We see evidence of King County’s love for arts and culture every day and everywhere—in festivals, workshops, exhibits, performances, art walks, classes, heritage tours and more. We have no doubt that the voters’ concern with Prop 1 is a statement about our regressive tax system, not the value of the arts in our communities.

As King County and Washington State grapple with how best to fund all the things that make communities livable, 4Culture affirms our commitment to our services, and the people they benefit. Regardless of the outcome of this week’s vote, there is growth in our future. Our funding programs are sound and robust—we look forward to continuing to invest in King County culture.

You may be aware that Prop 1 would have required the creation and implementation of geographic and equity plans to guide the distribution of funds. Even though the measure did not pass, we recognize the necessity of these plans and pledge to move forward with work on them. Another major component of Prop 1 was its education program, funding access for King County’s school-age children to museums, performances, and science centers. We will be pursuing that work as well, fostering dialogue on the important role cultural organizations can play in our schools.

We would like to thank Executive Dow Constantine for his commitment to the cultural sector and for proposing the initiative to the voters of King County. We would like to also thank the King County Council for putting this measure on the ballot to ensure arts and culture plays a strong role in quality of life for everyone in our region.

Sincerely,
4Culture Board of Directors

Domonique Meeks received a 2016 Tech Specific grant to produce the second season of his documentary, Soul of Seattle. This project represents a unique intersection of not only tech and art, but brings topics like race, history, business, and more into the mix. We’re excited to see how it evolves and grows with the help of these funds:

I am a storyteller, information scientist, and documentary filmmaker. I co-host a podcast called No Blueprint that gathers stories from cultural ambassadors to discuss how they defy societal norms to pursue their passions. I am also the co-founder of Ambassador Stories, where our mission is to utilize media to highlight the people, places, and spaces that bring soul to our beloved communities.

I am excited to share my documentary series Soul of Seattle Season 2. It will look closely at entrepreneurs of color and their small businesses in the Southend and Central District neighborhoods of Seattle, Washington. We will hear their stories, their missions and what drive them. As our city booms from technology and land prices skyrocket, it is unfortunately a time of changing demographics in many ways including economically and ethnically for many underserved communities. The project will discuss how entrepreneurs and their businesses are responding, and what advice they have for their peers and individuals who follow.

Our hope is with the support of 4Culture and other local entities our story can inspire other filmmakers and entrepreneurs of color to continue to use their passion to create meaningful content.

Tech Specific is open now! Read the guidelines, join us for a workshop, and apply by September 28.

Saturday, August 19, 12:00—7:00 pm
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave, Seattle
Free, no registration required

206 Zulu and Hidmo Cypher invite you to Boogie Up the Block, a Central District block party taking place at the historic Washington Hall! This day-long, free block party features various all ages entertainment, music, art, exhibits, food, dance, and a kids corner.

Find information about performers, parking, and more on Facebook.

Sundays, August 6, 13, or 27, 2017
9:00 am—5:00 pm
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave , Seattle, WA 98122
Tuition: $50 per person. Tuition assistance available for veterans; contact Candice Corey, King County Veterans’ Program at (206) 477-6989 to find out more.

Historic Seattle presents a new opportunity to learn one of the essential skills of historic preservation – window restoration! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of repairing and rebuilding wood windows at Seattle’s historic Washington Hall. Whether you are an experienced wood-worker looking to add a new skill to your repertoire or just interested in the craft, this workshop offers an opportunity to learn from experts. Representatives from Bear Wood Windows, veteran, minority, and woman-owned company, will teach these day-long courses, providing each participant with hands-on, comprehensive knowledge of standard wood framed windows.

Workshops are open to residents of King County, with scholarship opportunities available for Veterans! Visit Historic Seattle online for more details.

This program is sponsored by 4Culture, and presented in partnership with Earthwise, Seattle Public Utilities, King County Veterans Program, Washington Hall, Bear Wood Windows, and Colorado Steel Sash.

4Culture is proud to help fund the upcoming annual convening of Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET), which is headed to Seattle for its first national event in the Pacific Northwest! Here, the NET team shares a bit about what to expect:

Founded in the mid-1990s by a small group of ensemble theaters, NET has grown into a vibrant national community of over 350 ensembles, affiliate organizations, individuals, and students from multiple performance disciplines. Current NET members from the Seattle area include Akropolis Performance Lab, Fantastic.Z Theatre, Lucia Neare’s Theatrical Wonders, The Satori Group, theater simple, and UMO Ensemble.

In partnership with our local host, University of Washington School of Drama, Past Forward: 2017 NET National Gathering and Symposium will bring together NET members, artists, co-creators, practitioners, educators, scholars, students, activists, organizers, funders, policy-makers, and others from around the country with an interest in collaborative creation across disciplines and sectors. We invite you to join us June 22—25 for a jam-packed weekend of workshops, panels, performances, off-site outings, parties, networking, and more.

To celebrate NET’s past 20 years of expanding ensemble practice, Past Forward will honor the diversity of the ensemble movement’s powerful legacy and collectively imagine our way to what’s next. Topics include:

• Artistic lineage and legacy in the ensemble movement.
• Resonance between Indigenous knowledge and cultures and ensemble-based approaches.
• Enhanced storytelling through immersive media and emerging technologies.
• Art and community collaborations addressing xenophobia and building empathy.
• Collaborative practice and collective action in movement and network building.

Of special interest to locals, we are offering three pre-conference sessions on Thursday, June 22, and a limited number of partially-subsidized registrations for attendees from within King County, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, and for more information, please visit our website!

Event details:
What: Past Forward: 2017 NET National Gathering and Symposium
When: June 22—25, 2017
Where: University of Washington School of Drama, and other locations around Seattle Center and the International District

Past Forward is made possible, in part, through the support and participation of: Host Partner (University of Washington School of Drama), Event Sponsors (National Endowment for the Arts, 4 Culture), and Community Partners (Artist Trust, Cornish College of the Arts, On the Boards, and Seattle Office of Arts & Culture).