Message from the director: A-list of achievements

This has been a remarkable "A" list year for the Office and Seattle Arts Commission. Here are some of the 2009 highlights:

A-Y-P Centennial. We had the honor of helping coordinate a far-reaching, community-wide celebration of the centennial of Seattle's first World's Fair—the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (A-Y-P) Exposition of 1909. Michael Herschensohn joined our staff to help lead the effort, which engaged 90 community organizations and individuals and leveraged more than $2.2 million in community investment. The centennial produced dozens of exhibitions, publications, Web articles, a TV documentary and events—ranging from the re-construction of an A-Y-P Viking ship to the re-enactment of the Igorot Village—a controversial A-Y-P exhibit that put a group of mountain people from the Philippines on display.

Americans for the Arts. Seattle had the distinct honor of hosting Americans for the Arts' annual convention. It was the first time in the organization's 49-year history that it held its national convention in Seattle. Despite the downturn in the economy, attendance surpassed projections. More than 1,200 arts leaders from across the nation came together under the theme of Arts in Sustainable Communities, an appropriate banner for our region and our time.

Affordable Arts Space. The Cultural Overlay District Advisory Committee (CODAC), convened by members of the City Council, was charged with conceiving creative ideas to preserve and foster arts and cultural spaces in Seattle's neighborhoods. The citizen committee presented its findings to the City Council, which adopted a resolution in August to accept the committee's recommendations. We will continue the important work of securing affordable, dedicated arts space in 2010 and beyond.

Arts Education. Our partnership with Seattle Public Schools hit several milestones this year. We supported the completion of the first district-wide survey of arts education. The Wallace Foundation took note of our work with the school district to ensure all students have access to a quality education that includes the arts. Stay tuned. In 2010, with the support of the Wallace Foundation, we hope to more broadly engage the community in this important effort.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Office was one of 16 local arts agencies nationwide to receive $250,000 in economic stimulus funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to help preserve jobs. The NEA had $50 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to distribute nationwide. We re-granted the funds to
22 Seattle cultural organizations.

Admission Tax. Last week, the City Council approved the city's 2010 budget. The package preserves funding for our core programs and underscores the importance of arts and culture in a healthy city. The council unanimously voted to accept a key piece of legislation to increase the annual percentage of city-admission-tax revenue dedicated for arts and culture from 20 percent to 75 percent. This shift in revenue is budget neutral, as our department will take an equivalent reduction in general-fund dollars.

The boost in admission-tax revenue not only provides a dedicated funding stream for the Office, it helps to buffer us from the year-to-year variability of the general fund, allowing us to maintain our current level of community investment in 2010.

Art in the public realm. Water and a historic neighborhood bridge were the themes for several innovative temporary public art projects commissioned by the Office. Under the heading Water Calling, artists and filmmakers created a series of temporary works and short films about water. And Fremont Bridge artist-in-residence Kristen Ramirez completed her residency in one of the bridge towers and created Bridge Talks Back, a temporary sound installation.

Advocacy. Finally, we are very grateful for the strong support and trust of Mayor Greg Nickels and the entire City Council. Special thanks to outgoing City Council members Jan Drago and Richard McIver for their support of our work. And a shout-out goes to our Seattle Arts Commissioners who add important value to our policy work in arts education, cultural space and public art.

Best wishes for a peaceful holiday season, and all the best for a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Michael Killoren
Director

City seeks artist for Lake Union Loop

The Office, in collaboration with Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), seeks an artist or artist team to create a new media artwork for the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop. The call is open to professional artists living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California or British Columbia.

The Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop is an urban trail that surrounds Lake Union. The selected artist will create a new media project drawing on the history and/or context of the site. Possible media include podcast- or cell-phone based audio work, audio and/or video tours using mobile media and GPS, and walking tours or interactive events using the Web.

Application deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010. Learn more here.

Seattle artists receive project funding

We're pleased to announce $241,500 in awards to 51 individual artists working in the visual, literary and media arts. The city's 2010 CityArtist Projects annual funding program supports the development and presentation of original work by individual artists based in Seattle. Funded projects must include a public presentation.

"While grants to individual artists are becoming increasingly scarce, we are committed to nourishing the work of independent artists," said Michael Killoren, director of the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. "Artists are the heart and soul of Seattle, making important contributions to our quality of life and economic prosperity."

The program received a record 189 applicants, a 12.5 percent increase in applications from the previous 2008 funding cycle for visual, literary and media arts. Twenty-nine of the 51 funded artist projects are first-time recipients, representing 57 percent of the awards. The awards range from $1,500 to $10,000, with an average award of $4,735.

The CityArtists program provides funding to different artistic disciplines in alternating years. In 2009, the program awarded $225,000 to 39 artists working in the performing arts.

New timeline for Youth Arts program

Mark your calendar. We're moving up the Youth Arts application deadline. The online application will open, Tuesday, Dec. 15 with an application deadline of Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Youth Arts is an annual funding program that makes a difference in the lives of Seattle middle- and high-school youth by providing arts education beyond the regular school day. Awards range up to $10,000. The upcoming funding cycle will support after-school arts training between September 2010 and September 2011.

Hammering Man on holiday following surgery

Hammering Man went under the "knife" last week. We removed the 48-foot sculpture's left arm to make repairs to the gear drive mechanism that powers the popular sculpture by artist Jonathan Borofsky.

Hammering Man has hammered smoothly 15 hours a day since he was installed at the entrance to the downtown Seattle Art Museum in 1992. He's part of the city's public art collection. By our estimate, he's logged nearly 90,000 hours of hammering, only taking a break on Labor Day. That adds up to a lot of wear and tear.

See the "surgery" in progress on the Seattle P-I's Big Blog. Brush up on your Hammering Man history here.

The prognosis is good for the Seattle icon. For now, Hammering Man's arm will rest in the South Seattle warehouse of a local contractor. The drive mechanism is in Michigan, where it's being rebuilt. The repairs are estimated to take several weeks. We hope to have Hammering Man back in the swing in January.

Free concerts ring in holidays at City Hall, Municipal Tower

Hard to believe December is here!

We're happy to help you sail through the season with a line-up of festive performances this month. The free lunchtime concerts are noon to 1 p.m. and will take place the first and third week of the month on Tuesdays at Seattle Municipal Tower and Thursdays at City Hall.

This week, Seattle Pro Musica will present a choral program of traditional winter songs from Asia and the Pacific on Thursday, Dec. 3 at City Hall. Next up is the Medieval Women's Choir performing Spanish holiday music, seasonal carols and Italian songs, Tuesday. Dec. 15 a Seattle Municipal Tower. The Klez Katz will bring a joyous close to the holiday concerts, Thursday, Dec. 17 at City Hall.

The performances are part of the Seattle Presents concert series presented year round by our office. Get more details here.

City Hall exhibition showcases contemporary quilt art

Get wrapped up in exceptional quilt art from the Contemporary QuiltArt Association on view at City Hall through Jan. 4. Beyond the Block is a juried exhibition of artworks by artists who push beyond traditional square quilt-block patterns to expand the boundaries of quilt art.

The show features 39 quilt artworks by 26 Northwest artists that incorporate paints, maps, buttons, beads, found objects, and hand-dyed to commercially dyed fabrics.

Seeking proposals for City Hall galleries

Calling all community and artist groups—here's a chance to share your story with the public. The Office is seeking propoals for exhibitions in two City Hall gallery spaces in 2010 and early 2011.

The galleries—the City Hall Lobby Gallery and the Anne Focke Gallery—focus on two-dimensional artworks that reflect the broad diversity of Seattle's communities and showcase the work of regional artists, nonprofit organizations and community groups. Exhibitions have included shows highlighting arts education, climate change and homelessness. Group shows have featured works by Seattle print and quilt artists, Native American youth, and Latino and African-American artists.

The exhibition cycle will begin in mid-April and run through March 2011. The application deadline is 11 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 5. For details and a link to the online application, click here.

Give the gift of art this holiday season

Searching for the perfect holiday gift? Surprise an artist with a gift that could make a vital difference to their future. The Studio Protector: The Artist's Guide to Emergencies, is the first-ever disaster readiness toolkit for artists. With its lively design, the guide is a fun and interactive visual tool that can be posted right in a studio. The guide has checklists and information to help artists protect their artworks and prepare a studio for an emergency. Cost is just $16. Go to Artist Trust to learn more and to order.

Or gift your friends and family with adventures in the new year. Amost any arts organization offers memberships or gift certificates. Tickets or passes let you pre-plan dates with those friends you're always meaning to see. Shop a museum or theater gift store or holiday gift sales and events at galleries and visual arts venues. Buy CDs at your favorite holiday concerts. Or make a year-end donation in someone's name. Give the arts and you also give back to the arts.

Add sparkle to your holiday season with Winterfest

Seattle Center, showered in thousands of twinkling lights, sets the scene for affordable and fun-filled family holiday activities at Seattle Center Winterfest. Take a break from the holiday frenzy and enjoy the festivities.

Through Dec. 31 enjoy choruses and comedy, jazz and dance, ice sculpting and fireside sing-alongs. Through Jan. 3, play on the ice rink and ride the carousel. Free performances include Winter Worldfest cultural performances, Seattle's Best Jazz, the Microsoft Orchestra, the band Awesome, and a comedy weekend.

Go here for more information and the performance schedule.

Jazz to kids music on Art Zone this month

Take a break from the holiday bustle and curl up on the couch with Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on Seattle Channel at 8 p.m., Fridays. Here are a few December highlights. (FYI, Art Zone will not air on Dec. 25).

On Dec. 4, meet local dancer Jim Kent. Hear soulful music from the LeRoy Bell trio. And get the scoop on not-to-be missed theater shows this holiday season.

On Dec. 11, movie critic Robert Horton dishes about current flicks. Go behind the scenes of 2009 Mayor's Arts Award recipient Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras. Enjoy hot music from the jazz ensemble Cocoa Martini. And hear poet Mimi Allin at ACT Theatre.

On Dec. 18, Caspar Babypants, a.k.a. Chris Ballew from The Presidents of the United States of America, sings a few songs for kids and adults alike. Meet local hat maker Alexander Conley, and indie folk musician Jose Gonzales talks about the local music scene.

To busy to tune in? You can watch episodes online.