8, 22026 OF THE HOUSING, ARTS,
AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:04 PM. I
AM CHAIR OF THE HOUSING, ARTS
AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU. WILL COMMITTEE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
PRESENT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ: COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER: COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
HERE: HERE.
THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS: THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS
PRESENT AN EXCUSE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ: I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
WILL JOIN US SHORTLY. IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP?
FOUR IN PERSON SPEAKERS AND: FOUR IN PERSON SPEAKERS AND
NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO: EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES AND WE WILL START WITH
OUR IN PERSON SPEAKER. PLEASE
READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS.
OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS UP TO 60 MINUTES. SPEAKERS
WILL BEGIN, TO BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT. MICROPHONES
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT AND
THERE COMMENTS TO ALLOW US TO
CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
THE FIRST PERSON IS MALCOLM: THE FIRST PERSON IS MALCOLM
AND THE SECOND IS HUMAN.
ANY MICROPHONE, WHICHEVER
WORKS FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
ON BEHALF OF THESPIAN: ON BEHALF OF THESPIAN
PERFORMING ARTS PERSON, I'M
HERE TO ADVOCATE AND ALSO TO THE
NEW DIRECTOR OF ARTS AND
CULTURE, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT THIS CITY, BLEATS A
NEW DAY A GASHES ATTITUDES
WOUNDS. THE WOUNDS ARE A LACK OF
SPACE FOR PERFORMANCE ARTISTS
SUCH AS FILM, THEATER,
PERFORMANCE ARTISTS. THEY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH REHEARSAL SPACE.
EVEN AS AN ACTOR THERE IS NO
PLACE FOR ME TO REHEARSE THE
SAME WAY PEOPLE PLAY BASKETBALL
AT GREEN LAKE IN THE GYM. THE
EQUIVALENCY TO THAT IF YOU GET
THAT METAPHOR. IF YOU CHAMPION
FOR THE MARGINALIZED, FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT FIGHT FOR
ANTIESTABLISHMENT AND FIGHT FOR
JUSTICE THROUGH THE ARTS,
SEATTLE IS NUMBER ONE IN SPORTS,
THEY CAN ALSO BE NUMBER ONE IN
ARTS AND FILM AND PERFORMANCE
ARTS IF THEY HAVE THE SPACE TO
HOME THAT CRAFT. SO, I DID THE
RESEARCH AT SEATTLE LIBRARY, THE
ONLY HAVE REHEARSAL SPACES , I
HAVE BEEN REHEARSING ON
BASKETBALL COURTS BECAUSE THAT
IS THE ONLY PLACE I REHEARSE MY
MONOLOGUES BECAUSE AS A MEMBER
OF THEATER OF PUGET SOUND IT
COSTS TOO MUCH TO RENT A ROOM
THERE AND SPACE. THEY HAVE OPEN
SPACES JUST LIKE THEIR OPEN GEMS
FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY SPORTS HERE,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF
INTELLECTUAL PEOPLE HERE THAT
ARE VERY CREATIVE AND WE HAVE A
LOT OF CREATIVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
COME FROM THIS PLACE, BUT THE
LAST TIME I CHECKED MY FRIEND
TOLD ME THAT SEATTLE WAS LIKE
26th IN THE ACTUAL ARTS IN
AMERICAN CITIES COMPARED TO NEW
YORK OR L.A. AND ALLOWED PEOPLE
COME THERE AND ARE TENDERED BY
THE FACT, LETTING LEADERS KNOW
THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SPACE TO
GO TO , WHETHER IT BE MORE
VISUAL ARTIST, PERFORMANCE
ARTISTS. BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE
FOR FILM HERE, THE MOVIE THAT
CAME OUT WAS SHOT HERE. JUST
WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KING: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KING
HIGGINS FOLLOWED BY TIMOTHY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I
AM THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNITY IMPACTED PROGRAMS OF
FRIENDS A WATERFRONT PARK. I'M
HERE AS COCHAIR ALONG WITH
COCHAIR MEGAN FOR THE ARTS
COMMISSION . SO, ON BEHALF OF
THE ARTS COMMISSION WE ARE
PLEASED TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF
AMY AS A DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE. ARE
LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIPS
ACROSS OUR ARTS AND CULTURAL
COMMITTEES ALONG WITH DEEP
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITHIN CITY
GOVERNMENT MAKE HER
EXCEPTIONALLY PREPARED FOR THIS
ROLE. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY HER
VALUES ARE FIRMLY ALIGNED AND
ARE BUILDING ON THE PRIORITIES
OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE AND OUR BROADER
COMMUNITY OF ORGANIZED AROUND.
WE ALSO WANT TO AFFIRM THAT ARTS
AND CULTURE, OUR CORE SPECIFIC
INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY ARE THE
SYSTEMS THROUGH WHICH WE BUILD
IDENTITY, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY
AND SHAPE THE FUTURE AS WE WANT
TO LIVE IN. STRONG LEADERSHIP IN
THIS DEPARTMENT ENSURES THAT
THIS ESSENTIAL PUBLIC GOOD
REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE
IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIMOTHY,
FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS TIMOTHY,
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMON
AREA, A LOCAL ARTS NONPROFIT. I
AM HERE TO SUPPORT AMY'S
DIRECTORSHIP AND WANTED TO
EXPRESS MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR
THE WORK IN SEATTLE ,
HISTORICALLY AND THE ADVOCACY
FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. I HAVE
SEEN FIRSTHAND AND CONTINUE TO
SEE IT OVER THE DAYS AND WEEKS
IS THIS POSITION HAS UNFOLDED.
AND THROUGHOUT MY COMMUNITY,
THERE IS STRONG RESOUNDING
SUPPORT FOR THEIR WORK AND FOR
THIS POSITION. I WOULD LIKE TO
REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY AS MUCH
AS I CAN IN ADVOCATING FOR THIS
AMAZING LEADER. THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU: THANK YOU.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS: OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS
CHRISTINA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA, I
WILL BE RETURNING TO THE MUSEUM
IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. I'M
HERE TO SHARE MY STRONG SUPPORT
FOR AMY'S CONFIRMATION. AM
GENERALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE
HER IN THIS ROLE. AMY BRINGS A
RARE COMBINATION OF CLARITY,
CARE AND ACTION TO HER
LEADERSHIP FROM HER EXPERIENCE
WORKING WITH COUNCIL STAFF TO
SDOT AND ARTS, SHE UNDERSTANDS
HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS. AND
MORE PORTLY HOW TO WORK ACROSS
DEPARTMENT TO GET THINGS THAN.
JUST AS CRITICAL SHE HAS A
GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH HER
COMMUNITIES WITH INDIVIDUAL
ARTISTS, ELDERS, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND SHE HAS EARNED
OUR TRUST TO HER COMMITMENT TO
INVESTING IN THE CULTURAL
PERMANENCE AND STABILITY OF
BIPOC NEIGHBORHOODS, MOST AT
RISK OF AND WITH THE MOST TO
GAIN FROM VIBRANT INVESTMENT IN
ARTS AND CULTURE. IN MY
EXPERIENCE SHE LEADS WITH DEEP
INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO
COMMITTEE CENTERED
DECISION-MAKING. BUILDING TRUST
AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
TOWARD SHARED GOALS AND MOVING
IDEAS INTO ACTION WITH FOCUS,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND HEART. AND AT
A TIME WHEN THOUGHTFUL
READERSHIP MATTERS SO MUCH, AND
IS OUR CITY STAIRS DOWN A BIG
DEFICIT AND AS WORKERS AND
ARTISTS FEEL THE PAIN IN OUR
ECONOMY, AND CONFIDENT AMY WILL
SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH
DEDICATION AND VISION, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY THE SPIRIT OF AN
ORGANIZER BECAUSE THIS GIRL
RIGHT HERE CAN HUSTLE. AND FIND
RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY. I THINK
THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON
WHY I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH HER THE MOST. GO
AMY, I HOPE, YET. WE ARE GIVING
YOU LOVE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL: THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
LIKE YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU
TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS. FOR
THE FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME, WE
HAD FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS,
THERE PROBABLY 50 FOLKS IN HERE
INCLUDING FOLKS HOLDING, STICK
PEOPLE SCIENCE WITH THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR'S FACE ON THEM. REALLY
EXCITING ENERGY IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS TODAY. I DIDN'T EXPECT
TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IT IS A BOOST TO THE SPIRITS.
OKAY, WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
AGENDA ITEM 1, APPOINTMENT
3471 POINT OF AMY NGUYEN IS THE
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, ARTS, AND
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
I LIKE TO INVITE TO THE: I LIKE TO INVITE TO THE
COMMITTEE INTERIM DIRECTOR AMY
NGUYEN AS WELL AS DEPUTY MAYOR
BRIAN. AS THEY ARE GETTING
SETTLED AT THE TABLE, I WILL
TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK ON THIS
ITEM. JUST FIRST IN TERMS OF THE
PROCESS. I'M REALLY PLEASED TO
CONSIDER INTERIM DIRECTOR AMY
NGUYEN FOR THIS ROLE. FOR MY
COLLEAGUES, THE APPOINTMENT
PACKET HAS BEEN CIRCULATED WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS. IS INCLUDED IN
THE AGENDA PACKET FOR TODAY'S
MEETING. TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM INTERIM
DIRECTOR AMY NGUYEN AND FOR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO ASK
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. WE PLAN
TO HOLD A VOTE ON OUR
APPOINTMENT IN THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 22. IN
MY OFFICE WILL BE SENDING OUT A
LIST OF QUESTIONS ALONG WITH A
REQUEST FOR OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO SHARE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FOR INTERIM DIRECTOR
AMY NGUYEN TO RESPOND TO THOSE
QUESTIONS IN WRITING PRIOR TO
THE BOAT. THE INCREDIBLE FRIENDS
KNOW WE ARE NOT VOTING TODAY,
BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION. AND JUST AS A
REMINDER, THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE MANAGES THE CITY ARTS
PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS,
OPERATES EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND
CULTURAL FACILITIES WHICH ARE
INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AS WE
HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR PUBLIC
COMMENTERS TODAY. AND STRIVES TO
MAKE SEATTLE A PLACE WHERE
EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN DIVERSE ARTS AND
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. I WILL
SHARE BRIEFLY ABOUT AMY'S
BACKGROUND ALTHOUGH I KNOW WE
WILL HEAR MORE. SHE BRINGS OVER
A DECADE OF PUBLIC SECTOR
LEADERSHIP WITH DEEP COMMITMENT
AND EXPERIENCE ACROSS ARTS,
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. SHE HAS ALREADY
SERVED THE CITY AND MULTIPLE
LEADERSHIP ROLES INCLUDING AS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. INTERIM DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AND PUBLIC ART DIRECTOR
AT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE. MOST RECENTLY SHE LED A
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION ADVANCING
AFFORDABLE ARTIST WORKSPACE,
HOUSING, CULTURAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, PUTTING
LARGE-SCALE MIXED-USE PROJECTS.
IS MY PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE
TODAY. PRESENTERS, IF YOU COULD
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES WHEN YOU'RE
READY STARTING WITH THE DEPUTY
MAYOR AND YOU WILL PROVIDE AN
INTRO TO INTERIM NGUYEN ON
BEHALF OF THE MAYOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, DEPUTY MAYOR,
CITY OF SEATTLE.
AMY NGUYEN, SHE/HER PRONOUNS,
ACTING DIRECTOR OF HOUSING,
ARTS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS: THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I AM
MORE THAN PLEASED TO INTRODUCE
MAYOR WILSON'S NOMINEE TO SERVE
AS THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF THE
CITIES OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE , AMY NGUYEN. AS YOU CAN
TELL BY THE CROWD HERE, THERE
ARE A LOT OF FANS OF AMY'S. AND
WE ARE ONE OF THEM. FOR MANY
REASONS. AMY BRINGS A POWERFUL
COMBINATION OF CREATIVE VISION,
PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERSHIP, AND
DEEP COMMUNITY CONNECTION. SHE
HAS SPENT HER CAREER AT THE
INTERSECTION OF ARTS, CULTURE
AND CIVIC LIFE. WORKING TO
ENSURE THAT CREED OF EXPRESSION
IS NOT ONLY CELEBRATED, BUT
SUPPORTED AS A CORE PART OF HOW
CITIES THRIVE. SHE HAS HELPED,
AS YOU NOTED, MANY KEY
LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE INCLUDING DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF OPCD, SHE ALSO
SERVED AS INTERIM DEPUTY
DIRECTOR IN PUBLIC DIRECTOR AT
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
MOST RECENTLY SHE BRINGS STRONG
COMMUNITY ROOTED EXPERIENCE AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WATER
SHOULD. WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
ARTISTS, CULTURAL SPACE AND
CRATED PRODUCTION IN ONE OF THE
CITY'S MOST VIBRANT INDUSTRIAL
ARTS COMMITTEES. WHAT STANDS OUT
MOST IS NOT JUST HER EXPERIENCE
BUT HER VISION. WHEN WE
ANNOUNCED HER NOMINATION, SHE
WAS QUOTED, AND THIS REALLY
STUCK OUT TO ME, SHE SAID IN HER
QUOTE, CREATIVITY IS HOW A CITY
HONORS ITS PAST, FEELS IT'S
PRESENT, AND IMAGINES A FUTURE.
THAT BELIEF IS REFLECTED IN HER
COMMITMENT TO ENSURE MORE PEOPLE
HAVE THE RESOURCES, THE SPACE
AND FREEDOM TO CREATE. AND THAT
MEANINGFUL CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
ARE ACCESSIBLE IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT VISION ALIGNS
DIRECTLY WITH MAYOR WILSON'S
PRIORITIES. WE SEE ARTS AND
CULTURE AS CENTRAL TO SEATTLE'S
FUTURE, SUPPORTING PORTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
ACTIVATING OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
STRENGTHENING THE VIBRANCY OF
DOWNTOWN AND OR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE ARTS ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM
OUR BROADER ROLES. THEY ARE KEY
STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVING THEM.
AMY UNDERSTANDS BOTH THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE URGENCY OF
THIS MOMENT. SHE RECOGNIZES THAT
ARTISTS AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS ARE STILL
NAVIGATING RECOVERY WHILE ALSO
PLAYING AN ESSENTIAL ROLE ON
BRINGING OUR CITY BACK TO LIFE.
UNDER HER LEADERSHIP WE ARE MORE
THAN CONFIDENT THAT THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE WILL EXPAND
ACCESS TO CULTURAL SPACE,
STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
UNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
SUPPORT COULD'VE PLACE MAKING
THAT CONTRIBUTES TO NEIGHBORHOOD
VITALITY. AND AND SHORT
INVESTMENTS REFLECT FULL
DIVERSITY OF SEATTLE. JUST AS
IMPORTANTLY, AMY BRINGS A CLEAR
NORTH STAR. A FUTURE WHERE
CREATIVITY IS WITHIN REACH AND
CLOSE TO HOME FOR EVERY
SEATTLEITE. AMY IS A
COLLABORATIVE LEADER, A TRUSTED
PARTNER, AND A CHAMPION FOR
SEATTLE'S ACCRETIVE COMMUNITY.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR CONFIRMATION AND
LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
CONVERSATION AND DOING THE WORK
WE ALL WANT TO DO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE
WORDS. AND THANK YOU, CHAIR
FOSTER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I
ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME TODAY
ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WORDS
CANNOT EXPRESS HOW IT MAKES ME
FEEL SEEN AND VALUED AND JUST,
THANK YOU. WE ARE NOT WHO WE ARE
THAT THE PEOPLE STAND BEHIND US.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSIDER FOR DIRECTOR OF ARTS
AND CULTURE. AS HAS BEEN NOTED,
I BRING OVER A DECADE OF
EXPERIENCE LEADING COMPLEX
PUBLIC SECTOR WORK HERE IN
SEATTLE. I GOT MY START AT THE
CITY ON THIS FLOOR AS A
LEGISLATIVE AIDE. I HAVE
INNOVATED AND INFLUENCED
PROGRAMS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS, LEAD
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
REGULATORY AND ARM OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
AND I AM COMING BACK TO THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOR
THE THIRD TIME. ACROSS THESE
ROLES I HAVE MANAGED LARGE
PUBLIC BUDGETS, LEAD CROSS
DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES, AND WORK
CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITIES TO
DELIVER EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
OUTCOMES. THE APPOINTMENT
MATERIALS BEFORE YOU ARE PART OF
MY STORY. BUT IT DOESN'T CAPTURE
THE WHY. AND PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANT, MY VISION TO ADVANCE
THE MANDATE OF THIS OFFICE. MY
HOME IS SEATTLE. I WAS BORN IN
WHITE CENTER, WENT TO HIGH
SCHOOL IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT,
IN FACT AM JOINED BY SOME OF MY
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS IN THE
AUDIENCE NOW FROM NOVA. JUST
WANTED TO SHUT THAT OUT. AND I
CAN TELL YOU STORIES OF LOOKING
OUT ON JACKSON STREET AS A CHILD
FOR MY GRANDFATHERS, PLAYING
CARDS AT THE MAGIC DRAGON THE
23rd DURING LUNCH. WRITING THE
SEVEN AT NIGHT AFTER SPENDING
HOURS IN THE DARKROOM. IT
WASN'T UNTIL I LEFT SEATTLE AND
MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY TO PURSUE
MY UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE
DEGREE IN URBAN STUDIES AND
POLICY THAT I TRULY APPRECIATED
THE CITY THAT MADE ME. IT IS TO
LOVE PEOPLE AND PLACE. TO ASK,
HOW DO WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
GROWING CITY AND IMAGINE THE
FUTURE OF OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT?
AND NOT INVEST IN CULTURE AND
HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE
EVERYDAY. I BELIEVE ARTS AND
CULTURE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS ARTS
PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, TO
SUPPORT ECONOMIC VITALITY,
STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES, AND
HELPING PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES
REFLECTED IN THE CITY. IT IS
ABOUT EMBEDDING WHY AND
ENVISIONING A BETTER FUTURE
TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME. AND WHO BETTER TO BE AT
THAT HELM THAT ARTISTS AND
CREATIVE'S. AT THE SAME TIME, I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS REMAIN
REAL CHALLENGES FOR ARTISTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. PUBLIC
INVESTMENT FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
IS NOT PROPORTIONAL TO ECONOMIC
GENERATION OR ARE CIVIC VALUES.
YOU CAN LOOK AT DATA FROM THE
ARTS FUND LIVABILITY IMPACT
STUDY FOR THE ARTS. THAT PLACE
IS WASHINGTON STATE, FISCAL YEAR
2025, AT INVESTING JUST $.87 PER
CAPITA IN THE ARTS COMPARED TO A
2.99 NATIONAL AVERAGE. WHILE WE
HAVE A RELATIVELY STRONG LOCAL
FUNDING SYSTEM, THE NEEDS
CONTINUE TO GROW AS ARTISTS ,
CULTURAL WORKERS, SMALL, MEDIUM
AND LARGE ARTS CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS ARE PINCHED
FURTHER AND FURTHER. IF
CONFIRMED, I WILL FOCUS ON
STRONG STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC
RESOURCES. TRANSPARENT AND
EQUITABLE PROGRAM DELIVERY, AND
ENSURE THE OFFICES WORK WREATHS
REACHES ARTISTS IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD. WAS THE PORTLY
IT'S FIGHTING FOR ARTS AND
CULTURE AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE
THE CITY COLORFUL. I AM EXCITED
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD
THE DEPARTMENT AND TO PARTNER
WITH COUNCIL IN ADVANCING THIS
WORK. THANK YOU AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO CLAP. I'M NOT
GOING TO LIE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEPUTY
MAYOR AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
INTERIM DIRECTOR. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY
AND I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION WITH COLLEAGUES. I'M
GOING TO SHARE REALLY BRIEFLY,
YOU KNOW, THE REASON I'M SO
EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN FRONT OF
US AS A POTENTIAL APPOINTEE. YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE THREE THINGS
THAT REALLY STRUCK ME. MAYBE
FOUR. ONE WAS THE FIRST TIME WE
CONNECTED YOUR ZOOM BACKGROUND,
INCREDIBLE. SOME FOLKS HERE
KNOW. AND, AS WE ARE DOING CITY
BUSINESS AND TALKING ABOUT
IMPORTANT ARTS AND CULTURAL
WORK, YOU CAME THROUGH AS WELL
AS A HUMAN BEING. AND I FEEL
THAT TODAY. I WILL SAY I WAS SO
IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED BY THE
FACT THAT YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO
HAS BOTH A LOT OF HEART WHICH WE
CAN FEEL, BUT YOU ARE ALSO
COMING IN WITH THE DATA, THE
FACTS, I KNOW IN SOME OF HER
EARLIEST CONVERSATIONS I HAD
QUESTIONS FOR YOU AROUND
INVESTMENT NEEDS AND OUR
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND
READINESS TO ENGAGE IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. IN A WAY THAT WAS
THOUGHTFUL, CENTER THE PEOPLE
AND ALSO HAD INFORMATION IT WAS
IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSIVE. AND I
ALSO FEEL THE GRIT AND
DETERMINATION , EVEN WHEN WE MET
ON ZOOM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. AM REALLY
EXCITED FOR YOU. STEPPING
FORWARD, AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE. THESE JOBS ARE ABOUT
PUBLIC SERVICE AND I CAN TELL
THAT IN YOUR HEART. ALL RIGHT,
YOU GOT ME OFF MY TALKING
POINTS. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, I
WANT TO TURN TO YOU TO SEE IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU WOULD
LIKE TO BRING FOR INTERIM
NGUYEN. SPENDING TIME ANSWERING
QUESTIONS WE MAY HAVE TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, I WILL TURN TO YOU
FIRST. I HAVE SOME PREPARED
QUESTIONS TO GO THROUGH BUT I
WILL FIRST GIVE FOLKS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO POSE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR INTERIM NGUYEN.
ALL RIGHT. FIRST TWO
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
I WISH I GOT A PRICE FOR: I WISH I GOT A PRICE FOR
PUTTING MY HAND UP FIRST. IT'S
ALWAYS -- YOU NEVER KNOW. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MET WITH
INTERIM NGUYEN. JUST TO KIND OF
GO OVER SHARED PRIORITIES, GET
TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS I ASKED , AND WOULD
LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT TODAY
IS, SHE TOLD ME TO ASK THE HARD
QUESTIONS. OKAY? I DON'T THINK
THIS ONE IS HARD, BUT I TALK
ABOUT THE 3C'S OF SEATTLE,
COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND COMMERCE.
AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO EXPAND
ABOUT THE CREATIVE ECONOMY AND
ARTS AND WHAT YOU ENVISION AND
SEE THAT PLAYING INTO SEATTLE
INTERWOVEN INTO THE COMMERCE
PIECE. WE KNOW IT IS CULTURE,
BUT JUST THAT PIECE, THAT SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE, THAT IS MUCH NEEDED.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR THE
QUESTION. I ASKED YOU TO BRING
THE HARD ONES. I AM READY FOR
IT. BEFORE I JUMP INTO MY ANSWER
TO THIS, I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU, CHAIR, FOR NOW MY ZOOM
BACKGROUND. I WOULD BE REMISS IF
I DID NOT, FOR THE PUBLIC KNOW
THAT THAT BACKGROUND IS PART OF
OUR CIVIC COLLECTION FUNDED BY
THE 1% FOR THE ARTS. WE HAVE A
FANTASTIC REGISTRAR THAT MANAGES
THE COLLECTION. YOU TOO CAN LOOK
AT THE MUSEUM AND CHOOSE A
SELECTION OF YOUR OWN TO MAKE
YOUR BACKGROUND. WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, IT
IS SUCH AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES I AM
MOST EAGER IN THE NEXT 3.5
YEARS, IF I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LEAVE THIS
OFFICE, I HAVE HEARD THIS AGAIN
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN FROM
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS TO ARTIST
ORGANIZATIONS, TOO OFTEN ARTS
AND CULTURE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ARE TREATED AS
SEPARATE. AND WE HEAR FROM
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS THAT THEY ARE
SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE HEAR
FROM SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
CULTURE'S COMPETITIVE EDGE. IT
IS ABOUT A CONTINUOUSLY
COMPETITIVE MARKET AND ARTS AND
CULTURE IS HOW YOU GET PEOPLE TO
COME AND FREQUENT YOUR
BUSINESSES. IT IS ALSO ABOUT --
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
APPLICATIONS FOR IT. WHEN I
THINK ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE, I
HAVE A LOT OF DREAMS ON THE
MACRO BUT I THINK ABOUT WHAT IS
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR TO
THREE YEARS AND THIS OFFICE HAS
A LOT OF REALLY, TRULY FANTASTIC
PROGRAMS WITHIN IT. AND IT IS
TIME TO TURN UP THAT DIAL AND
PART OF THAT IS REALLY
PARTNERING STRATEGICALLY WITH
OUR SISTER DEPARTMENTS. AM VERY
EXCITED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY
WITH OUR SEATTLE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BRING
AND MARY THAT NEED FOR CREATIVE
ECONOMY TO LIVE AT THE
INTERSECTION OF MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS. AND OUR SECTOR
DESERVES THAT. I WANT TO GET
MORE GRANULAR AND ALSO PLANT
SOME SEEDS. WE ARE EXCITED TO
GET TO COMING FORWARD TO THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE NEXT MONTH,
WITH CULTURAL DISTRICT
LEGISLATION. CULTURAL DISTRICTS
IS A PROGRAM OF THE CITY THAT IS
ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE THAT WAS
FIRST PASSED IN 2014. IT HASN'T
HAD THAT INVESTMENT IN, FRANKLY,
INNOVATION, BUT IT CREATES A
FANTASTIC ROADMAP FOR US TO LEAD
INTO CREATIVE PLACE MAKING, BUT
MORE IMPORTANT, HOW WE CAN
CREATE MORE INTEGRATION TO YOUR
LITERACIES, COMMERCE. IT MAY
SEEM SMALL, BUT I HEAR IT AGAIN
AND AGAIN, TIME IS MONEY. HOW
CAN WE HAVE MORE EFFICIENCY
AROUND CULTURAL BAND-AIDS? I
ALSO WANT TO ASK, LET'S EXAMINE
OUR FUNDING MECHANISMS. WE KNOW
SO OFTEN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, CULTURAL
DISTRICTS , IT IS UNEQUAL. YOU
HAVE SOME THAT ARE DOING BETTER
AND SOME THAT ARE NOT. THIS IS A
PLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC SECTOR
DOES NEED TO INTERVENE. WE HAVE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LINK
PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND ARTS AND CULTURE. I'M
EXCITED TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
AND ASK THAT QUESTION AROUND,
CAN WE ACTUALLY CREATE MORE
BESPOKE ECONOMIC AND CREATIVE
STRATEGIES TO ENVISIONING THAT
FUTURE? WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE
MISSING FROM THE DANCE BETWEEN
LIMITED PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND
WHERE CAN WE ACTUALLY BE MORE
STRATEGIC ABOUT THAT SUBSIDY AND
ALSO REMOVE REGULATORY BARRIERS
-- SORRY, THAT WENT ON A BIT OF
ATTENTION. BUT, COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, AND VERY EXCITED
FOR WHAT WE HAVE TEED UP FOR
THIS COUNCIL IN THE COMING YEAR
. AND I WOULD SAY THAT OUR NEWLY
FORMED CREATIVE PEACEMAKING
DIVISION IS STEPPING IN THAT
DIRECTION OF MEETING
COMMUNITIES, CREATING THE
ACTIVATION AND THIRD SPACE . IT
CAN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. IT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN COORDINATION
WITH ALSO THE SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT MAKE OUR SEATTLE VIBRANT.
AWESOME. CHAIR, IF I MAY
FOLLOW-UP.
ABSOLUTELY: ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATED THAT
ANSWER THAT YOU GAVE YESTERDAY.
AS WELL. THAT WAS THE ONE THING
I KIND OF REALLY HONED ON
BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY
COMMUNITY HAS A BUSINESS
DISTRICT OR , YOU KNOW, A
FORMALIZED BUT EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A CULTURAL
CENTER. AND HAS ALL OF THIS
VIBRANCY. I REALLY APPRECIATED
THAT. AND THEN, ANOTHER THING,
THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A
QUESTION, BUT IS MORE OF A
COMMENT AND OBSERVATION TO WHEN
I AM LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES AND
TAKING BEST PRACTICES IN WHAT
THEY ARE DOING, AND ONE OF THE
CITIES I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED
WITH IS DETROIT. IN THE SENSE
THAT, OBVIOUSLY WE THINK OF
DETROIT AS THIS MUSIC HUB,
CULTURAL EPICENTER IT HAS THIS
HISTORICAL -- WITH MOTOWN AND
ALL THESE HISTORICAL FIGURES
THAT HAVE COME OUT OF DETROIT.
BUT, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN
THEIR DEVELOPMENT, JUST MOST
RECENTLY, HAS BEEN INVESTING IN
ARTISTS. LOCAL ARTIST DOING
MURALS, DOING PAINTINGS AND
ACTIVITIES AND ACTIVATION.
EVERYWHERE YOU TURN IN DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS THIS
ACTIVATION OF ART. JUST WANTED
-- IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
IT'S LIKE, HEY, THEY ARE JUST
INVESTING. AND REALLY, PUTTING A
LOT OF TIME AND ATTENTION.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WANT TO
ACTIVATE SPACES AND MAKE THEM
ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE AND --
ANYWAY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF
COMPLEXITIES THAT GO ON WITH
IMPLEMENTATION, BUT IT'S JUST A
SIMPLE INVESTMENT. SO THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR, I KNOW I HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS BUT I APPRECIATE YOU
ANSWERING THOSE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE
THAT. THE QUESTION AND THE
REFERENCE, I THINK IT'S
INCREDIBLE IMPORTANT. I'M GLAD
YOU SHARED THAT WITH US. I AM
HEADING OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. INTERIM
NGUYEN, MY STAFF HAS INFORMED ME
THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE
COOLEST . IN MY MATERIALS FOR
TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT
ON THE RECORD. AND NOTING YOUR
APPOINTED PACKET AS WELL,
ATTENDING OF A HIGH SCHOOL,
LIVING AND WORKING IN NEW
ORLEANS, NEW YORK, AND SERVING
ON LEADERSHIP ROLES FROM
WATERSHED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
ARTS, OPCD, SDOT, DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND AS A
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THIS
BODY, APPARENTLY HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN COOL. SO REALLY AGAIN,
EXCITED TO BE DISCUSSING YOUR
APPOINTMENT. I AM WONDERING IF
YOU CAN SPEAK TO HOW OUR
CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM SHAPED YOU
GROWING UP AND THE ROLE YOU HOPE
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
CAN PLAY IN ENSURING THAT THE
NEXT GENERATION OF AMY NGUYEN'S
CAN MAKE IT HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE QUESTION.
GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
UPLIFT AND SHOWCASE SO MANY OF
THE PEOPLE, PROGRAMS AND
INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE ME WHO I
AM. I DID THAT PLUG VERY BRIEFLY
TO MARK PERRY, MY FIRST U.S.
HISTORY TEACHER, BUT ALSO
MELISSA PARK IN THE AUDIENCE,
AND I THINK ABOUT THIS SO MUCH
CURRENTLY IN THIS TIME WHEN WE
HAVE SO MUCH HEIGHTENED , REAL
HEIGHTENED DANGER. AND I THINK
ABOUT IT FROM ALSO THE VANTAGE
POINT OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN
THAT I WOULDN'T BE WHO I AM
TODAY WITHOUT YOUTH ARTS
PROGRAMMING. I WOULDN'T BE WHO
I AM TODAY WITHOUT EDUCATORS AND
MENTORS WHO INVESTED IN ME. AND
THEY DIDN'T INVEST IN ME IN THE
TRADITIONAL WAY, IT WAS, HAVING
THAT TIME TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO
WOULD TALK TO ME. WHO WOULD
EXPOSE ME TO LITERATURE AND ART
, AND NOT TELL ME, THIS IS THE
MUSIC YOU SHOULD LISTEN TOO.
THIS IS THE MEDIUMS YOU SHOULD
DO. BUT EXPOSE ME AND THEN PUT
ME ON THE SPOT TO REACT. AND I
THINK ABOUT THAT. THAT IS
DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING
SKILLS. AND I FEEL THE PRIDE OF
THE TWO MONTHS OF COMING BACK TO
THIS OFFICE AND I THINK ABOUT
PROGRAMS THE CREATIVE ADVANTAGE
AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS . I REALLY
BELIEVE THAT IS THE BEST OF US.
THAT IS THE BEST OF US IN THIS
CITY. I THINK ABOUT OUR MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS. I THINK ABOUT
WHAT -- I THINK REGARDLESS BEING
A YOUNG PERSON IS TERRIBLE, IT .
BUT HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAT
IS NOW. AND, THE FEAR THAT WE
HAVE OF TECHNOLOGY AND A.I.,
REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU KIND OF
STAND ON THAT, BUT THE NEED FOR
MORE COLLECTIVE SOCIALIZATION.
AND THAT IS SO MUCH OF WHAT OUR
PRACTICE AND INVESTMENT IN
CULTURE CAN DO. YEAH, I COULD GO
ON AND ON, LIKE I SAID, I LOVE
PEOPLE. AND PLACE. AND I THINK
ABOUT SO MUCH THE STORIES THAT
MAKE US WHO WE ARE. IT IS THOSE
QUIET EVERY DAY RANDOM
WEDNESDAYS WHEN YOU'RE WALKING
DOWN CHERRY STREET IN THE SUN
HITS THAT BRANCH AND YOU SIT
DOWN AND YOUR WITH YOUR FRIENDS,
LIKE THAT WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE. AND IT WAS ALSO A
PERIOD WHEN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
WAS FACING -- IT STILL DOES, WE
SHOULD'VE MADE THE INVESTMENTS
IN THE 2000S TO ENSURE THAT THE
BLACK COMMITTEE WAS NOT
DISPLACED IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. AND I ASK MYSELF, WHAT
IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE TOMORROW
IF WE DON'T MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS INTO CULTURE NOW?
SPOKE BEAUTIFULLY PUT, THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND, BUILDING ON THIS
POINT, UNDERSTANDING THOUGH, THE
WORK OF THE CULTURAL ACTION
PLAN, I AM WONDERING HOW THAT
PLANNING WORK CAN INFORM AND
STRENGTHEN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IN
SO MANY WAYS ARTS SHOULD NOT BE
A SEPARATE -- IT TRULY NEEDS TO
BE INTEGRAL IN THE WORK OF MANY
IF NOT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. I
AM WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO
HOW THE WORK YOU ARE INTENDING
TO DO UNDER THE CULTURAL ACTION
PLAN CAN AGAIN INFORM OR
STRENGTHEN THE WORK OF OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
ABSOLUTELY. I LOVE THIS
QUESTION, THANK YOU. I'M NOT
SAYING ANYTHING THAT I THINK IS
CONTROVERSIAL. WE HAVE WONDERFUL
LEGACY OF PRODUCING A LOT OF
REPORTS. I HAD THE HONOR OF
SERVING ON THE MAYOR'S ARTS
CULTURE AND CREATIVE ECONOMY
TRANSITION COMMITTEE. THE
CONSISTENT AT EVERY SINGLE TOUCH
POINT WE HAD, I WOULD SAY, ONE
TO FIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WOULD
SAY, CAN YOU JUST ACTUALLY DO
WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO
DO IN THAT 2019 REPORT? COULD
YOU DO WHAT YOU DID IN THE 2022,
2023 REPORT? SO, A PART OF THIS
COMMITMENT TO REALLY A CULTURAL
ACTION PLAN IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE CAN'T KEEP ASKING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TELL US THE
SAME THING. WE NEED TO SHIFT
INTO ACTION. WE NEED TO SHOW --
WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE IT
OPERATIONAL AND LAMENTABLE AND
IT HAS BEEN TOO MANY YEARS OF
FRANKLY, STUDYING, I LOVE
STUDYING, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO
SHIFT OUR FOCUS , THERE WILL BE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EMBEDDED
INTO THIS. TAKING WHAT WE HAVE
HEARD OVER THE YEARS AND PUTTING
THAT INTO, WHAT IS THE
STEP-BY-STEP THAT THIS OFFICE
NEEDS AND WHAT SISTER
DEPARTMENTS NEED TO BE IN
ALIGNMENT TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN HEARING CONSISTENTLY.
AND I DO BELIEVE, JUST TO GIVE
YOU A TASTE OF SOME OF THAT
EXCITEMENT, WHAT THAT REALLY
TRANSLATES TO, IT'S LIKE,
GREAT, ANOTHER PLAN, WE NEED
THAT RIGOR TO HOLD US
ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN I SAY
OPERATIONALIZE AND IMPLEMENT,
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
AT LENGTH, CULTURAL SPACE, THE
NEED FOR CULTURAL SPACE. WE
HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DIVE INTO SO MANY OF THE
EXISTING PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITIES OR PROGRAMS THAT
INVEST IN CULTURAL SPACE ACROSS
THE CITY AND UNITE IT WITH A
CORD NEEDED STRATEGIC APPROACH.
I HAVE HEARD THIS DURING MY TIME
WITH OPCD OVER THE EQUITABLE
ELEMENT INITIATIVE. IT'S LIKE,
GREAT, YOU GAVE US RESOURCES BUT
CAN YOU TALK TO SDOT AND BECAUSE
I'M STILL WAITING TWO YEARS FOR
THE PERMANENT. THERE'S SO MUCH
WE CAN DO TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES
AND THAT IS ABOUT PUBLIC
SERVANTS ADDING UP AND TALKING
TO THE PUBLIC SERVANTS. THAT IS
WHAT I'M EXCITED TO DO.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT: REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
RESPONSE. CHAIR, IF I MAY, I
HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION FOR
TODAY. IT KIND OF REFLECTS THE
PUBLIC COMMENT WE HEARD TODAY,
JUST HEARING DIRECTLY FROM
WORKING ARTISTS. I KNOW, IN MY
WORK, ONCE UPON A TIME I WAS A
KID'S ARTS TEACHER, CERAMICS
AND SCULPTURE. MINIMUM WAGE BUT
ONE OF THE COOLEST JOBS I EVER
HAD. I KNOW THE ARTS FOR ME
GROWING UP WAS MY SAFE SPACE.
BUT, IT CAN BE TREMENDOUSLY HARD
TO MAKE IT AS A WORKING ARTIST
IN THIS CITY OR SOMEONE WORKING
WITHIN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY. I
AM WONDERING, AS A FINAL NOTE,
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR
WORKING ARTISTS THAT ARE TRAINED
TO MAKE IT IN THIS CITY THAT IS
FACING SO MANY OF PORTABILITY
CHALLENGES?
I WOULD START BY SAYING: I WOULD START BY SAYING
YOU'RE NOT ALONE. I THINK A BIG
CHALLENGE WITH AMERICAN CULTURE
IS , THIS IS THE SUBSET OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT IF YOU DO NOT
SUCCEED IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT.
BUT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS THAT ARE
STRUGGLING AND WORKING, YOU SAID
IT, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
AFFORDABILITY IS MACRO. IT'S
THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO
DO BETTER, TO SERVE ITS PEOPLE.
I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT. I
THINK ABOUT HOW OFTEN ARTISTS,
ARTS AND CULTURE, TO YOUR POINT,
ARE SEGMENTED AS AN ISLAND. BUT
ARTISTS ARE ALSO, THEY ARE
TAXPAYERS. FROM DEBBIE NINE AND
1099 PERSPECTIVES. BUT THEY ARE
PARENTS. MOTHERS, CHILDREN, THEY
FIT SO MANY DIFFERENT
CROSS-SECTIONS OF WHO WE SERVE.
AND, I ALSO HEAR THIS QUITE
OFTEN. WHEN YOU WORK WITHIN THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY YOU ARE AN
ARTIST AND CULTURAL WORKER, YOU
TAKE WHICH CAN GET. AND I WANT
TO PUSH AND SAY, ASK, DEMAND
MORE OF ME IN THIS POSITION IF
I'M SO LUCKY, DEMAND MORE OF
YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. YOU ARE
ENTITLED TO THAT SERVICE. YOU'RE
ENTITLED TO MATTER. JUST AS WE
SAY HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT,
ARTS AND CULTURE IS THE WHY, WHY
DO WE BUILD BUILDINGS IF WE ARE
NOT THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN THEM?
BEAUTIFULLY PUT. PUTTING THE
SERVANT AND PUBLIC SERVANT OUT.
I THANK YOU FOR THOSE ANSWERS TO
MY QUESTIONS. I'M EXCITED TO
ADVANCE THIS APPOINTMENT. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH,
INTERIM NGUYEN. I GET TO ASK A
FEW MY OWN QUESTIONS. IT IS A
PLEASURE, IT'S GENERALLY A
PLEASURE TO GET YOU HERE TO
REFLECT AND THINK ABOUT THE WAY
THAT OUR CITY IS CONNECTED .
THAT ARTISTS ARE JUST ARTISTS ,
THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND
THEY RIDE THE BUS, ET CETERA. AS
WELL AS THE CONNECTION TO
COMMITTEE. I WANT TO TURN A
LITTLE MORE INTO DISPLACEMENT. I
WOULD LOVE IF YOU CAN SHARE WITH
US STRATEGIES YOU THINK ARE
IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF
ARTISTS AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS MOMENT AS
A CITY.
ABSOLUTELY. I AM GOING TO TRY
TO -- THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE THINGS I GET MOST PASSIONATE
ABOUT. JEFF FOSTER, I WILL TRY
TO KEEP IT MORE CONCISE. ARTS
AND CULTURE, ARTISTS HAVE BEEN
LEFT OFF OF THE REAL ESTATE
PRE-DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATIONS.
IT IS OFTEN ARTISTS ARE BROUGHT
IN AT THE END. BUT IF WE WERE TO
ADDRESS , TAKE HOUSING
PORTABILITY , AND CENTER WHAT IT
IS FOR ARTISTS AND ARTIST
COMMUNITIES TO LIVE THERE, THE
ENTIRE PIPELINE WILL LOOK
DIFFERENT. NOT ONLY, I WOULD
TAKE THE ARGUMENT OF EVEN THE
CAPITAL STAFF LOOK DIFFERENTLY
INTO THE FINAL PRODUCT OF,
ANYWAY, SORRY, I'M GOING TO'S
THE CONTRACT. I GET VERY
PASSIONATE. WHEN I THINK ABOUT
WHAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR NEEDS TO
DO ON ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, WE HAVE
TO ACT NOW , WE ARE LATE, WE ARE
BEHIND. WE WILL LOSE THE ARTISTS
WE HAVE NOW IF WE DON'T INVEST
IN THE PIPELINE FOR FUTURE
ARTISTS. BUT ALSO, RECOGNIZING
THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN BUILT THE
ECOSYSTEM FOR ARTISTS TO HAVE
FAMILIES AND THAT COMES DOWN TO
HOW MUCH WE HAVE DELIVERED ON
ONE BEDROOMS AND TWO BEDROOMS
AND THEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT
IS TO CREATE SPACE. HOW LITTLE
AFFORDABLE STUDIO SPACE THERE
IS. AND THAT IS BEST REFLECTED
IN WATERSHED COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, EQUINOX STUDIOS,
THAT FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 1% TO 3%
VACANCY ON COMMERCIAL STUDIO
SPACE. THAT IS AMAZING TO HAVE
THAT. I LISTEN TO THAT AND I GO,
WE NEED MORE. THAT LEVEL OF
VACANCY, ESPECIALLY AT THAT
RATE, THAT IS A KEY INDICATOR OF
DEMAND. SORRY, WHAT IS THE FULL
QUESTION? I WANT TO MAKE SURE --
YOU ASKED FOR SOLUTIONS. WHAT WE
CAN DO MORE OF.
I WAS TEEING YOU UP TO GO: I WAS TEEING YOU UP TO GO
OFF. LET ME BRING IT BACK. I
THINK THE REASON I WANTED TO
BRING THIS QUESTION, WE'VE HAD
INTERESTING CONVERSATION
ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
PROTECTING AND PAYING ATTENTION
TO THE NEED IN OUR ART COMMUNITY
AND IN PARTICULARLY TO MAKE SURE
OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE
STABILITY. THAT IS PART OF WHAT
I HAD IN MIND WAS ASKING THAT
QUESTION. OFTEN WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
AS WE SHOULD AND IS WE WILL
CONTINUE TOO. IT IS ALSO, I
BELIEVE, IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE INVESTING IN PRESERVING
OUR INSTITUTIONS. I WAS TRYING
TO TO YOU UP FOR COMMENTS AROUND
OUR ARTS AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS AND THE
PRESERVATION.
THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. I WENT OFF THE
RAILS. I REALIZE THAT. ONE OF
THE -- I AM GOING TO GO INTO ONE
OF THE VERY MANY FANTASTIC
PROGRAMS THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE HAS. BUT MORE TO
DEMONSTRATE THE NEEDS COMPONENT.
WE IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM CALLED
THE CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND.
AND THIS PROGRAM HAS, IN THE
PREVIOUS CYCLE, WE WERE ABLE TO
GRANT $400,000, THAT IS NOTHING
, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
AND ACTUALLY WE ARE ABLE TO
CALCULATE WHAT THE CAPITAL NEEDS
WERE FOR IT, IT WAS UPWARDS OF
$90 MILLION. $400,000 TO THE $90
MILLION NEEDS OF IT, WE NEED TO
DO MORE. WE NEED TO INVEST MORE.
THE RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE
LIMITED PUBLIC DOLLARS PUSHES ME
TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS WITHIN
OUR EXISTING TOOLKIT THAT WE CAN
LEVERAGE AND HAVE BETTER
INTEGRATION WITH? AND, ALSO
THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE
MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE WITHIN OUR CONTROL? ONE
OF THE THINGS I'M INTERESTED IN
BUILDING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS
IS SEEING HOW WE CAN HAVE ARTS
AND CULTURE BE POSITIONED TO BE
BETTER PARTNERS WITHIN EXISTING
CAPITAL DEPARTMENTS. THAT MEANS
WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, THERE IS SO
MUCH EXCITEMENT THAT WAS
EMBEDDED WITHIN SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN AROUND
PEOPLE STREETS. AROUND WAYS OF
ACTIVATION THAT IS A PERFECT
MARRIAGE FOR US IN THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE TO BE
DELIVERING FOR CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS AND ADVOCATING FOR
THEM TO GET THE INVESTMENTS THEY
NEED IN CAPITAL OUTSIDE OF THE
FACILITIES. WE HAVE A FIGHT IN
FRONT OF US TO ENSURE THAT THE
PUBLIC SECTOR IS PLAYING ITS
ROLE AND ALSO STABILIZING THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTS AND
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY FINAL
QUESTION, I AM OBVIOUSLY PART OF
THE ROLE FOR THE ARTS AND
CULTURE DIRECTOR IS TO HAVE A
VISION, IS TO BE ABLE TO
COLLABORATE AND WORK ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS . IT HAS BEEN A
PLEASURE TO HEAR YOU SPEAK ABOUT
THAT TODAY. I WANT TO ASK YOU TO
CLOSE UP BY SPEAKING ABOUT YOUR
ROLE AS LEADER OF THE STAFF
TEAM. WE KNOW THE CITY IS MADE
UP OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING REALLY HARD, WHETHER
THAT IS ARE GRANTS MANAGERS, OUR
FACILITIES FOLKS, KINGSTREE,
WHETHER THAT IS ANY OF THE OTHER
FABULOUS FOLKS IN THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE. AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK YOU TO SPEAK BRIEFLY
TO HOW YOU THINK ABOUT ENSURING
SUCCESS OF YOUR TEAM FROM A
MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
ABSOLUTELY. I THINK ABOUT --
THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME IN A
QUOTE" NUMBER ONE ROLE. AND I AM
PROUD TO HAVE STARTED AND
PROGRESSIVELY BEEN ABLE TO MOVE
UP IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
ROLE IN FOR TO BE. I SAY THAT TO
PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT WE ARE
NOTHING WITHOUT OUR STAFF. OUR
STAFF ARE THE ONES THAT ARE
GETTING THE WORK DONE. IT IS THE
STAFF THAT ARE THE HEART OF OUR
CITY. PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE NOT
JUST PUBLIC SERVANTS. THEY ARE
THE ONES THAT, I AM PROUD OF
THIS OFFICE BECAUSE SO MANY OF
OUR STAFF ARE ARTISTS
THEMSELVES. AND A BIG PART OF MY
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES COME FROM
A PLACE OF KNOWING THAT , AND
THIS GOES BACK TO MY FEELINGS ON
AMERICAN INDIVIDUALISM, I
BELIEVE IN THE COLLECTIVE AND I
BELIEVE IN INCREASING THE
KNOWLEDGE OF OUR STAFF TO MOVE
THIS FORWARD . TO MOVE THIS WORK
FORWARD, BECAUSE OUR SECTOR
NEEDS IT. AND HOW DOES THAT SHOW
UP IN PRACTICE? THIS OFFICE HAS
GONE THROUGH SO MUCH INNOVATION
AND CHANGE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR AND THE
STAFF FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME,
ENERGY THEY PUT INTO DEVELOPING
A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT FOCUSED
REALLY INTERNALLY AND IS ALSO
AVAILABLE ONLINE IF YOU WANT TO
READ IT, -- AND FOR ME COMING IN
AS A LEADER HERE IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO NOT BE AN AGENT OF
CHAOS. WE NEED TO CREATE MORE
STABILITY, RESILIENCY, SO THAT
IS MY PRIORITY WITHIN THIS YEAR.
STABILITY AND RESILIENCY.
TRUSTING MY STAFF. BECAUSE THEY
KNOW BETTER FROM PUBLIC ART TO
CREATIVE PLACE MAKING,
PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS. AND
ALSO BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT WHERE
MY TIME IS INVESTED. I SEE MY
MANDATE AS , I NEED TO OPEN THE
DOORS SO THAT WE ARE AT THE
TABLES WE HAVE BEEN MISSING
BEFORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO CHECK THAT
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
FROM COLLEAGUES. AND, SEEING
NONE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR THE TIME AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE. MY OFFICE, JUST TO
REDIRECT, WE WILL HANDLE A
REQUEST TO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO INTERIM
NGUYEN AND WE PLAN TO HOLD AT
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE HEARING. WITH
THAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY. COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, THIS CONCLUDES THE APRIL
8, 22026 OF THE HOUSING, ARTS,
AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE. OUR
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS APRIL
22. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.