Capitol Hill Arts District
Current projects
UNION Projection
CALL FOR ART
The Capitol Hill Artist District invites artists who currently live or work in Seattle's Capitol Hill or have a personal or historical connection to this neighborhood to apply for the 2023 season of the public art installation: UNION. We are looking for art that tells a story or represents the artist's body of work. (Although the work doesn't need to be about Capitol Hill.)
A jury consisting of members of the Arts District and Capitol Hill arts and business community will review the applications and select six artists based on their connection to the neighborhood, strength and artistic vision of the proposed artwork, and its suitability for this projection.
Submissions are due November 30. There is no application fee. Each selected artist will receive an all-inclusive stipend of $2,000 at the beginning of their contract.
About the Program
In 2021, Capitol Hill Arts District partnered with Sea Level Properties to raise the visibility of local artists and create new space for public art. LeLeita McKILL, Mia Imani Harrison, and CHIMAERA were the first artists to display their work through this installation. Beginning each night at dusk all year long, neighbors and visitors in the neighborhood have witnessed a 60’ tall art show from rotating guest curators and artists. The installation is projected on the south side of Woodworth Apartment building (953 E. Union Street) with a wide viewing area stretching along 10th Ave to Madison and beyond.
2021-2022 projection by Mia Imani Harrison, "DREAMING BLACK FUTURES: A Visual Mixtape," photo 2021 by Lana Blinderman
Resources for Resilience during COVID-19
For artists struggling due to the pandemic, here are a collection of resources:
Past projects
Essentially Seattle
The Seattle Office of Arts and Culture commissioned 25 artists to document essential city services in the time of CoVID-19, which mandated restrictions on physical movement and gatherings. Arts Districts were given the opportunity to nominate one photographer to document and represent their communities through this project. The Capitol Hill Arts District selected LeiLita McKILL.
Capitol Hill Arts District Streaming Festival
From April 29 to May 3, 2020, the Capitol Hill Arts District presented a virtual festival, co-hosted with the Northwest Film Forum, to celebrate the creativity of Capitol Hill and offer community members a connection to interdisciplinary art while the Stay Home, Stay Healthy COVID-19 order was in effect.
Footage of the festival stream is archived here:
Opening Night: April 29
Northwest Film Forum (6:30–7:30pm)
Photographic Center Northwest (7:30–8:30pm)
Community Programs (8:30–8:40pm)
Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas (8:40–9:45pm)
Day 2: April 30
Community Programs (7:30–8:30pm)
SubKulture Cabaret (8:30–9:30pm)
Day 3: May 1
Crybaby Studios (7:00–8:30pm)
BeautyBoiz (8:30–10:00pm)
Day 4: May 2
The AMP: AIDS Memorial Pathway (4:30–5:45pm)
Community Programs (5:45–6:00pm)
Hugo House (6:00–7:30pm)
Capitol Hill Block Party (7:30–9:00pm)
Kame House (9:00pm–dance o’clock)
Closing Day: May 3
Kame House x Toe Jam (12:00pm-10:00pm)
MIPoPS – Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound x NWFF (4:30–5:30pm)
Longhouse Media (5:30–7:00pm)
Vanishing Seattle (7:00–7:30pm)
Velocity Dance Center (7:30–8:30pm)
V2 project
In March 2016, the Capitol Hill Arts District opened V2 in a recently vacated Pike-Pine auto row building. Previously the home of Value Village and the original home of REI, this activation brought 30,000 square feet of temporary arts space to the neighborhood. Managed by Velocity Dance Center, V2 created opportunities for many arts organizations to rehearse, hold events and meetings, and host the monthly Second Thursday Capitol Hill Art Walk.
With financial support from the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts and Culture, V2 housed the theater lights and seating for Hugo House while their new home was under construction as well as furniture donated by PEMCO Insurance. Seattle Center donated a portable dance floor. During its life, V2 housed Velocity’s creative residencies, producing programs, and international summer festival. One Reel relocated its offices to the top floor, and Hugo House held readings and lectures in the space.
View photos of V2 coming soon.
12th Avenue Arts Opening
Not long after the formation of the Capitol Hill Arts District, Community Roots Housing (formerly Capitol Hill Housing) opened 12th Avenue Arts. The building is home to two theaters, multiple restaurants, 88 affordable apartments, and Community Roots Housing headquarters.
