seattle, WA, 98104

⏰ On view until October 5, 2024. Open Wed. - Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Coordinated by The Office of Arts & Culture and funded by Seattle City Light’s 1% for Art Fund, Fresh Perspectives is a BIPOC young adult/youth curatorial residency. Learn more about the program on our blog: artbeat.seattle.gov/2024/07/25/fresh-perspectives

The Kids Are All Riot is a FREE Saturday summertime dance party for families in historic Pioneer Square! Join us every Saturday until August 31st for an unforgettable outdoor kids party. Hosted by The Hometeam and Darkalino's in partnership with Pioneer Square Seattle and Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, The Kids Are All Riot promises a rotating mix of DJs and a variety of fun activities.

Parents can relax on our restaurant patios while their kids dance up a storm right in front of them. It's the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon—fun for the kids and a great time for parents too. Don’t miss out on the ultimate family-friendly dance party! Learn more: hometeamsea.com/blogs/news/the-kids-are-all-riot

All ages welcome! Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. at 300 Occidental Ave S.

Congratulations City of Portland, OR on launching your own Office of Arts & Culture! Learn more at https://opb.org/article/2024/07/26/portland-launches-the-office-of-arts-culture/

Image: Under the Same Sky by Kevin Ledo

What is art curation? That's the question that ten young adults, led by teaching artist Hasaan Kirkland, are working to understand during this summer’s Fresh Perspectives program. Coordinated by The Office of Arts & Culture and funded through Seattle City Light, this intensive summer employment opportunity provides a dive deep into the world of art curation and administration.

Check out their culminating exhibition at ARTS at King Street Station! "FRESSSSSH!" features local artists, with works curated by the cohort. The exhibition opens on First Thursday, August 1!

Read more on our blog: artbeat.seattle.gov/2024/07/25/fresh-perspectives

📸 The Fresh Perspectives cohort with artist Damon Brown

Join 2023 CityArtist Awardee Kait Rhoads for Proto Kelp, an immersive and participatory installation, presented at Method Gallery August 24 – October 20.

An abstraction of kelp in form and color, the large-scale sculptural installation will evoke the experience of swimming through a kelp forest. Kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, providing crucial habitat and a food source for a wide diversity of aquatic life. In celebration of this foundational PNW species, crowd-sourced “words of gratitude” will be incorporated into the Proto Kelp installation via engraving on segments of colored glass. Viewers can read this publicly generated poetry as an “ode to kelp” along the many branches of the installation, creating an experiential poetry. Proto Kelp is supported by a CityArtist Grant from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, with additional support from the Seattle Aquarium.

Learn more: campsite.bio/protokelp

Apply to Hope Corps!

Envisioned as an economic recovery program for Seattle’s creative workforce, Hope Corps seeks to connect under- and unemployed artists and creative workers with career opportunities that benefit the public. Grants range from $5,000 - $50,000 to support creative worker wages and project expenses.

➡️ Learn more: seattle.gov/arts/programs/grants/hope-corps

📅 Due Tuesday, Sept. 3, 5 p.m. (Pacific)

🎉 Calling all small businesses and creatives in Seattle! 🌟 Join the kickoff of MXR:SEA, a series of FREE workshops and networking events to help boost your business and connect with like-minded individuals.

Don't miss out! Register for a workshop: eventbrite.com/e/mxrsea-tickets-920413430347

MXR:SEA is organized by the Seattle Office of Economic Development and produced in partnership with The Olivianeal Experience (T.O.N.E) and Seattle Center .

Thank you for joining us last week at ARTS at King Street Station! 🎉

Over 200 community members made it out for the COMPLEXITY Party and the opening of Luminous Being by Zabia Colovos. Shout out to DJ Surreal and Dreamsicle for supplying the tunes and treats! See more photos at: artbeat.seattle.gov/2024/07/19/july-first-thursday

ARTS at King Street Station is open Wednesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on First Thursdays.

reading
disrupted
feel lost without books

ebooks
Kanopy
I love SPL

Don't miss Art Interruptions along the Beacon Hill Greenway, on view until August!

Morgan Madison’s artwork is driven by curiosity. Inspired by the colorful history and diversity of Beacon Hill, he felt compelled to create a sculpture that celebrates this character, much like a bunch of balloons announcing a party. "Neighbors" is comprised of seven unique balloons, their diversity reflecting the rich tapestry of this neighborhood. Each one is eye-catching alone; together they are more than the sum of their parts, resonating a vibrant and joyful experience, just as neighbors come together to create the dynamic community that is Beacon Hill.

Art Interruptions are funded by the Seattle Department of Transportation's 1% for Art Funds.

Photo by Zorn Taylor.

“I’m interested in showcasing a range of motifs (patterns recognizant of Pan-Asia), that together unify our shared notion of home, in relation to Seattle, this land, our ancestry, and our connection to the outdoors. Not everyone in the city has access to nature right outside their windows, but this park can do that for its visitors,” -Kalina Chung

We commissioned Seattle artist Kalina Chung to create an art piece for Hoa Mai Park! Chung’s artwork was created through many conversations with Little Saigon and CID community members. It is inspired by Vietnamese Tube Houses, narrow multi-story homes, she encountered during her travels to Saigon and the buildings adjacent to the park.

ARTS, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Friends of Little Saigon - Seattle invite you to a community ribbon cutting celebration for the new Hoa Mai Park in the Little Saigon neighborhood. The free celebration will offer music, food, and more!

Learn more: parkways.seattle.gov/2024/07/11/celebrate-new-hoa-mai-park-in-little-saigon-neighborhood

📅 Saturday, July 27, 12:30 - 3 p.m.
📍 1224 S. King Street

Don't miss Art Interruptions along the Beacon Hill Greenway, on view until August!

"Medosweet RV’s" by JoEllen Wang is the temporary home to a “camper fluffle“ (a collection of RV-shaped bunnies). Made of re-molded milk jugs and repurposed blue tarp, this installation stems from the artist’s curiosity about the negative perception of nomadic living and her desire for more ways to include more people in communities.

Art Interruptions are funded by the Seattle Department of Transportation's 1% for Art Funds.

Photo by Zorn Taylor.

"While someone may quickly glance at graffiti while driving or walking by, “COMPLEXITY” establishes a common and accessible space for visitors to not only take in these art pieces visually but also grasp the importance of graffiti as a form of individualism."

Thank you to Real Change News for the feature on COMPLEXITY! They spoke with curators Sire One and Baby-G about the future of graffiti art and the impact of the show. Read the full story: realchangenews.org/news/2024/07/03/complex-future-graffiti-art

See the show for yourself during First Thursday Artwalk TONIGHT from 4-8 p.m. at ARTS at King Street Station.

This soulful adaptation of the classic follows a mixed-matched band of characters on a cross-continental journey to find what assurance lies on the other side of adventure! Teen Summer Musical continues its transcendent tradition of community uplift with dynamic dance, infectious songs, and a meaningful message wrapped in the magic of musical theater! Led by a wildly talented cast of 70, this harmonious celebration makes its return to the iconic Benaroya Hall. Produced by Acts On Stage Theatre, Snow Whyte & The Seven promises to be a family favorite and a can’t miss Seattle signature experience!

📅: August 23-25

🎫: seattlesymphony.org/en/benaroyahall/bh-calendar/2023-2024/24teensummermusical

Don't miss Art Interruptions along the Beacon Hill Greenway, on view until August!

"Flavors of Diversity & Colors of Community" by Nahom Ghirmay celebrates the rich diversity and harmonious coexistence of unique cultures within the neighborhood. Inspired by the vibrant colors and lively atmosphere of a spice market witnessed in Eritrea, the artwork serves as a powerful symbol of unity, inviting viewers to embrace the beauty and interconnectedness of different cultural experiences.

Art Interruptions are funded by the Seattle Department of Transportation's 1% for Art Funds.

Photo by Zorn Taylor.

📢 Civic Poet Applications are OPEN! 📢

The Civic Poet is a cultural ambassador for Seattle's rich, multi-hued literary landscape and represents Seattle's diverse cultural community. The selected awardee will receive $25,000 for their two-year commission from early 2025 through the end of 2026. 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.

➡️ Learn more and apply at: seattle.gov/arts/programs/civic-poet

📅 Due Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, 5 p.m. (Pacific)

2024 CityArtist awarded artist Iole Alessandrini will showcase with 48 artists for the 26th PCNW's Photographic Exhibition juried by Gail Gibson. Alessandrini's piece is an untitled laser plane, sound installation photo from an earlier work that demonstrates an earlier version of technique. A more current and developed series funded by CityArtist will be showcased later in the year. The upcoming series will be a series of mixed-sized photos focused on 'persistence of space.'

Learn more: pcnw.org/gallery/exhibitions/being-present

📅 Exhibit: June 27 - August 11, 2024
📅 Reception: July 11, 6-8 p.m.
⏰ Gallery Hours: Mon - Thur 12-9 p.m. and Sat - Sun 12-6 p.m.
📍 Photo Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

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