The five-day schedule is filled with exhibits, performances, networking, speakers, classes and workshops. Check out their conference website for details.

I’m keen on a proposal Cascade Land Conservancy is advancing in Olympia.  It aligns with the work we do here at 4Culture. We have spectacular landscape and agricultural heritage in this region and this proposal sounds like a powerful tool for preserving that heritage. In addition, it sounds like this program would provide financing for infrastructure projects that are driven by local cultural priorities.  Priorities like affordable housing, for example.

Hive mind go. If you’re interested in methods for expressing local culture in land use planning and infrastructure development, this is something you might like to be aware of and or have a think or ask around about.

Via Cascade Land Conservancy:

Revitalizing our communities while conserving our farms and forests

This legislative session, Senator Scott White and Representative Larry Springer introduced legislation that could drastically improve the future of our region. It creates an innovative, new program that will link the future of our communities with the conservation of rural landscapes. The Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program, SB 5253 and HB 1469, is an opportunity for cities to have access to financing for crucial infrastructure improvements while at the same time conserving our forests and farms.

So how does it work? Well, nothing this great can be simple.

If passed, this voluntary program will allow cities to borrow funding for public improvements and pay back the loan with future tax revenue generated by the new community revitalization projects. In exchange for receiving access to this funding cities will participate in a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program and accept more development into their cities.

Cascade Land Conservancy, one of the main proponents of the bill, has become a national leader in developing TDR programs at the state and local level. TDR provides owners of farms and forests an alternative means of realizing the development potential of their land without developing it. It does this by separating the legal ability to build on a given property – called a “development right” – and redirects that potential development to areas more suitable for population growth. Through individual, voluntary transactions, development rights are thus sold by rural landowners to developers. The developers then use the rights to create more compact housing and commercial areas in neighborhoods that can better accommodate growth.

Landowners can easily see the benefits of participating in a TDR program. They continue to own their land and operate it as a farm or working forest, and additionally they realize their land’s development value. Developers receive incentives that increase the economic viability and bottom line of their project.

The current challenge to fully realizing the potential of this TDR market is a limited number of participating cities. Growing cities need to upgrade and expand local infrastructure like streets, sidewalks, bike lanes and parks, but local governments in Washington have very few options for funding and financing these improvements. Current budget challenges only exacerbate these challenges. If we want residents to live in our current communities rather than sprawl out into our working and natural lands, we must ensure that cities have the capacity to support and attract a growing population.

Combining the concepts of TDR and local infrastructure financing, the Landscape Conservation and Local Infrastructure Program provides a dynamic “win-win” for our communities. The program is an opportunity for our region’s cities and counties to work together to protect the lands that provide us all with clean drinking water, locally grown food and unparalleled places to recreate and enjoy nature, while at the same time investing in the future of our communities, creating jobs and jumpstarting local economies.

Both House and Senate versions of the bill have enjoyed broad support and continue to move through the process. For more information, please contact Leda Chahim, Government Affairs Manager at the Cascade Land Conservancy at 206.905.6922 or led...@cascadeland.org.

Via Wooster Collective:

From Patrick:

Another day without a dollar.

Many small independent mom and pop businesses have been closing up left and right all across the United States. All that is left behind is a cold empty vacant space. Martinez utilizes the space to engage the viewer or passer by on the street with a colorful visual dialog and touching on what people are going through finically during the current recession. Painting portraits of his own parents and placing the words ” trying to make a dollar out of 14 (16) cents.” over the paintings in bright saturated neon letters. Remixing typical Los Angeles neon signs and introducing the traditional painting element into the mix.

Check out what artists in this area are doing with vacant storefronts

Were it not for this post at the local youth culture blog WHAT THE HIPSTER?!, I would not have heard…

the royal spanish academy is making the executive decision to simplify spanish by eliminating two letters from the language. 450 million speak spanish, hella most of which do not live in spain…

The poster is none other than Hollis Wong-Wear, local culture dynamo any way you want to look at it (ya, all those are just some more of her projects & affiliations – which also happens to work out as a great list of resources for the youths in your life.)  In the post,  “Magical Realism in Action,” Hollis grabs 180 words and serves us up fresh commentary connecting the literary movement, the news, and her own critical take straight out of Seattle, WA, people.  She continues:

i’m not trying to hate necessarily— some of my best friends are spanish—but can we stop deluding ourselves into thinking imperialism isn’t still thriving in our globalized 21st century age? who said *you* still get to make the rules? language is the backbone of culture…

Read the whole post and more from the WTH?! team:  Advancing Conversation About Culture in King County, Washington.

OneAmerica is having an Immigrant Resource Fair this Saturday.  I want to make sure that people know that this is going on, especially in light of the fact that it is getting harder and harder for communities in need to access services right now.  This is a free and unique opportunity for immigrants and refugees to get valuable information as well as sign up for services on the spot.  The fair is open to anyone but is especially geared towards low-income immigrants and refugees living in the  city of Seattle. If you fit in this demographic or work in/with a community that does, please help me to spread the word.  If you are interested in volunteering at the fair, it is also not too late to sign up :)

R.

DETAILS:

OneAmerica and the Washington New Americans Program will hold a Resource Fair for immigrants and refugees through funding from the City of Seattle’s Human Services and a partnership with the Parks Department.  The primary focus of the event is to provide information on:

• The benefits of citizenship
• How to become a citizen
• Where to go to receive assistance with citizenship
• Information on how to access benefits and resources, such as child care, energy and utilities assistance, financial literacy, health care and services, senior services, tenants’ rights, etc.
• How to participate in civic life

There will be workshops and panel discussions on these topics throughout the day and numerous community organizations and city representatives will have informational booths.

The Fair will be held at Garfield Community Center from 10:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday, November 13^th. Interpretation and food will be provided to attendees.  The Fair will be FREE for all attendees.  If you are interested in attending and would like more information, please call (206) 452-8425.

For more information and if you are interested in volunteering or participating in the Fair, please contact Jennifer Chan at Jenn...@weareoneamerica.org.  Posters in multiple languages are available here.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Do It At Washington Hall

Deadline June 9, 2010 5:00pm PST

Historic Seattle and 4Culture are requesting proposals from individuals, groups, or businesses who would like to use Washington Hall. Here’s how you can get involved with Washington Hall:

•    Hold a one-time event, workshop, or meeting at Washington Hall
•    Apply for a Short-Term Residency (rent office space, present a workshop series or season of programming, offer a regular class, etc)
•    Apply to be an Anchor Tenant, joining a collective who will determine space use and management as well as the fundraising

We’re providing three forms in the Request for Proposals to help organize the conversation but the bottom line is: we want to hear from you!  Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions and ideas, or if you feel there is something that doesn’t fit the form.

Read more, download the Guidelines, submit your form:

Questions or more information about the RFP, contact: Sara Edwards, Sara...@4Culture.org

PS
Washington Hall is available now (for rentals pre-November 2010) on a case-by-case basis.  Email rent...@gmail.com for short-term requests.

We hope to hear from you!

Thanks so much to all of you who came out to the Washington Hall House Party!  We wanted to give you a shout-out to let you know three things:

1.  You’re looking might funny ..er… fine!  The Washington Hall House Party photobooth photos are now online and available for free!

2.  The hall is one of many awesome regional projects competing for some big money from American Express & the National Trust for Historic Preservation.    Check out the great list of options and cast a vote for your favorite once every day until May 12.

3.  And last but not least, we know you have your ear to the ground and we wanted you to know how folks can get involved with Washington Hall – hold your event, get a residency, become a long-term partner and help shape its future.  Do It At Washington Hall: Request for Proposals open NOW through June 9 Please help spread the word about this opportunity!

Thank you for making Washington Hall so very warm again

Best,
the Washington Hall crew

www.washingtonhall.org
http://www.facebook.com/WashingtonHall

UPDATE: The application deadline has been extended to Friday, March 19th (and Shunpike is doing one in King County, and another in Pierce County!)

WHAT IS ARTS LEADERSHIP LAB?

The mission of Arts Leadership Lab (ALL) is to recognize and empower arts practitioners as valuable, effective partners in the community development of the Puget Sound region. Under the stewardship of 4Culture, ALL was founded in late 2006 as the Emerging Arts Leaders of King County, a group connected to the national Emerging Leaders Network coordinated by Americans for the Arts; in 2008 the group re-formed as Arts Leadership Lab, led by the Core Team, and in early 2010, ALL moved to its new home as a program of Shunpike.

KEY ACTIVITIES

ALL’s main work has been to produce monthly panels, presentations and networking events that focus on issues and opportunities concerning the cultural ecology of our region.

The Core Team produces one of each of the following public events every quarter:

*Accountability in the Arts – Seminars in best practices for arts management

*Creative Conversations – Forums/panels on issues impacting arts and culture (e.g. space, technology, advocacy, etc.)

*SPIKE’d/ALL Out – Happy hour networking events

Beginning in 2010, the Core Team will also produce and host an “UnConference,” a half-day of short presentations by innovators in cultural ecology.

THE CORE TEAM

The ALL Core Team is an 18-month professional development, peer learning and community building opportunity that asks: What are the major opportunities of our time? How can art makers, managers and supporters be effective partners in pursuing them? Eight – 12 selected participants govern ALL and collaborate to discover new opportunities for innovation in arts leadership. Shunpike provides the Core Team with administrative support and guidance in programming.

For more information about becoming a part of the CORE TEAM, CLICK HERE to download the application.

We had a great time at the Washington Hall info sessions this November. Thanks to all the lovely, super smart folks who joined us, including neighborhood advocates, artists, historic preservation buffs, local religious leaders, design professionals, and – awesome surprise – two Danish men who, it turns out, had lived at Washington Hall upon first arriving in the U.S. in the 1950′s. (The Danish Brotherhood built the hall in 1908 to accommodate performance, dance and meeting space, as well as provide transitional housing for new immigrants.)

There were great questions about upcoming code requirements, stories about memories of the space, good conversation about visions for the future.

Interesting Fact: Did you know Washington Hall was on the McCarthy-era HUAC list as a site of “subversive activities”? During their tenure as managers of the space, the Danish Brotherhood opened the hall to many groups – like the Young Communists, the Black Panthers, and the American Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born – when other halls would not. I loved learning that.

—

Interested in the future of this historic, Central District community space?

Come chat with us at the next Info Session on Monday, December 14, 6 pm at Washington Hall (153 – 14th Ave, Seattle, WA)

Or, check out a PDF version of the presentation.

Stay in touch: email Sara...@4Culture.org with questions or to be added to the Washington Hall Updates List.

Photo: 2009, Historic stage at Washington Hall, photo courtesy Dan Hawkins

Calling all historical museums, arts and heritage organizations, and local arts agencies in King County, Washington.

December 7th is the deadline to apply for the 4Culture Sustained Support funding program. The Sustained Support Program seeks to provide predictable levels of financial support to organizations who maintain a consistent level of programmatic activity, community impact and organizational stability. In 2009, we distributed $1,883,000 to over 240 organizations through the Sustained Support Program.

If you’ve applied to 4Culture before, you’ll notice some changes to the application process this year. We’re proud to introduce our new online application system! Apply today and take it for a spin!

Click here for information about the Arts Sustained Support Program

Click here for information about the Heritage Sustained Support Program

Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Delridge Day © 2008

Climate: As we face economic development challenges, now more than ever, public support for culture is expanding to reflect the deep interdependence of arts & entertainment (from professional to amateur), local business, built environment and everyday neighborhood culture. In his February 16 article, Is this any time to increase arts funding?, David Brewster reflects on this current climate:

In his 2008 book, How Greed and Neglect Have Destroyed Our Cultural Rights, [Obama adviser and former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Bill Ivey] argues for shifting funding from major institutions to the “expressive life” of communities and the more indigenous American cultural forms. This is dramatic stuff, for it would mean less emphasis on fine-arts institutions such as museums and more on getting money to where culture actually happens. Here’s how Andras Szanto puts it in a fascinating article in The Art Newspaper:

“Ivey is hardly alone in pushing beyond traditional notions of high culture. He represents a new school of arts-policy thinking that places value on hitherto underappreciated, amateur, community-based, digitally-mediated, often commercial arts—the kind of creative pursuits, in short, which most Americans enjoy. This broadening of perspective would constitute the biggest shift in policy since the implementation of large-scale cultural support in the post-war era.”

While I don’t think community arts and major institutions should be placed at odds (in fact they feed each other), CODAC has been driven by this same tide of interest in finding new ways to support America’s many cultures on their own terms. Through CODAC, Seattle is looking for ways to support physical space for the fluid, everyday, community-based arts that have driven the character of neighborhoods like Central Area, Georgetown and Capitol Hill.

What: CODAC is an advisory committee created by Seattle City Council with the lead sponsorship of Councilmembers Nick Licata and Sally Clark. Council created CODAC in response to a series of events establishing growing consensus that new land use planning and policy tools can help neighborhoods successfully retain and develop beloved local cultural amenities. (Watch a film of the culminating rally / special meeting of City Council and read the Seattle Times article leading for it.)

Why: Cultural Overlay Districts can help the city achieve its economic development, social services, & smart growth goals. We all value places of assembly. Places to hang out, express, organize and define ourselves. Increasingly, business owners, developers, property/land owners recognize the value of these places while Cities recognize their multiple public benefits. At the same time, these places are coming under considerable pressure related to rising property values.

Culturally relevant community spaces are a critical ingredient in successful urban density. Cultural infrastructure, affordable housing, open space and social services, are all key strategies that help mitigate the impacts of gentrification on existing residents in our urban neighborhoods. Through projects like Living Cities, an urban development funding partnership established by 19 of the world’s largest foundations, and the “Sustainable Communities Initiative,” a joint project of the federal HUD and DOT that has set a goal of seeing “every major metropolitan area in the country conduct integrated housing, transportation, and land use planning and investment in the next four years,” we are seeing that districts are increasingly recognized as a particularly effective scale for coordinated community infrastructure development and revitalization.

The CODAC’s district-based regulatory, zoning and financing recommendations can be a model for local governments throughout our region who are increasingly looking to cultural spaces to serve as critical anchors in their own sustainable economic development and land use planning. CODAC proposes innovations that systemically account for the value the creative industries drive in neighborhoods, giving cultural infrastructure advocates an empowered seat at the table of regional planning and development.

Outcome: There are many ways to support local culture at a policy level that should continue to be pursued. CODAC’s mandate is specifically to look at creating a program available to any neighborhood during the neighborhood planning process. The program would allow establishing a district in your neighborhood to incentivize and concentrate attractive amenities of the neighborhood’s choosing. On Capitol Hill, for example, it could mean placing an arts & entertainment overlay district on Broadway to lead revitalization and meet the community’s demands for maintaining Capitol Hill’s legacy as an accessible place for fringe arts & entertainment.

The CODAC’s proposal includes the formation of cultural districts, the expansion of incentive zoning to encompass cultural uses, and the creation of a city position to facilitate cultural development. Seattle is a national leader in this work.

Currently: CODAC is charged with making recommendations to the City in April 2009 that will be the basis of legislation.

Challenges & Opportunities: What is the niche / value-added of the CODAC project to other existing policies and organizing? How will this fit with the neighborhood planning process? There’s so much action and planning surrounding light rail station areas…

How can we grow the capacity to ensure these new CODAC tools can be put to use right away?

What challenges and opportunities do you see?

Guest blogger Sabrina Roach, Development & Outreach Director at KBCS 91.3 Community Radio,

What if we had a mix of public and privately owned neighborhood media centers where people could build skills across platforms – like recording studio engineering, video making, and writing for the stage, print, broadcast, and online?

I’ve been thinking about what might happen if we further resourced community based media in our county and at the city level. It could be incorporated into Parks and Rec departments and into the work of existing arts, culture, and heritage organizations.

Would it further amplify art, cultural expression, and stories about our heritage? Would it be a useful way to facilitate connection and cultural inquiry in our digital age? I think so.

Fast and light versions could start now, as portable digital equipment is inexpensive and many of our libraries and community centers have available meeting rooms for workshops. Video and sound files could be posted to linked Web sites serving as community media hubs. DVDs and CDs could be produced and presented at community listening parties with food. This could help us break out of our silos where parallel work often evolves separately…theory aside, who doesn’t love a good party?

Many businesses and community based organizations are already doing work similar to this in our county. I have some favorites like KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio (where I work), Jack Straw Productions, Youth Media Institute at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Northwest Film Forum, OseaO, Hidmo Eritrean Cuisine, and the Museum of History and Industry.

One collaborative project I was involved with recently went some of the distance, but could have had even more broad-based community involvement using some of these ideas.

On November 17th, 206 Zulu, KBCS 91.3 FM, and Youngstown produced “Zulu Radio Live” as Zulu Nation celebrates November as Hip Hop history month. Prior to the event, producers Hollis Wong-Wear and Danny Kogita interviewed folks representing local Hip Hop’s past, present, and future at the KBCS studios in Bellevue.

Cham Ba, Janice Kang, and Huyen Nguyen of Youth Media Institute then used equipment at Youngstown to edit the interviews into a short audio feature which aired on KBCS in advance of the event. 206 Zulu used the same content to produce segments which aired during the live broadcast.

Next time, I’d like us to hold a few workshops where local Hip Hop artists (who likely already know how to record and edit themselves) interviewed each other about what happened “back in the day”, now, or where they hope to see the local scene go.

It was a good time as it was. Let’s make community based media happen more often. Email me at sro...@kbcs.fm. Let’s talk.

City design equals community, and community equals political perspective. Therefore, how you build your community defines your local politics. Interesting, eh? Kind of puts your neighborhood planning process into a new light…