By: Matthew Kwatinetz

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 16^th 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, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, and the Seattle Arts Commission.

Panel Discussion: Call to Action! Is there room for culture & entertainment on Capitol Hill?

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

WHERE AND WHEN:

5:30p – 7:00p

Showroom Theatre (Main Floor)

Capitol Hill Arts Center

1621 – 12^th 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. Arts and cultural organizations serve as retail anchors in the neighborhood, and the Chamber is committed to amplifying the positive economic leverage provided by cultural presence. What are some of the options we can explore for maintaining a strong cultural presence on Capitol 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 which 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 to learn from 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.

SPONSORS:

Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce

Creative Conversations, a project of Americans for the Arts, Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, 4Culture, The Shunpike, Youngstown, & CHAC

Capitol Hill Arts Center

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