However, I also saw first hand that this region does not prioritize investments in this space, thus pushing artists away. It was an amazing experience to see people passionate about their work and using it in different ways. Previously I worked at a startup and managed the creative department. I’m more involved in the digital media and film side of the arts. Tell us about your personal involvement in Seattle’s art and cultural life. By humanizing our experiences and sharing those values through art I believe we can break down barriers and work toward true equity. We need to have arts be part of our education system and we need to help tell our stories through art. We need to have affordable housing so artists starting out can live here. We already set aside a portion of public investments to include art but we need to think bigger. Creativity is not something you can automate, it’s a future proof skillset and part of a thriving community. I think arts and the creative industry as a whole represents the future of this region. How do you envision the arts as part of Seattle, especially as part of education, equity, housing, transportation, culture, the economy, and/or community? Access to the arts is a reflection of the opportunities afforded to a neighborhood and we need to make it a foundational part of the education for our young people. I was heartened to see recently in Burien, young people using art in public spaces to tell their stories and push back against violence. Art programs continue to be underfunded yet it is a vital tool to engage our youths and provide opportunities for community engagement. How do the arts reflect the voices and perspectives in your own neighborhood?ĭepending on the neighborhood it’s the absence of the arts that speak the loudest. To this day I believe that engaging in the arts changed my outlook on life and gave me the creative freedom to grow as a person. Being able to travel for jazz competitions or taking classes from legends like Clarence Acox Jr. I played that instrument for hours on end, and it became part of my life. However, after asking over and over again my mother was able to save enough money to get me a saxophone. On the surface it may not have seemed like much but at the time we were struggling financially after my father’s car accident that left him quadriplegic. During that part of my life I didn’t get to participate in a lot of the experiences other children enjoyed. Growing up I played jazz, specifically the alto saxophone. CANDIDATE: Joe Nguyen, King County Executive Candidateĭescribe a meaningful arts experience that has stayed with you over time.