>> OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE. THE JANUARY 28, 1226
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. I AM DIANE
FOSTER, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> THERE ARE FIVE MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME, EVERYONE
TO THE FIRST MEETING OF OUR
COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR. I AM SO
EXCITED TO GET TO BE CHAIRING
THIS COMMITTEE. AND I WANT TO
WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES TO THE
COMMITTEE. AMBERLEY PLEASED TO
SERVE WITH YOU. AND ALSO WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WHO IS
JOINING US TODAY FOR THIS
COMMITTEE, I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE
YOU HERE AS WELL. BRIEFLY, THE
SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR
IS GOING TO INCLUDE, AS I INFER
FROM THE NAME, HOUSING, OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE, OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AS WELL AS THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
AND INSOFAR AS IT'S RELATED TO
LANDLORD AND TENANT REGULATIONS,
THINGS THAT FALL UNDER SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS. SO WE HAVE A BROAD
AND EXCITING SCOPE IS A
COMMITTEE. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO
GET STARTED WITH SOME
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION FROM
ARTS DEPARTMENT. BEFORE WE DO I
WILL SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS.
BRIEFLY, AS FOLKS CAN HEAR AM
STILL REGAINING MY VOICE.
HOUSING WILL BE A BIG PORTION OF
THE WORKLOAD OF THIS COMMITTEE.
GIVEN ITEMS WE EXPECT TO COME
BEFORE US THIS YEAR AS WELL AS
WHAT WE ARE ALL SEEING AND
FEELING IN OUR COMMITTEES ACROSS
SEATTLE. WE'RE STARTING TODAY
WITH THE PRESENTATION FROM ARTS
AND CULTURE YOU CAN EXPECT TO
SEE MORE IN AN ONGOING FOCUS
ALONG WITH ARTS AND CULTURE IN
CIVIL RIGHTS AND HOUSING IN THIS
COMMITTEE. AND PARTICULARLY WE
WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE MAKE
SURE SOCIAL HOUSING IS
SUCCESSFUL AFTER VOTERS
OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED IT
TWICE. WE ARE EXCITED TO MAKE
SURE THE CITY'S ROLE IN WORKING
DIRECTLY TO MAKE THE DEVELOPER
SUCCESSFUL THAT WE BRING THAT
FULLY TO FRUITION. WE WILL BE
PARTNERING TO MAKE SURE OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
HOUSING FOR WORKING FAMILIES
ACROSS THE CITY. AND THAT WE
PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THEM .
SUPPORTING HOUSING ABUNDANCE AND
ENSURING WE MAKE EASY AND
EFFECTIVE OF HER HOUSING SUPPLY.
THOSE ARE THINGS I WILL PREVIEW
ALONG WITH PRIORITIES ON
ENSURING WE ARE SUPPORTING BLACK
HOMEOWNERSHIP IN OUR CITY AND
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF RENTERS
IN SEATTLE , GIVEN THE OVER HALF
OF OUR CITY ARE RENTERS. WE CAN
EXPECT TO HEAR MORE FROM OUR
CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE MOMENT WE
ARE ALL IN. LOCALLY AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. ENSURING WE ARE
PROTECTING AND ENFORCING CIVIL
RIGHTS HERE IN SEATTLE. GIVEN
THAT OUR LOCAL WORK IS MORE
IMPORTANT NOW THAN MAYBE IT HAS
EVER BEEN WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING
WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT
TODAY WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO
START WITH THE CONVERSATION
WHERE OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON ARTS
THIS YEAR AROUND SUPPORTING THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY AND ENTERING WE
UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE NEEDS
OF OUR ARTS TEAM HERE AT THE
CITY AS WELL AS SOME OF THE
REALLY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS
THEY ARE MAKING. AND THE PAIN
POINTS THAT THEY FACE. WITH
THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE INTO
ADOPTING THE AGENDA. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY? ARE THOSE IN PERSON?
>> WE HAVE TWO IN PERSON.
>> GREAT. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. SO WE WILL START
WITH HER IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP
TO 60 MINUTES AND SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS
AND THERE ARE NO REMOTE
SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS WILL HILLA
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ON LEFT.
MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF
THEY GO BEYOND THAT ALLOTTED
TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS
KENNETH RANDOLPH. ONCE KENNETH
HAS FINISHED THE SECOND SPEAKER
WILL BE MANNY. WE WILL NOW BEGIN
WITH YOU, KENNETH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. GREETINGS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE THE
OTHER --
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL.
>> SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE
MICROPHONE.
>> MY NAME IS KENNETH RANDOLPH.
I AM AN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE. I
CAME HERE TO THIS COUNTRY WHEN I
WAS 10 YEARS OLD IN 1963. I HAVE
BEEN HERE 63 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY,
LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE I AM
INORDINATELY DISTURBED ABOUT
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY
TODAY. SO LAST WEEK, AM A
RETIRED PERSON BY THE WAY, LAST
WEEK I WANTED TO ROLL UP MY
SLEEVES , GET INVOLVED IN THE
FIGHT THAT IS PROBABLY COMING
HERE BIG TIME IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. SO I APPLIED FOR THE
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMISSION. THE CITIZENS
ADVISORY COMMISSION. AND, I
FOUND OUT SOME VERY INTERESTING
THINGS IN THAT PROCESS.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE 15 POSITIONS
ON THAT COMMISSION. AND, THEY
ARE ALL VACANT. AND THAT
DISTURBS ME. IT OUGHT TO DISTURB
YOU. APPARENTLY EIGHT OF THESE
POSITIONS ARE APPOINTED BY THE
MAYOR . AND SEVEN OF THEM ARE
APPOINTED BY YOU. HOWEVER, ALL
OF THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEES HAVE
TO BE APPROVED BY YOU. SO AS A
DE FACTO MATTER, YOU ARE THE
PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THIS
COMMISSION. SO I FIND IT
APPALLING UNDER THE PRESENT
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THIS CITIZENS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE'S HAS GOTTEN ALL 15
OF ITS SPOTS VACANT. AND SO WHEN
I APPLIED I GOT TWO RESPONSES
BACK -- I DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH
TIME. IT LET ME SAY I'M
INTERESTED. THIS SHOULDN'T BE
THE CASE. WE NEED TO GET THIS
COMMITTEE UP AND RUNNING LIKE
NOW, YESTERDAY. NOT THREE MONTHS
FROM NOW WHICH APPARENTLY IT'S
GOING TO TAKE IF WE GO THROUGH
THE USUAL PROCESS WHICH
APPARENTLY IS GOING ON NOW.
SUPPOSEDLY. SO I'M GOING TO SIT
RIGHT HERE, YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, HAVE A SPECIAL ROLE
BECAUSE YOUR CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. I WOULD ASK, I'M
GOING TO MEET WITH MIKE
COUNCILPERSON NEXT WEEK.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. I WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE AND BE IN CONTACT
WITH SOMEONE ON YOUR STAFF
DIRECTLY , TODAY THAT I CAN
COMMUNICATE WITH SO WE CAN GET
THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
KENNETH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MANNY.
>> HELLO, FRIENDS. MY NAME IS
MANNY. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR INSPIRE WASHINGTON.
WE ARE YOU'RE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON'S CULTURAL ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION. WE BELIEVE IN THE
UPLIFTING POWER OF SCIENCE,
HERITAGE AND THE ARTS. AND WE
ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE GREAT ,
TREMENDOUS IMPACTS FROM A
THRIVING CREATIVE ECONOMY. I AM
HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT ARTS
AND THE SUPPORT THIS TOPIC OF
CIVIC INVESTMENT. ALSO, I WANT
TO EXPLAIN KIND OF WHAT WE DO TO
SUPPORT ARTS AND CREATIVITY IN
SEATTLE WHICH IS A CREATIVE
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. INSPIRE
WASHINGTON FOCUSES OUR WORK AND
COALITION BUILDING PICK WE KNOW
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. WE
BRING MANY DIFFERENT POINTS OF
VIEW, TYING THE NEEDS OF SEATTLE
WITH THE NEEDS OF ABERDEEN IN
PURSUING POLICIES THAT SUPPORT
ACCRETIVE ECONOMY IN THE
CULTURAL SECTOR. WE ADVOCATE AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE
LEVEL, WE ARE REALLY BUSY RIGHT
NOW IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, AND WE ARE HOSTING OUR
ANNUAL ADVOCACY WEEK NEXT WEEK
IN OLYMPIA. WE ALSO FOCUS ON
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. WE WERE
THE CHAMPIONS OF DOORS OPEN AND
THE CULTURAL ACCESS LEGISLATION
WHICH NOW IS GENERATING AN
ADDITIONAL $170 MILLION IN FIVE
JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDRESSING
ACCESS TO CULTURAL PROGRAMMING.
AND WE ALSO ARE ALWAYS IN
PURSUIT OF NEW RESOURCES AND
EDUCATING OUR LEADERSHIP. I WANT
TO CONGRATULATE THE NEW MEMBERS
OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE NEW
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. WE ARE
REALLY GRATEFUL TO GET TO KNOW
YOU MORE DURING OUR CANDID
VOTERS -- CANDID FORMS DURING
OUR VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE DO IS PARTNER
WITH THE COMMISSION. WE ARE
WORKING WITH THEM TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT
THEIR POLICY OBJECTIVES. WE ARE
ALSO , LIKE I SAID, IN AN
ACTIVE, INTERSTATE SESSION, WE
ARE PURSUING TICKETING
LEGISLATION WHICH WE HOPE WILL
ADDRESS AFFORDABLE TICKETS HERE
IN SEATTLE. WE ARE ALSO
ADVOCATING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
ANYWAY, WE ARE HERE TO BE YOUR
PARTNER. WE WANT TO BE IN
SERVICE TO YOU AS CITY COUNCIL
SO WE CAN MAKE SEATTLE AS
CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WILL JUST STAY BRIEFLY WE MAKE
SURE SOMEONE COMES OUT TO GET
YOUR CONTACT INFO AND WE ARE
DISCUSSING THE QUESTIONS YOU
BROUGHT UP. RIGHT ON TIME I SEE
SOMEONE COMING IN. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING
THAT THIS MORNING AND COMMITTEE.
IN A SEPARATE COMMITTEE. YOU ARE
RIGHT ON TIME, KENNETH. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE,
MANNY. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND
YOUR ADVOCACY. WITH THAT WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
INTRODUCTION TO SEATTLE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE OUR
PRESENTERS ARE CALLING US AT THE
COMMITTEE TABLE. WE ARE SO HAPPY
TO HAVE YOU. AS YOU ALL GET
SITUATED, I WILL JUST WELCOME
YOU. WE HAVE KELLY DAVIDSON,
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE WITH US. WE
ALSO HAVE ALLIE McGEHEE THE
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
FOR THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO
BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
HELPING US START WITH OUR FIRST
COMMITTEE THIS YEAR. IS
INCREDIBLY EXCITING. AND I WILL
JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT WHY I
AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS
CONVERSATION WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE TODAY. FOR ME I THINK THAT
ARTS ARE NOT NICE TO HAVE, THEY
ARE A MUST-HAVE. THEY ARE AN
ESSENTIAL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A
WELL-FUNCTIONING, WELCOMING
CITY. THE ARTS DO SO MUCH TO NOT
JUST CREATE LACES, CREATE
EXCITEMENT, AND GENERATE OUR
CREATIVITY AND EMOTIONS, BUT
THEY ARE ALSO AN INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR
SEATTLE. AND I KNOW THAT THE
INVESTMENTS THE YOU MAKE AND
THAT WE MAKE AS A CITY ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES, TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY,
AND SO I AM REALLY EXCITED WE
GET TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION
AND REALLY GET TO CENTER ON HOW
ESSENTIAL ARTS ARE FOR SEATTLE
AND FOR OUR REGION. WITH THAT, I
WELCOME YOU AND I WILL ASK YOU
TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF. AND I
WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUES, I'M
LOOKING FOR SOME GREAT
DISCUSSION, I WILL ASK YOU TO
HOLD QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK
YOU TO -- MY NAME IS KELLY
DAVIDSON AND I AM THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE. WITH ME IS MY
COLLEAGUE FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
DIRECTOR ALLIE McGEHEE. TODAY WE
WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
PROGRAMS. PERFECT. THANK YOU. AS
YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A BUSY
AGENDA. AS WE GO THROUGH
STRUCTURE, VALUES, PROGRAMS AND
2026 PRIORITIES IN OUR
PRESENTATION WE WILL DO BEST TO
MOVE QUICKLY AND ASSURE WE HAVE
TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND DIALOGUE
AT THE END. KICKING US OFF WE
WILL BEGIN OUR COMMITTEE
OVERSIGHT AND OPERATIONAL
STRUCTURE. THE MISSION OF THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE IS TO
ACTIVATE AND SUSTAIN SEATTLE
THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE. WE
ENVISION A CITY DRIVEN BY
CREATIVITY THE PROVIDES THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO
ENGAGE IN DIVERSE ARTS AND
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. WE COMMIT
TO AN ANTIRACIST WORK PRACTICE
THAT CENTERS THE CREATIVITY AND
LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE OF COLOR,
THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY
STRUCTURAL RACISM, TO MOVE
TOWARD SYSTEMS THE BENEFIT OF
FALL.
>> IN 2024 FOLLOWING TRANSITION
INTO PERMANENT LEADERSHIP, THE
DIRECTOR KICKED OFF THE
MULTI-MONTH STAFF ENGAGEMENT AND
DIALOGUE PROCESS. AROUND
DEPARTMENT STRENGTHS,
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.
THIS PROCESS INCLUDED MULTIPLE
DAYLONG WORK SESSIONS AND
CULMINATED IN THE OFFICE'S
FIRST-EVER FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC
PLAN. THE PLAN RESULTED IN AN
OFFICE WIDE ADOPTED LIST OF
STATED GOALS AND BREAK THEM DOWN
INTO TASKS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO
PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS, TEAM
GOALS AND TRACKED OVER TIME. IN
2025 WE HELD THREE ALL STAFF
SESSIONS TO CHECK IN ON OFFICE
WIDE PROGRESS TOWARD THOSE GOALS
AND WORKSHOP HOW EACH DIVISION
WAS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES. THE ENTIRE
PROCESS CENTERED AROUND
EMBEDDING HER VALUES OF EQUITY
AND ACCESS INTO OUR GOALS AND
PRIORITIES. A FEW NOTEWORTHY
STRUCTURAL CHANGES WE WERE ABLE
TO PUT INTO PLACE IN 2025
INCLUDE THE CREATION OF THE
CREATIVE IS MAKING DIVISION AND
THE REPURPOSED THING THE VACANT
POSITION TO MEET AN UNMET NEED
IN THE OFFICE IN THE AREA OF
POLICY DEVELOPMENT.
>> CENTERING OUR RACIAL EQUITY
VALUES ARE OFFICE PLACES
EMPHASIS ON TARGETED RECRUITMENT
FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
GROWING OUR DATA COLLECTION. AND
ANALYSIS OF WHO WE ARE FUNDING
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING OUR
GOALS AND EQUITY IN THE ARTS. IN
THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE A
SNAPSHOT OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
OF OUR 2026 HOPE CORPS AND KING
STREET STATION ACTIVATION
GRANTEES. WE COLLECTED DATA ON
EACH FUNDING PROGRAM THAT'S
ANALYZED FOLLOWING EACH
SELECTION PROCESS TO SEE HOW
EFFECTIVE OUR OUTREACH WAS. 'S
THAT IS SHARED IN PRESENTATIONS
TO THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION
INTO OUR COMMUNITY FUNDING
PANELISTS. THESE MECHANISMS HELP
KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE IN
EVALUATING PROGRESS TOWARD OUR
GOALS. IN OUR MOST RECENT
CENTERING ART AND RACIAL EQUITY
GRANT PROGRAM, WE AWARDED FUNDS
TO NEARLY 250 ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. OF THOSE WE
CATEGORIZED APPROXIMATELY ONE
THIRD OF OUR AWARDEE
ORGANIZATIONS AS BIPOC. THE
APPLICANT POOL FOR THIS YEAR IS
CURRENTLY IN REVIEW AND INCLUDES
OVER 300 ORGANIZATIONS.
HIGHLIGHTING THE CONTINUING NEED
IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS GRANT IS
NONCOMPETITIVE AND WITH THE
GROWTH IN APPLICATION NUMBERS
AND NO INCREASE IN FUNDING,
AWARDS WILL BE REDUCED AND
LIMITED. IN THE MOST RECENT
GRANT CYCLE, THE LARGEST
PERCENTAGE OF AWARDS WENT TO
SMALL, MEANING 50 K TO 500 K OR
VERY SMALL UNDER 500 K.
ORGANIZATIONS. WE RECENTLY -- 50
K. SORRY. THAT'S WHY I BRING MY
FINANCE DIRECTOR. WE RECENTLY
CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF THE NEEDS
OF THE RECIPIENTS OF OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL FUNDING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO PRESENTING THOSE
FINDINGS TO YOU SOON.
>> OUR OFFICE RELIES ON TWO
PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES. THE 1%
FOR ART ORDINANCE AND THE
SEATTLE ADMISSIONS TAX. 1% FOR
ART ORDINANCE FUNDS OR PUBLIC
ART PROGRAM AND RELATED
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. THE
ORDINANCE STIPULATES THE CAPITAL
DEPARTMENTS SET ASIDE 1% OF THE
CAPITAL COST FOR PUBLIC ART.
THESE FUNDS ARE HIGHLY
RESTRICTED AND FLOW-THROUGH THE
MUNICIPAL ART FUND.
>> ADMISSIONS TAX IS A 5% TICKET
TAX CHARGED AT CERTAIN VENUES
AND EVENTS LIKE THE SEATTLE
SPACE NEEDLE, GARDENING GLASS,
THE GREAT WHEEL OR THE THEATER.
REVENUES FROM THE TAX GO TO THE
CITIES ARTS AND CULTURE FUND
WHICH PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR
ARTS EDUCATION, GRANT PROGRAMS,
FACILITIES AND GENERAL OPERATING
COSTS. ADMISSIONS TAX REVENUE
FLUCTUATE REGULARLY BASED ON
FACTORS. OUR CURRENT STRUCTURE
WHICH RELIES ON FORECASTS TO
BUDGET WE HOPE TO DISCUSS IT
MORE WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
>> OUR OFFICE MAY ALSO RECEIVE
ONE TIME FUNDS FROM OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES AT THE DIRECTION
OF THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL. IN
2026 WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF ONE
TIME TOTALING NEARLY $1.5
MILLION TO COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION
TO DIRECT FUNDS FOR SPECIFIC
PURPOSES. WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING ON ASSIGNING THESE TWO
PROJECT MANAGER SO WE CAN BEGIN
THIS IMPORTANT WORK. THESE ARE
GREAT ADS FOR GREAT CAUSES BUT
OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO SUPPORT
THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE
BROADER GRANTS PROGRAM AND
CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM SO THAT ALL
ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS CAN
BENEFIT FROM CITY INVESTMENTS.
>> THE SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION
IS OUR 16 MEMBER COMMUNITY
ADVISORY GROUP THE PROVIDES
GUIDANCE OVERSIGHT AND SUPPORT
TOUR OFFICE. COMMISSIONERS ARE
APPOINTED BY COUNCIL , MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS
FOR TWO YEAR TERMS AND THEY MAY
SERVE FOR UP TO THREE TERMS.
MOVING ONTO OUR PROGRAMS. OUR
PUBLIC ART PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE
NATIONS OLDEST ESTABLISHED IN
1973. THEY ARE A NATIONAL FOR
PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS AROUND THE
COUNTRY. INNOVATIVE PUBLIC ART
PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE CIVIC
COLLECTION PUBLIC ART BOOT CAMP
WHICH IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR
EMERGING PUBLIC ARTISTS. FRESH
PERSPECTIVES WHICH IS A TRAINING
PROGRAM. PLANNING ARTISTS WHICH
ARE OFTEN EMBEDDED IN PARTNER
DEPARTMENTS AND PUBLIC ART
ROSTER AND RECENTLY OUR SEATTLE
WATERFRONT PROGRAM.
>> WE MANAGE THE CITIES ARTS AND
CULTURE GRANT MAKING PROGRAMS.
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
ARTISTS AND ART ORGANIZATION
CAPACITY BUILDING ENDEAVORS. WE
HAVE 12 ROTATING GRANT
APPLICATIONS MAKING INVESTMENTS
IN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
AND SUPPORTING DIFFERENT ART
FORMS FROM POETRY TO DANCE TO
THE VISUAL ARTS. WE HAVE
SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOCUSED
ON EMERGING ARTISTS AND YOUTH
LOOKING TO LAUNCH CRETE OF
CAREERS. THE YOUTH ARTS
APPLICATION IS CURRENTLY OPEN.
AS A RESULT OF THE CONFLUENCE OF
FACTORS INCLUDING FEDERAL CUTS,
RISING COSTS, A POST PANDEMIC
SLUGGISH ECONOMIC RECOVERY, OUR
OFFICE CONTINUES TO SEE A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS TO OUR
GRANT PROGRAMS. IN 2025 WE SAW A
30% INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS
OVER 2024 APPLICATION NUMBERS.
AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE ONLY
SEEN ONE INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT
IN THE LAST 12 YEARS.
>> OUR OFFICE BEGAN THE CREATIVE
ADVANTAGE PROGRAM IN THE
2013/2014 SCHOOL YEAR STARTING
WITH 13 SCHOOLS IN THE CENTRAL
ARTS PATHWAY. IN 2024 WE REACHED
THE GOAL OF BEING AN ALL 100 SIX
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FUNDING
FOR CREATIVE ADVANTAGE IS
STRETCHED THIN. DURING PANDEMIC
THE FUNDING WAS CUT AND NOT
RESTORED. SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HELD THE CREATIVE ADVANTAGES
ANNUAL AWARD FOR $100,000. THOSE
FUNDS WERE ELIMINATED LAST YEAR
DURING FEDERAL PRIORITY SHIFTS.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THE
CREATIVE ADVANTAGE HAS DEPLETED
ALL OF ITS BASIC FUNDS PARTLY
THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
SCHOOLS APPLYING FOR THE
PROGRAM. THE CREATIVE ADVANTAGE
BUDGET WAS BUILT TO FUND THE
RAMP UP OF THE PROGRAM AND HAS
NOT BEEN RAISED TO THE FACT THAT
WE ARE NOW SUPPORTING ALL 106
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE
CREATIVE ADVANTAGE TEACHING
ARTISTS ROSTER IS THE FOUNDATION
OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING AROUND COMMUNITY
HUBS AND THEIR YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH INVESTMENTS. WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
SOME IMPORTANT PROGRAM IN
GREATER DETAIL WITH YOU.
>> OUR THIRD PROBLEMATIC
DIVISION IS CREATIVE PLACE
MAKING. THIS DIVISION WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 2025 FOLLOWING
THE COMPLETION OF THE STRATEGIC
PLAN. AND CREATIVE SPACE
CULTURAL DISTRICTS, PLEA BASED
ARTS ACTIVATIONS AND ACCRETIVE
ECONOMY. CREATIVE PLACE MAKING
WILL FOCUS ON THE INTEGRATION OF
ARTS INTO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AND PLANNING. WE ARE DOCUMENTING
RESOURCES NEEDED TO BUILD THIS
DIVISION. CULTURAL SPACE IS THE
INVESTMENT IN SUPPORT OF
RETAINING CULTURAL FACILITIES
AND SPACES IN SEATTLE. OUR
OFFICE OPERATES A CULTURAL
FACILITIES FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS MAKE
STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS FROM ADA
RAMPS TO WINDOW REPLACEMENTS. WE
ALSO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF
CULTURAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
ESTABLISHING THE GEORGETOWN
CULTURAL DISTRICT AND WILL BRING
THAT TO COUNCIL IN 2026.
>> THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE SO OPERATES THE LANGSTON
HUGHES PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTE
IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. WE HAVE
MADE SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES IN THE
SPACE IN 2024 AND 25. ELEVATING
THE SUPPORT OF THE CULTURAL
SPACE. WE ARE IN CLOSE
COLLABORATION WITH SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION AND OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN AND SUPPORT THE
BUILDING WHICH SERVES AS A
LANDMARK LOCATION AND HUB FOR
BLACK ARTS IN THE CITY. THIS
FACILITY HOUSES THE LENGTH THE
NONPROFIT WHICH PROVIDES AN
CHORDATES PROGRAMMING IN THE
SPACE. WE HAVE COMPLETED AN
EVALUATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF
THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS UNDER A
CONTRACT AND ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING ON A LONG-TERM CONTRACT
WHICH WILL BRING TO CITY COUNCIL
FOR APPROVAL WHEN IT'S READY. WE
ALSO OPERATE THE ARTS AT KING
STREET STATION ON THE TRAIN
STATION. THE GALLERY IS
DEDICATED TO INCREASING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR TO GENERATE AND PRESENT
THEIR WORK. THE GALLERY FEATURES
A SERIES OF ROTATING EXHIBITIONS
YEAR ROUND AND IS FREE TO THE
PUBLIC. THE FACILITY ALSO OFFERS
COMMUNITY MEETING SPACES, FOR
LOCALS TO GATHER.
>> OUR OFFICE HAS A COMMUNITY
GROUP OF ADVISERS TO HELP SELECT
ARTISTS TO BE FEATURED IN THE
GALLERY SPACE. THE GALLERY IS
HOME TO EVENTS, PERFORMANCES,
AND OTHER ACTIVATIONS YEAR ROUND
WITH NOTABLE ONES ON FIRST
THURSDAYS, LONGEST AND LONGEST
NIGHT, AND FOR WORLD CUP THIS
YEAR. STAFFED BY OUR KING STREET
STATION AND CREATIVE PLACE
MAKING TEAMS. WE ARE ALSO
EXPLORING A PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AROUND
ACTIVATING THE DENNEY
SUBSTATION. A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY
IN THE HEART OF THE DE&I TRAIN.
WHILE WE WORK ON THE FRAMEWORK
WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH CITY
LIGHT ON SHORT-TERM POP OF
EVENTS AND ACTIVATIONS IN THE
COMMUNITY, PARTNERS AND
GRANTEES.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO
COLLABORATING WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL IN THE
COMING BY ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE
NEED IN ACCRETIVE COMMUNITY
PRESENTED BY THE LOCATION
NUMBERS PRETTY CLEAN PROGRAMS
LIKE CREATIVE ADVANTAGE AND
CENTERING ART AND RACIAL EQUITY.
WE NEED TO DISCUSS PRIORITIES
AROUND CREATIVE PLACE MAKING
PARTICULAR POST WORLD CUP, AND
POPULAR PROGRAMS LIKE HOPE CORPS
AND KING STREET CURRENTLY
RELYING ON TO PRE-STAFFING. WE
WANT TO LOOK FOR OPERATIONAL
EFFICIENCIES THROUGH INTERNAL
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORK BUT ALSO
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATIONS
WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, EARLY
LEARNING, PARKS AND SEATTLE
CENTER. WE ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS
OUR FUNDING STRUCTURE IN GREATER
DETAIL ON THE CHALLENGE IT
PRESENTS AS WE LOOK TOWARD
BUILDING STRUCTURES TO BETTER
ALIGN MISSION AND SERVICE TO THE
COMMITTEE. IN THIS BUDGET, IN
THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE OUR
ADOPTED BUDGET.
>> IN 2026 WE HAVE SOME MAJOR
PROGRAMMING COMMITMENTS ON THE
HORIZON. WE HAVE MADE
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS FOR
CITYWIDE ARTS FOCUSED
ACTIVATIONS AND PROGRAMMING TO
WELCOME VISITORS AND CELEBRATE
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DURING THE
WORLD CUP. WE ARE LAUNCHING A
PILOT PROGRAM CALLED TIBBETT
WHICH IS A TWO YEAR ARTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATION COHORT
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCUBATE AND
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL
TRANSFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO
CHANGES IN ACCRETIVE ECONOMY.
FINALLY WE ANTICIPATE LEADING
EIGHT PROCESS THROUGH WHICH WE
WANT TO ENGAGE BROADER SEATTLE
ACCRETIVE COMMUNITY AROUND THEIR
NEEDS AND HOW OUR OFFICE CAN
BEST THE FOSTER THEM IN A
CHANGING LANDSCAPE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION. WE ARE HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TALK WITH
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
WONDERFUL PRESENTATION. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. I WILL TURN TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO SEE WHAT QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE FOR OUR PRESENTER.
AND I WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO
THEIR QUESTIONS FIRST BEFORE
HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF MY OWN
THOUGHTS AND EXCITEMENTS THAT
I'M LOOKING FOR TO EXPLORING
WITH YOU. COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AS THE
CHAIR STATED, I FULLY AGREE THAT
ARTS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL. I THINK OF ARTS AS
ESSENTIAL AS THE AIR WE BREATHE,
AS THE FOOD, AS THE ARTS
NOURISHES THE SOUL . AND I THINK
WE SEE RIGHT NOW OUR SOULS ARE
HURTING. AND, I THINK ABOUT ,
THERE IS A BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
SONG RELEASED RECENTLY, A
PROTEST RESISTANCE SONG. I THINK
ABOUT THE MANY WAYS THAT ARTS
HELPS US NAVIGATE THESE DARK
TIMES. AND, JUST HELPS TO
BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY
WAYS. AND SO, ONE THING IS I
THINK ABOUT ARTS, WONDERING IF
YOU COULD TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH OF
THE PROGRAMMING MIGHT BE FOCUSED
ON SOME OF OUR IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES. AS I THINK ABOUT
THE HATE AND DIVISIVENESS THAT
WE SEE , YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT
IN MANY WAYS THERE'S NOTHING
BETTER THAN THE ARTS COMMUNITY
TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE, UPLIFTING
MESSAGE TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY
TOGETHER RIGHT NOW. AND SO, JUST
WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND
WONDERING IF WE CAN MAKE IT A
PRIORITY FOR 2026, TO REALLY
UPLIFT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR
IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF THE
THINGS WE HAVE IN PROGRESS NOW
AND, I THINK IT IS DEATHLY
SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO BE
PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO
AND ENGAGING WITH. THE PROJECTS
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING
FOR ACTIVATIONS THIS YEAR , FOR
DOWNTOWN AND IN AND AROUND THE
WORLD CUP TIMING, THAT CALL WENT
OUT AND IT'S CALLED WE STILL
DREAM OF FUTURE. THE FOCUS ON
THAT WAS REALLY ABOUT USING ARTS
AND JOY IS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE.
SO THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE
RECEIVED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM
REALLY MOVING. WE ARE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THE LINEUP. AND WE
CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH
YOU. OUR TEAM IS WORKING ON A
PRESENTATION NOW TO SHARE OUT
WHAT EACH OF THOSE FUNDED GROUPS
ARE GOING TO BE DOING . SO THAT
ONE I THINK IS DEFINITELY GOING
TO BE RESPONSIVE. THE OTHER
THING I WILL MENTION IS OUR
GALLERY SPACE AT STREET STATION.
WE HAVE HOSTED MANY SHOWS RIGHT
NOW AND THOSE EXHIBITS, THEY
COME IN THROUGH PROPOSALS, THE
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER GROUP
REVIEWS THOSE AND DECIDES WHAT
MOVES FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD
SEVERAL EXHIBITS THAT ARE VERY
FOCUSED ON THE IMMIGRANT
EXPERIENCE. WE JUST CLOSED A
PUERTO RICAN EXHIBIT WHICH WAS
PHENOMENAL AND IT WAS SUCH A
PARTY . AND ALSO JUST CENTERING
THAT JOEY BUT ALSO WITH VERY
STRONG MESSAGES. AND THEN I
WOULD ALSO LOVE TO CALL OUT THE
WORK OF OUR ORGANIZATION,
LANGSTON, AND WHAT THEY ARE
DOING AT THE FACILITY. AND THEY
ARE PARTNERING WITH OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, ENTITIES AND
ARTISTS IN BRINGING IN ALL KINDS
OF PROGRAMMING IT'S BEEN VERY
MOVING FOR PEOPLE IN THE
COMMITTEE. THOSE ARE THINGS WE
HAVE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. WE ARE
HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH YOU ALL
ALL ABOUT FUTURE ENDEAVORS. IT
WILL DEFINITELY BE A TOPIC AS WE
MOVE THROUGH HONOR CULTURAL.
>> A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT KIND OF THE NEEDS FOR
SPACES. KIND OF MORE CAPITAL
NEEDS VERSUS OPERATING NEEDS?
PARTIALLY AM THINKING ABOUT THE
WONDERFUL WORK OF OUR EQUITABLE
ELEMENT INITIATIVE AND HELPING
TO FUND SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL
SPACES. I AM ALSO THINKING ABOUT
POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER. YOU
KNOW, I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH
TO FIND THOSE GROUND-FLOOR
SPACES AND MIXED-USE
DEVELOPMENT. IF YOU COULD JUST
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF
THOSE DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF MONEY
AND CHALLENGES THAT SOME OF OUR
PORTS ARTS ORGANIZATIONS MORE
DEFACING.
>> I WILL STATE BOTH ARE HUGE.
THEY ARE STRUGGLING IN BOTH OF
THOSE AREAS. THERE IS ONE
COMPONENT OF HOW TO FOLKS WHO
ARE HERE KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN
AND GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED
TO NOT CLOSE? THAT IS SOMETHING
THE PIVOT PROGRAM WE ARE WORKING
ON IS TRYING TO ADDRESS. THEY
ARE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS
RIGHT NOW WITH APPLICANTS TO
THAT PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM
WE RECEIVED ONE TIME PILOT
FUNDING FOR. SO WE HAVE BEEN
SHIPPING IT AS WE GO. BUT IT IS
SPECIFICALLY TO TRY TO HELP THEM
ADDRESS THOSE OPERATIONAL NEEDS
AND ALSO FOR US TO COLLECT
FEEDBACK ON WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE
SO WE CAN BE PREPARED FOR THINGS
WE NEED TO LOOK FOR, ASK FOR IN
PARTNERSHIPS. THAT IS THE
OPERATIONAL COMPONENT. THE
CAPITAL SIDE IS ALSO A
TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE. WE DON'T
WANT TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS HAVING
TO LEAVE. OWNERSHIP, LONG-TERM
LEASES, ARE A HUGE COMPONENT OF
THAT. WE HAVE HAD PARTNERSHIPS
WE ARE WORKING ON. WE HAVE
WORKED WITH CULTURAL SPACE
AGENCIES , CULTURAL FACILITIES
FUND, WILL IT'S NOT A HUGE
RESOURCE, IT HAS HELPED SOME
FOLKS MEET CODE COMPLIANCE
PIECES THAT THEY NEED TO. I
THINK WE ARE VERY OPEN AND
EXCITED TO WHO ELSE WE CAN
PARTNER WITH ON SOME OF THESE
COMPONENTS. AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO, WE JUST BROUGHT A HOUSING
AND PLANNING PERSON INTO OUR
OFFICE WHICH WE NOTED IN OUR
PRESENTATION. WE HAVE NEVER HAD
BEFORE. AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO KICK OFF
THIS YEAR WITH THE FUNDING WE
RECEIVED FOR CULTURAL PLANNING
TO REALLY LOOK AT POLICY
COMPONENTS THE COULD HELP WITH
SOME OF THOSE PIECES TOO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I JUST
WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY
COLLEAGUES HERE, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AND THINGS LIKE THE ROOTS
TO ROOTS LEGISLATION. IT'S A
LAND-USE POLICY BUT I WANT TO
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX ON HOW WE
MAKE IT FEASIBLE FOR THE SPACES.
FINAL QUESTION, I SEE IN YOUR
SLIDE ABOUT THE 2026 PRIORITY
CID. ANYTHING YOU CAN SPEAK TO
ABOUT THE CID OR POTENTIAL
LITTLE SAIGON AREA?
>> THE REASON WE CALL THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS OUT, WE KNOW THEY
ARE GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACTED BY WORLD CUP. AND WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING, WE RECEIVED
MONEY IN 2025 THAT WE ALLOCATED
AND WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH
THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE RECEIVING
THE FUNDING IN 2026 TO BE READY
FOR THESE PIECES. SO WHILE WE
HAD OPEN CALLS FOR THAT PIECE,
WE ACTUALLY ALSO CONNECTED WITH
SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNOW
FUNCTION IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS
PUTTING CID. AND ARE
SPECIFICALLY PARTNERING WITH
SPECIFIC PROJECTS THEY ARE
HOPING TO HIGHLIGHT. AND TO BE
ABLE TO SPEAK TO WHO THEY ARE
AND BRING PEOPLE IN. WE ARE
TALKING A LOT WITH THEM ABOUT
TIMING. BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO COME INTO THE
STADIUMS, BUT HOW DO WE GET
PEOPLE HERE WHEN IT'S NOT
GAMETIME BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING
TO BE AROUND. WE WANT TO BRING
THEM BACK DOWNTOWN. WANT THEM TO
EXPLORE, GO SHOPPING, EAT. THOSE
ARE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING AROUND THAT. OUR STAFF
HAS BEEN VERY MUCH IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH CID, PIONEER
SQUARE AND STADIUM DISTRICT AS
WE PREP FOR THIS.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
I SEE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
JUST WANTED TO GO BACK AND FIRST
OF ALL, THANK YOU TO THE GUESTS
AND FOLKS THAT ARE HERE AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP. MADAM CHAIR. LOOK AT
PAGE 25 OF YOUR POWERPOINT, AND
THANK YOU FOR HAVING PAGE
NUMBERS. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED
HOW MANY PEOPLE COME WITH POWER
POINTS WITH NO PAGE NUMBERS. I
KNOW. I AM OLD SCHOOL. I AM
LOOKING AT THE DE&I SUBSTATION
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT, THE TWO QUESTIONS I HAVE
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS THAT WE
HAD FUNDED THROUGH THE SEATTLE
OFFICE ARTS AND CULTURE, OTHER
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
FACILITIES WE ARE LOOKING AT ON
BEING CONSIDERED AND HAVE WE
ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING SOUND
TRANSIT. BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT PARTNERING. NOT JUST WITH
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT OR SEATTLE
ASSETS, BUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> I THINK WE PARTNER WITH MANY
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. I THINK
THE NATURE OF THAT PARTNERSHIP
SHIFTS DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS
WE ARE DOING WITH THEM. THIS
PARTICULAR PROJECT WITH CITY
LIGHT, WE HAVE QUITE A BIT
HAPPENING WITH CITY LIGHT IN
THEIR PROGRAM. IN FACT, THANK
YOU TO CITY LIGHT BECAUSE THEY
DID A LOVELY BLOCK POST TO THEIR
STAFF ON THE WORK THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING WITH OUR OFFICE. AND THEY
REALLY ENGAGE THEIR EMPLOYEES IN
THE ARTS AND CULTURAL WORK WE
ARE DOING. THIS PARTICULAR SITE
HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A WHILE.
AND PROVIDING IT IS A COMMUNITY
ASSET WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT
GETTING THE PERMITTING FOR THE
LOCATION HERE. SO, WE STARTED
TALKING WITH THEM BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. THINGS WENT ON HOLD .
NOT SURPRISING. AND WE ARE
SEEING THAT EFFORT UP NOW TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO
MAKE THE SPACE OF THIS
PARTICULAR SITE. I DON'T THINK
SITES ARE OFF THE TABLE. WE ARE
HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH FOLKS
WHEREVER WE CAN. IT'S JUST WITH
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH EACH
DEPARTMENT, WE MENTIONED A FEW
TIMES DEPARTMENT OF EARLY
LEARNING, EDUCATION AND OUR
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM AND IN
THOSE CASES PARKS IS OUR SITE.
PARKS IS ALSO A PARTNER AT THE
TABLE. WE HAVE A THREE-WAY
AGREEMENT WITH THEM. THEY
PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER
SPACE, OUR STAFF IS BRINGING IN
THE TEACHING ARTISTS WERE DOING
THE PROGRAMMING, AND DEAL WITH
FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS. THAT IS
A REALLY GREAT WAY WE HAVE BEEN
PARTNERING. WE WORK WITH THE
PERCENT PROGRAMS, WE WORK WITH
UTILITIES IN EACH OF THOSE
DEPARTMENTS VERY CLOSELY AROUND
A WHOLE VARIETY OF WORK. AND WE
ARE LOOKING FOR TO ENGAGING MORE
DEPARTMENTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE
BRINGING POLICY TO WE NEED TO BE
COMMUNICATING WITH. I KNOW IS
ONE WE WANT TO TALK WITH . WE
HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING , WE ARE
A UNESCO CITY LITERATURE CITY.
AND BACK TO THE IMMIGRATION
COMPONENT PIECE, THERE ARE SOME
PROGRAMS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
THAT WE ARE RESEARCHING MORE
CLOSELY WHERE THEY BRING RIDERS
IN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WITH
THEIR ENTIRE FAMILIES AND TRY TO
GIVE THEM TWO YEARS OF SPACE TO
LIVE WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO GET
OUT OF OPPRESSIVE PLACES. OPEN
TO PARTNERING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
WE DEFINITELY REALIZE IT'S A
GREAT WAY TO LEVERAGE AS A
DEPARTMENT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A
LOT OF FUNDING OR STAFF, IT HAS
BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR US TO GROW
THINGS AND HAVE A LARGER IMPACT.
SO WE ARE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU
IF YOU HAVE IDEAS.
>> MADAM CHAIR, CAN I HAVE A
COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UPS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU. SO, IS SEATTLE
ARTS AND CULTURE WORKING WITH
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AND ARCHIVE
FOLKS?
>> WE ACTUALLY ARE. WE ARE
WORKING ON A MASSIVE ARCHIVE
PROJECT THAT LINKS WHERE WE HAVE
25 YEARS OF ARTIFACTS FROM
PERFORMANCES , FROM THE
FACILITY. IT REPRESENTS A KEY
PIECE OF LEGACY FOR THE
COMMUNITY. AND SO WE ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ARCHIVES
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PRESERVING THOSE ARTIFACTS
CORRECTLY IN LINE WITH RETENTION
POLICIES WILL ALSO MAKING SURE
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO
THEM AND THAT THEY CAN BE SHARED
AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE WITH
PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SPACE.
>> ARE YOU GUYS INVOLVED WITH
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AND THEY ARE
DOING LIKE THESE NEW ARCHIVAL
VIDEOS ON THE HISTORY OF
SEATTLE, NOT JUST THE PIONEER
HISTORY BUT THE INDIGENOUS
HISTORY?'S ARTS AND CULTURE
INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL?
>> INVOLVED IN THAT PART. FOR MY
UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE LEADING
ON THEIR OWN. WE ARE AWARE OF
THEM. THEIR FANTASTIC. BUT WE
HAVEN'T BEEN ENGAGED. THIS
PROJECT THAT SHE MENTIONED IS A
BIG LIFT PROJECT THAT WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. AND OUR
FACILITIES TEAM HAS BEEN REALLY
ENGAGED WITH SOME SMALLER THINGS
WE HAVE DONE WITH THEM ARE SOME
OF THE 360 VIDEOS WE HAVE HAD
FROM OUR GALLERY INSTALLATIONS ,
I THINK THAT COVERS ABOUT WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL.
>> WERE YOU GUYS WORKING WITH
PAULINE AND THE GROUP FOR THE
WATERFRONT? THE RENAMING AND
TRADITIONAL LANGUAGE? WERE YOU
INVOLVED IN THAT?
>> I BELIEVE, SO WE HAVE HAD A
STAFF PERSON EMBEDDED ON THE
WATERFRONT WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING
THOSE COMPONENTS. A BRILLIANT
HER MIND, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH THEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
I BELIEVE SHE HAS BEEN ENGAGED
IN ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS. THE
CALLS WE DID TO BRING ARTWORK
INTO THE WATERFRONT WERE VERY
SPECIFIC AND THERE WERE VERY
SPECIFIC INTERACTIONS WITH
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN ORDER
TO HAVE THAT REPRESENTATION . I
KNOW THAT MARIE WAS ENGAGED IN
ALL OF THE WAYFINDING PROCESS
TOO. I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE
CONNECTED, YES.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A
RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU IF YOU
ENTERTAIN IT.
>> PLEASE. APSLEY.
>> FROM ALL OF THE YEARS I HAVE
BEEN HERE, THIS IS ONE THING
THAT IS ALWAYS KIND OF , LET ME
THINK OF A BETTER WORD, WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM ARTS AND
CULTURE WHICH I'VE ASKED BEFORE
AND I'LL ASK AGAIN,
PARTICULARLY WHEN I CHAIR THE
WATERFRONT, AND WHEN YOU REDID
IT AND PARKS, IS CAN WE GET AN
INVENTORY OR A LIST OR SOMETHING
TO SHOW WHEN YOU'RE WORKING
WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
PUTTING OUT ART PLEASE FOR
ARTISTS TO WORK WITH, INDIGENOUS
OR NOT, WHAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED
AND WHAT WAS ACTUALLY AWARDED? I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMEWHERE
ONLINE. YEAH, I'VE NEVER BEEN
ABLE TO FIGURE OUT . I WILL JUST
SAY THIS, I'M NOT TRYING TO
SPEAK TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE OR
PLUG ONE OVER ANOTHER, I DON'T
FIND THAT THERE IS A CENTRAL
PLACE THAT I CAN GO TO WHEN
TRIBAL LEADERSHIP CALLS AND
SAYS, EXCEPT FOR COLLEEN, A
SHUTOUT TO THEIR GROUP, I'VE
NEVER GOTTEN A LIST TO SAY, HERE
ARE THE GROUPS THAT HAVE APPLIED
TO DO EITHER THE WATERFRONT OR
ANY OF THAT KIND OF ART. RELATED
TO INDIGENOUS GROUPS. PLEASE
DON'T BRING UP LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT BECAUSE THAT IS
RIDICULOUS. I'VE NEVER BEEN
ABLE TO SEE THAT AND WHO IS
ASKING FOR IT BECAUSE WHEN I GET
ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE HOW DID
SO-AND-SO GET TO DO THAT? OR HOW
COME SO-AND-SO GOT THIS OR WHY
WASN'T THIS BUT THEY ARE OR WHY
WASN'T THIS TRIBE RECOGNIZED? I
DON'T KNOW WHO TO REFER THEM
TOO. SOMETIMES IT'S THE
WATERFRONT, FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT, WE HAD THE SAME
ISSUES WITH THE AQUARIUM AND THE
ZOO. NOT THROWING SHADE ON
ANYONE, IT WOULD BE NICE AS
ELECTIVE LEADERS AND CERTAINLY
FOR THE CHAIR TO KIND OF HAVE
SOME KIND OF RUNNING INVENTORY
OR LIST SO WE CAN ACTUALLY FIND
OUT, HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
APPLY FOR AND PRESENT AUTHENTIC
ART, NOT JUST ON THE WATERFRONT
AND TOTEM POLES, BUT ART
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY
INCLUDING NORTH OF THE SHIP
CANAL, QUITE FRANKLY. I'M
REALLY GLAD TO BE ON THIS
COMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AND HER INTEREST IN THIS.
THAT IS JUST MY TWO CENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> WE WILL TAKE THOSE TWO CENTS.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THAT QUESTION. I
WILL ALLOW YOU ALL TO RESPOND
BUT I WILL STATE MY INTENTION TO
MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU
TO MAKE SURE YOU GET AN ANSWER
AROUND THAT. AND AS I WAS
TRACKING YOUR QUESTION, I SEE
OVERLAP BETWEEN OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE, OFFICE OF
WATERFRONT, OUR VARIOUS
DEPARTMENT'S THAT HAVE 1% FOR
THE ARTS, AND I CAN SEE HOW THAT
MAZE WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
NAVIGATE OF WHO IS ACTUALLY
TRACKING THIS COLLECTIVELY. I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT
QUESTION SO IT'S NOT A BARRIER
FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY, WHO
APPLIED OR WHO ASKED FOR ACCESS
AND WHO GOT IT? THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR, CAN I ASK ONE
LAST QUESTION?
>> ABSOLUTELY. A
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU INCLUDE IN
THAT REQUEST OR ASK, THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET? WITH THEIR PDA?
THEY ARE A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, BUT THEY DO OPERATE
WITHIN THE CONFINES OF CITY LAW,
THE CITY FAMILY. AND THAT HAS
BEEN ANOTHER AREA WHERE I CAN'T
GET INFORMATION ABOUT, OKAY,
WHAT IS REAL, WHAT IS
INDIGENOUS, WHAT IS BEING
REPRESENTED, HOW DID HE GET OUT
THERE, WHO GOT AWARDED IT?
AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO, YOU
KNOW, RENAMED CONFEDERATE
STATUTES. I'M JUST TRYING TO
HAVE THE ACTUAL HISTORY OF THE
CITY REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE, I LOVE THE
SAYING, TIME IMMEMORIAL. AGAIN,
AND CAUGHT UP IN THIS MAZE OF
BUREAUCRACY. IF I AM, AS AN
ELECTED GET TO STUFF, I CAN
IMAGINE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART
OF THE CITY FAMILY TRYING TO
FIND OUT WHAT IS WHERE. THEN I
AM HOPING WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES
SITTING HERE AND HOPEFULLY
WATCHING THAT THEY CAN PUT THAT
IN THEIR NEWSLETTERS. WHEN THERE
IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT. LIKE A, WE
ARE GOING TO BE ROLLING THIS
OUT. WE ARE INVITING ALL
ARTISTS. AND THEN WE CAN PUT IT
IN A RESPECTIVE NEWSLETTERS SO
PEOPLE CAN APPLY. AND A LOT OF
TIMES PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT THE
GOING TO GET AT THE FIRST ROUND
BUT A TASTE THEY WILL KNOW
THERE'S A PLACE TO GO OR THAT
IT'S BEING OFFERED. AND THEY
CAN PUT IT IN THEIR INFORMATION
OR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THAT
WAS MY LAST ASK. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR.
>> THINK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER. WE CAN DO AN
OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THIS.
>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY CONFUSING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PLAYERS INVOLVED IN EACH OF
THESE PHASES. WE DO HAVE
CONNECTIONS AND CONTACTS AT ALL
OF THOSE AND WE TRY TO STAY IN
COMMUNICATION. SO THAT WE KNOW
WHAT WE ARE ALL DOING. SO WE CAN
PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING TO SHARE
BACK THAT HAS CONTACTS WITH
CLARITY ON WHO IS JURISDICTION
IS THAT.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ COME ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS? FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE COUPLE OF THINGS I
WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO BEFORE
WE CLOSE OUT. I WANT TO REVISIT
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU HAD
IN YOUR SLIDE DECK. AND
UNDERLINE AND UNDERSCORE THEM IF
I MAY. ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO NAME IS
THAT , I THINK YOU SAID YOU SAW
38% INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS
BETWEEN THE 2024 AND 2025 YEAR.
AND TO ME THAT IS REALLY
INDICATIVE OF PARTIALLY THE
GREAT WORK WE ARE DOING TO
VINDICATE WITH PEOPLE, BUT
PARTIALLY THE NEED THAT IS
HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY.
PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS. I WONDER IF YOU
CAN SPEAK TO THAT JUST A BIT AND
REITERATE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU
WERE GIVING POINTS AROUND THE
SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS UNDER
50 K AND UNDER 500 K. THERE WAS
A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO
OF YOU ON THAT. IF I CAN ASK YOU
TO GO BACK AND READ A RATE THAT
POINT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
AS WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE
SMALLER IN BUDGET, SIZE ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS BUT ALSO FOR THE
NEEDS THEY HAVE.
>> YEAH, I CAN READ THROUGH THE
ORGANIZATIONS, SORRY, I'M
TERRIBLE AT READING NUMBERS.
THAT IS WHY. FOR THE UNDER
50,000 IS OUR VERY SMALL
CATEGORY. 32% FOR APPLICATIONS
WHERE IN THAT SPACE. 50,000 TO
500,000 IS WHAT WE CONSIDER
SMALL. 36% OF HER APPLICATIONS
WERE IN THAT SPACE. AND WE CAN
SEND THIS TO AS WELL. 500,000 TO
2 MILLION BUDGET IS WHAT WE
REFER TO AS A MEDIUM
ORGANIZATION. 18% OF OUR
APPLICATIONS WERE IN THAT. 2
MILLION AND ABOVE IS A LARGE AND
40% OF HER APPLICATIONS WERE
FROM THAT. WE ARE DEFINITELY
AWARE IT IS A COMBINATION OF
OUTREACH AS WELL AS THE NEED
THAT IS BRINGING THAT IN. AND WE
DO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM
WE HAVE JUST CONDUCTED AN
EVALUATION WHICH WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO COME BACK AND TALK TO
ABOUT ONCE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ANALYZE THE DATA WE GOT FROM
THAT. FROM THE EVALUATION. TO
LOOK AT HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THE
NEED. ARE THERE SHIFTS, WHAT IS
WORKING, WHAT IS NOT WORKING FOR
FOLKS? IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH
EVALUATION THAT WAS SHARED WITH
ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
APPLY. AND WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND
TALKING WITH YOU ALL ABOUT OUR
FINDINGS THERE. YEAH, I MEAN,
THE OTHER COMPONENT WHERE WE ARE
LEARNING PIECES ON THIS IS
THROUGH THE PROGRAM WE ARE DOING
BECAUSE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE BEING TARGETED. IN ADDITION
TO GETTING SURVEY INFORMATION
FROM THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IN
OUR SYSTEM AND ARE NEW TO OUR
SYSTEM THROUGH OUR CURRENT
ORGANIZATIONAL YOU'RE GETTING
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED AND THE
PIVOT PROGRAM WILL BE A COHORT
MODEL WHERE WE WILL GO DEEP WITH
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL
ABOUT SHIFTING MODELS,
PARTNERSHIPS, AND A VARIETY OF
WAYS THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS
TO HELP THEM AS WELL.
>> HAVE TWO CLARIFICATIONS. ONE,
THE NUMBERS KELLY RED, THEY
REPRESENT THE -- THE
CLARIFICATION. THE PIECE THAT
THE NUMBERS DON'T NECESSARILY
SPEAK TO IS THAT THIS IS ARE
PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW US TO
CONNECT THESE ORGANIZATIONS. IT
IS ARE ONE, OTHER THAN PIVOT
WHICH IS A PILOT, ARE ONE WAY TO
SORT OF REACH OUT TO ARTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE HAVE NO
OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MEET THAT
NEED. AND SO, IT'S NOT JUST THE
MONEY WE ARE GIVING, IT IS THAT
CONNECTION WITH WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SAID. LIKE
THE CITY FAMILY, THERE IS A
TOUCH POINT, SOMEONE THEY CAN
CALL, THERE IS SOMEONE THAT
CARES ABOUT THEM. AND THAT
INTANGIBLE BENEFIT IS STILL A
BENEFIT THAT THEY VALUE AND THAT
CERTAINLY, I KNOW WE ARE COMING
BACK TO PRESENT THE SURVEY
EVALUATION, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT CONSISTENTLY
COMES THROUGH. THAT THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT THING WE ARE PROVIDING
TO THEM. THAT ANY OTHER
STRUCTURE DOESN'T PROVIDE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. FOLLOWING
UP ON THAT, I KNOW THERE IS
ANOTHER QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, BUT FOLLOWING
UP ON THAT WE WANT TO GO BACK TO
THE BUDGET AND SOME OF THE
FUNDING STRUCTURE, THINGS I
HEARD YOU MENTION AND ALLUDE TO
THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION. YOU
CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT,
ONE, I THINK I WANT TO FOCUS US
ON THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT YOU
HAVE. I KNOW ONE OF THEM IS THE
ADMISSIONS TAX. THERE IS OTHER
FUNDING STREAMS. IF YOU CAN
SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. AND
THE FLUCTUATION YOU ARE SEEING
THERE. I THINK I'LL HELPFUL FOR
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO HEAR.
>> THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE AND THE SHIFT TO ALLOW
OPERATE DURING PANDEMIC SHIFTED
FROM A TWO YEAR MODEL WHICH
MEANS THAT WE RELY HEAVILY ON
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND
REVENUE FORECASTS. TO SEE HOW
MUCH IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEXITY
WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT IN
GREATER DETAIL IN THE FUTURE. IT
MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO PLAN
LONG-TERM BECAUSE THE NUMBERS
KEEP SHIFTING. IF YOU LOOK AT
THE FORECAST FROM APRIL VERSUS
THE ONE FROM OCTOBER YOU SEE
SIGNIFICANT DROP. AND EACH,
EVERY FEW MONTHS WE ARE WAITING
ON BATED BREATH TO SEE WHAT THE
NEW NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE WHAT
THAT MEANS FOR OUR OFFICE. OTHER
DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE
FUNDING SOURCES CAN SAY, WELL IF
THIS REVENUE SOURCE IS DOWN WE
CAN TURN TO SOMETHING ELSE. OR
HEY WE HAVE A FOUNDATION OR
GRANTS. THEY HAVE MORE
STABILITY. BUT FOR THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE, THE MINUTES
WILL ART FUND WHICH IS THE ONLY
OTHER FORCE WE HAVE ACCESS TO IS
HIGHLY RESTRICTED. THE CANNOT
SORT OF OFFSET ANY ISSUES WE
HAVE . IF WE HAVE ISSUE WITH AT
TAX, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH -- THE
LEGISLATION THAT GUIDES IT THAT
STIPULATES WE PUT ASIDE 20% AS A
RAINY DAY RESERVE. SO THERE IS
SOME QUESTION BUT STILL THREE
TIMES PER YEAR THE STRUCTURE IS
INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING FOR
LONG-TERM PLANNING.
>> THANK YOU AND UNDERSCORING
YOUR RELIANT ON THAT AND GIVEN
THAT OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND
PARTNERS ARE PARTNERING WITH US.
I THINK IT JUST EXTENDS THAT THE
MORE WE CAN PROVIDE THAT
STABILITY FOR THE OFFICE THE
MORE WE CAN PROVIDE THAT
STABILITY FOR THE PARTNERS.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> JUST EARLIER AS YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATION WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS, I JUST WANT
TO THINK ABOUT, I AM THINKING
ABOUT ONE PROJECT BETWEEN, THERE
IS A HOUSING PROVIDER, PLYMOUTH
HOUSING, THE GROUND FLOOR HAS
SPACE WITH PATH WITH ARTS I
BELIEVE. I JUST WANT TO THINK
ABOUT, NOT ONLY THE THERAPEUTIC
NATURE OF ARTS , BUT ALSO THE
ABILITY FOR STORYTELLING AND
COMMITTEE CONNECTION. BETWEEN
SOME ARE HOUSED IN UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS. BETWEEN SOME OF OUR
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROVIDERS IN THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES. AND JUST WANT TO
SEE IF THERE IS AN ABILITY THERE
TO LEAN INTO THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT
UP. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN, WE
MEET ACTUALLY , IN 2025 WE
HOSTED BUT WE CYCLE OFF WITH OUR
PARTNERS, THERE'S A MONTHLY
MEETING CALLED WASHINGTON
COLLABORATIVE AND WE MEET
INFORMALLY EVERY MONTH . ONE OF
THE TOPICS WE HAVE REALLY BEEN
TALKING A LOT ABOUT LATELY IS
ARTS PRESCRIBING. PATH WITH ART
IS A LEADING ORGANIZATION IN
THAT AND HAS HOSTED SEVERAL
CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT AND WE
HAVE BEEN BRINGING THEM INTO
PLAY ON THAT. I WAS GLANCING AT
MANNY BECAUSE I KNOW HAVE BEEN
COMMUNICATING IN THAT SPACE AND
WATCHING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE
IS DOING AND TRYING TO PROVIDE
WHATEVER SUPPORT WE CAN BECAUSE
IT IS STATE-LEVEL COMPONENT TO
BRING THAT TO OUR CITY. AND SO,
IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR, IT IS A
PROGRAM WHERE DOCTORS,
PHYSICIANS, CAN ACTUALLY
PRESCRIBE YOU GO TO AN ARTS
EVENT AND YOUR INSURANCE WOULD
COVER THE COST OF THE TICKET FOR
YOU TO GO TO THAT EVENT. OR TO
TAKE A CLASS. AND IT IS GROWING
, THERE IS A LOT OF MOMENTUM
GROWING AROUND IT. SO IT IS
DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION THAT
WE ARE ENGAGED WITH WITH LEADERS
ACROSS THE AREA. VERY INTERESTED
IN WHERE IT'S GOING. SORRY,
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE
SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
>> THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU. I WAS NOT AWARE OF
THAT. HAD HEARD THERE WAS
RECENTLY RESEARCH THAT SHOWED
THE POWER OF ART TO REDUCE THE
NEED FOR PAINKILLERS. WONDERFUL,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE? FANTASTIC. I WILL
MAKE ONE FINAL COMMENT ONLY
BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S
QUESTION SPURRED THIS REMINDER.
I RECENTLY GOT A CHANCE TO MEET
WITH A GROUP CALLED SUSTAINABLE
MUSIC NORTHWEST AND,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN I WILL SHARE
THE INFORMATION WITH YOU. THEY
ARE ACTUALLY FUNDING MUSICIANS
AT UNION LEVEL WAGES. ONE OF THE
THINGS THEY ARE DOING IS
ACTIVATING SPACES AROUND THE
CITY. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP WITH PLYMOUTH
HOUSING WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING
AT SOME OF THEIR LOCATIONS. SO
THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY
INCREDIBLE WORK HAPPENING THERE
THE BRINGS NOT JUST ARTS AND
HEALTH BUT ALSO ECONOMIC SUPPORT
FOR MUSICIANS. THANKS FOR THAT
QUESTION, IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO
LIFT UP THIS FANTASTIC UNITY
MEETING I HAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH
TO BOTH OF YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TODAY.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
REALLY EXCITING AREAS TO
CONTINUE TO EXPLORE BOTH WITH
LONG-TERM STABILITY, THE
FANTASTIC QUESTIONS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ BROUGHT UP
ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE
ACCESSIBILITY ON OUR INFORMATION
AND A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON
COLLABORATING WITH TRIBES AND
NATIVE FOLKS. SO WE ARE REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO
EXPLORE THERE. AND ALSO TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE BEING THOUGHTFUL
AROUND THE INCREASE AND NEED AND
THE STRAIN ON THE FINANCIAL
CAPACITY. AND THAT WE ARE SEEING
IN SO MANY OF OUR SECTORS IN THE
CITY THE WAY THAT THOSE FEDERAL
SHIFTS ARE LANDING. AND THAT
UNFORTUNATELY ARTS ARE NOT
EXCLUDED FROM THAT. AND SO I
APPRECIATE YOU HELPING US CENTER
THAT, UNDERSTANDING, SO WHEN WE
ARE LOOKING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE
WE ARE DOING SUE SO IN A
HOLISTIC WAY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. WITH THAT, OTHER ANY OTHER
FURTHER BUSINESS ITEMS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? ALL RIGHT.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR JANUARY 28,
2026 MEETING OF THE HOUSING,
ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS
FEBRUARY 11 AND WE WILL BE
DIVING IN ON HOUSING IN THAT
COMMITTEE. AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN. IT
IS 2:57 PM AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> MADAM CHAIR, WELL DONE!
>> THANK YOU. AND SHOUT OUT TO
ARTS HAVING PAGE NUMBER