The latest from the King County chapter of Americans for the Arts Creative Conversation series:
Happy New Year to you all! 2008 is going to be quite a ride, we have a feeling, and what better way to kick it off than with a down-to-earth, nitty gritty, no-holds-barred session about the future of Capitol Hill (Seattle) culture:
Do you care about culture? Do you love Capitol Hill?
If you said yes to one or both of the above, then SAVE THE DATE on January 16th, for a special panel discussion presented by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce and featuring panelists from the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 4Culture (King County Cultural Development Authority), the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, and the Seattle Arts Commission.
Panel Discussion: Is there still room for culture and entertainment on Capitol Hill?
Content of the Panel: Concrete ideas for creating win-win solutions for real estate and culture on the Hill.
This conversation has been prompted by a large demand from the community to have a venue to discuss important landmark cultural institutions past, present, and future. Current hot topics that we are likely to discuss will include Oddfellows' Hall, Washington Hall, First Church of Christian Science (First Center for the Arts), and the imminent surplus of area schools. Local models from which to learn will include Tashiro-Kaplan, Youngstown Arts Center, Vera Project, Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center, and more. In the course of the discussion we hope to touch upon the pros/cons of Public Development Authorities, 63-20 Financing, Affordable Artist-Preference Housing, Public/Private Partnerships, and Public Facilities.
PANELISTS CURRENTLY CONFIRMED:
- Susan Shannon, Director, Mayor's Office of Economic Development
- Michael Killoren, Director, Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
- Charlie Rathbun, 4Culture: King County's Cultural Development Authority (a PDA)
- Randy Engstrom, Seattle Arts Commission and Director, Youngstown Arts Center
SPONSORS:
- Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce
- Creative Conversations, King County Chapter, Americans for the Arts
- Capitol Hill Arts Center
WHERE AND WHEN:
- 6:00p – 7:30p
- Showroom Theatre (Main Floor)
- Capitol Hill Arts Center
- 1621 – 12th Ave (@ Pine)
Capitol Hill currently is one of the most unique neighborhoods in the nation, with one of the most highly-educated and artistic populations to be found globally. Capitol Hill, the most residentially dense neighborhood on the West Coast north of San Francisco, also is the historic home of artists and alternative arts organizations. In 2007, the Urban Land Institute named Seattle the number 2 real estate market in the nation (after Manhattan) and Americans for the Arts named Seattle the number 1 city as measured by artists and arts organizations per capita. This combination means that we have the most artists and arts organizations per person, but the least affordable real estate for them to be able to survive. The problem is exacerbated in our densest neighborhood, Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce has been formed to increase vital economic activity in the neighborhood, and the arts have traditionally been the backbone of driving traffic into the neighborhood to live, shop, dine, and work. What are some of the options we can explore for maintaining a strong cultural presence on Capitol Hill?
OTHER DETAILS:
- This event is FREE and ALL-AGES
- For non-Chamber members, donations suggested to help defray costs
- Drinks and Cocktails will be available at a cash-bar
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There's more to come from the King County chapter of Americans for the Arts Creative Conversation series, as opportunities to be in dialogue with regional planning efforts continue, and new volunteers identify and take on new issues. In the mean time, join us on January 16th - it's sure to be exciting and will be a great opportunity to get reconnected with each other in the new year.
