Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Plan to Help the Arts
The COVID-19 pandemic was a hit to everyone in the world. As we attempt to rebuild some of the day-to-day normalcy that was lost over two years ago, it’s clear that there’s one often overlooked but critical facet of society that has suffered and needs support: the arts. The Seattle Times reached out to Mayor Bruce Harrell for his thoughts on how Seattle’s art scene can bounce back.
Mayor Harrell spoke about his commitment to Seattle’s art culture and where he stands on the current state of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture. He said, “I haven’t made any new decisions regarding the arts and culture department, changing the independent nature of it. … But I do think it’s a stand-alone department because of its unique, sort of core competency. … I don’t want to go on record as saying that the organization is stagnant. They’ve done the best they could under the circumstances of COVID. … But there’s a huge budget gap that exists, irrespective of the art and culture department. … But I will tell you that where I come out on my budget proposal will be strong in supporting the arts.”
Mayor Harrell also touched on the current state of Seattle’s downtown area and the need for patrons to feel safe when attending shows or museums. The goal is to make the city a welcoming environment for people to freely enjoy the activities they once did in the past.
The Seattle Times reached out to three local arts leaders to give their thoughts on what the biggest issues are and how Mayor Harrell can initiate solutions. Read on to learn what they had to say.
Tim Lennon, executive director of LANGSTON
A few big issues noted by Tim Lennon are the city’s unaffordability, dwindling federal and state recovery, and the uncertainty of what the future will look like. There may be a dangerous lapse between the end of funding and the beginning of patrons supporting the arts once again. Lennon said, “It’s really important to stress that the arts, culture, music, nightlife ecosystem is a major economic driver of the region.” So, what does he think Mayor Harrell should do? To start with, recognize the ways in which the arts fuel the city, by presenting entertainment through culture, music, nightlife, and more. And then take advantage of those benefits to the community and economy and leverage these resources within city government.
Rose Cano, co-founder and artistic director emerita of eSe Teatro
Rose Cano turns her attention towards how the ramifications of an industry severely damaged by shutdowns and cancelations due to the pandemic have stunted it in the present day. A lack of affordable spaces, the cost of weekly testing, and the toll the pandemic has played on people’s mental health are all top of mind. But Rose believes in the power of performance and thinks that although Mayor Harrell is concerned about the current state of the downtown area, its problems can actually be a part of the solution to ushering in this new wave of art in Seattle. Rose said, “The mayor could work on these issues of homelessness and violence through the arts. The arts are a really powerful vehicle to create these community discussions, so you could be doing these things at the same time.”
Manny Cawaling, executive director of Inspire Washington
Manny Cawaling also highlights the danger of dwindling funding and a changed landscape as the community attempts to rebound. Like Tim and Rose, he has seen firsthand how the unknowable nature of what’s to come has affected creators. He believes that it’s up to the state to recognize the value that the arts bring to communities and society and support the people and organizations providing this value by allocating them adequate funding. “We are what gets people out of their homes and off their phones, even before the pandemic, connecting with one another. We produce, and it generates a tremendous amount of economy. … So tying all these things together, then, who stands up for us? Who also sees the opportunity for all of our communities to benefit from cultural programming, and when are they going to champion for us to really recover the way that we need to recover?” Manny asked.