RESOLUTION __________________

A RESOLUTION endorsing the creation by the State of Washington of the Rainier Valley Creative District.

WHEREAS, the State of Washington has created a Creative Districts program to help Washington communities thrive, and to support communities turning cultural activities into economic growth; and

WHEREAS, stakeholders from the various cultural communities of Southeast Seattle have been meeting and organizing for five months in order to submit an application to the Creative Districts program; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Creative District would be to build out an active arts and culture coalition that advocates for Rainier Valley’s artistic and cultural community by fostering collaboration, boosting collective visibility, and addressing economic inequity; and

WHEREAS, the short-term goals of the Rainier Valley Creative District are to build deeper arts connections, revive and draw more events into the district, and establish a thriving creative hub; and

WHEREAS, the long-term goals of the Rainier Valley Creative District are to foster economic stabilization for the district, preserve the area’s legacy, and inform future policy and development in the region; and

WHEREAS, the Rainer Valley and its many neighborhoods represent some of the greatest racial and economic diversity in Seattle, and face some of the greatest development pressures and displacement risks in Seattle; and

WHEREAS, the Rainier Valley is home to a City of Seattle Arts District in the Columbia City and Hillman City neighborhoods, as well as many cultural institutions, including Adefua Cultural Education Workshop, the Columbia City Theater, Ark Lodge Cinema, the Columbia City Gallery, the Rainier Arts Center, Hillman City Collaboratory, Black & Tan Hall, Seattle World Percussion Society, the Northwest Tap Connection, South Seattle Emerald, SEED Arts, Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Urban Impact, Communities Rise, Queen Care, InterAfriKan Connections, and many others; and

WHEREAS, Adefua Cultural Education Workshop, which has provided Cultural Arts programming in South Seattle for 36 years, is overseeing the application process and will be the administrator of the program; and

WHEREAS, The City of Seattle fully supports all neighborhoods who wish to self-identify and self-actualize their cultural and creative identities; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

Section 1. The City Council supports the organizing efforts of the various cultural partners who have come together to unite around an application to the State of Washington's Creative Districts program, and endorses and welcomes such designation, should the State choose to act on the application.

Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

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President ____________ of the City Council

Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)