Posted by Stephanie Cameron on October 19, 1999 at 01:12:37:
SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Release Date: October 18, 1999
Contact: Amy Painter, Public Information Director
(206) 684-7306 (phone); 684-7172 (fax)
amy.painter@ci.seattle.wa.us
Address: Seattle Arts Commission
312 First Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109-4501
http://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.us/seattle/sac/home/htm
Seattle Arts Commission and City Housing Office Present
a Citywide Public Forum:
"Affordable Live/Work Housing for Artists"
Seattle, WA ¯ The City of Seattle is committed to helping Seattle artists find secure, affordable space in
which to live and work. "One of the best measures of our quality of life is a vibrant arts community,"
according to Mayor Paul Schell. "Seattle's affordable housing crisis affects all working people, none more
so than artists who often have unique space needs. This is a world-class city with a world-class arts
scene, and it is vital that we provide a supportive environment. That means affordable living and working
space for every artist."
In order to provide artists with live/work space resources, to solicit their recommendations, and to explore
present and future live/work space development projects, Mayor Paul Schell and Councilmembers Peter
Steinbrueck and Nick Licata are hosting a half-day forum. The "Affordable Live/Work Housing for Artists"
forum will be held on Friday, October 29 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at Town Hall (1119 8th Avenue, at 8th and
Seneca). The forum is designed for artists as well as developers, affordable housing advocates,
neighborhood planners, elected officials, financiers, policymakers and interested citizens.
According to Seattle Arts Commission Executive Director, Wendy Ceccherelli, "Affordability affects not only
artist live/work space, but also rehearsal, storage, meeting, studio, performance and administrative space.
This type of space is rapidly disappearing."
The forum will address questions such as: How the City is responding to the need for affordable live/work
space? Who can help? What resources currently exist for artists? And, the forum will present an
opportunity for artists to meet developers, policy makers and others who are working to make a difference.
Topics include: designing for artist spaces, project planning, legal issues, building codes and zoning,
financial planning for projects, and more. The forum will explore present and potential opportunities for
live/work spaces, and will examine critical development issues. Speakers include ArtSpace Projects
consultants Kelley Lindquist and Thomas Nordyke, artist/developer Karen Guzak, architect/artist Jay
Lazerwitz, attorney Mark Kantor, and more. The forum will also include "chat rooms" for small-group
discussions with Mayor Schell, Department of Design, Construction and Land Use Director, Rick Krochalis,
arts activists and others.
Admission is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
For more information, please contact Amy Painter at (206) 684-7306.
# # #