By: Live Wire Staff

A cultural revolution is brewing as the real estate and regulatory pressure on arts and entertainment organizations increases. On Capitol Hill, we are losing venues, galleries, offices, and artists' space left and right, with our most recent loss the Oddfellows Hall.

In a follow-up to the Jan 16th panel at CHAC ("Is there still room for Culture and Entertainment on Capitol Hill?"), artists and citizens have resoundantly answered "Yes!" and are now headed downtown to bring their concerns to City Hall, to create programs that will revitalize arts and culture through neighborhood development incentives.

Each speaker is being asked to speak for 3-4 minutes on the topic: "Under what circumstances would you support an Arts & Entertainment District in Capitol Hill?"

Arts & Entertainment:
Angela Luechtenfeld, Freehold Theatre Lab
Michael Seiwerath, Northwest Film Forum
Hallie Kuperman, Century Ballroom
Josh LaBelle, Seattle Theatre Group, Paramount, Moore
Evan Johnson, Image Productions, Film Production Company
Randy Engstrom, Youngstown Arts Center/DNDA and Seattle Arts Commission

Development, Urban Planning, Policy Advocates:
Jim Reinhardsen, Heartland LLC, Public/Private Partnership Expert
Richard Muhlebach, Kennedy Wilson, Cap Hill Developer
Laura Curry, Mithun, Cultural Research Specialist, Artist
Matthew Kwatinetz, Capitol Hill Arts Center, Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, Sponsor

Public Sector:
Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata, Sponsor
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark, Co-Sponsor
Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden, Co-Sponsor
Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Co-Sponsor
Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Co-Sponsor
Jim Kelly, Director, 4Culture, King County’s Cultural Development Authority

MAKE ROOM FOR ART: CULTURAL OVERLAY DISTRICTS FOR SEATTLE

April 2, 5p-6:30p @ Seattle City Hall

A panel of arts & entertainment leaders, city officials, and real estate development allies presenting Capitol Hill as a possible pilot area for a new Cultural Overlay District program:

· Ways to better secure cultural properties

· Ways to create incentives for the development of new cultural spaces

· Ways for property development to better impact the arts and entertainment business model.

Attend this free public event and demonstrate local demand for allied, creative city-making.

FACT:

Over the years, Capitol Hill has earned widespread recognition as an arts incubator neighborhood with a sheer density and diversity of local cultural expression that continues to attract artists, visitors, and new residents from the world over.

CONCERN:

The very same creative industry that has made the Hill a destination in the first place is poised to be priced out of town as more and more real estate investors are attracted to the neighborhood. Is this an unavoidable cycle? Is it too late for Capitol Hill?

RECENT ACTION:

On January 16, over 150 of some of Capitol Hill's hardest-working residents - its arts and entertainment workers - packed Capitol Hill Arts Center for a City of Seattle panel discussion titled "Is there still room for arts & entertainment on Capitol Hill?" At this event, arts & entertainment leaders, real estate development allies, and City officials united in a resounding and committed: No, it's not too late.

NOW:

In response to the January 16 event and empowered by collaborative community efforts and studies, Seattle City Councilmembers Nick Licata, Sally Clark, Jean Godden, Bruce Harrell and Tom Rasmussen co-sponsor…

Make Room for Art:

Cultural Overlay Districts for Seattle

April 2, 5p-6:30p

Seattle City Hall

At this panel discussion, arts & entertainment leaders, City officials, and real estate development allies will present Capitol Hill as a possible pilot area for a new Cultural Overlay District program:

· Ways to better secure cultural properties

· Ways to create incentives for the development of new cultural spaces

· Ways for property development to better impact the arts and entertainment business model.

It's time for creative locals to start capturing the value that they drive in neighborhood renewal and development. We can discover solutions. Cities all over the world are throwing up their hands on this issue. But, true to our legacy of proactive civic innovation, Seattle is taking this on.

Attend this public event on April 2 and demonstrate local demand for allied, creative city-making.