2017 by the numbers

Tacoma Arts

Arts, culture, and creativity are essential keys to Tacoma’s unique and distinctive identity. The Tacoma Arts Commission and the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality are proud to nurture our city’s creative ecosystem, providing support to our artists and organizations as well as opportunities for all of our residents and visitors to access and participate in the arts.

The City’s investments in arts and culture have far-reaching impacts on our community; here’s an overview of what was accomplished in 2017:

You can read more about what was accomplished in 2017 here.

Find out more about how the Tacoma Arts Commission serves our community at cityoftacoma.org/arts.

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Help Welcome 2018 By Volunteering for First Night

Fur and wig-clad First Night revelers strike a pose in front of glowing Artscape by Barbara De Pirro on Commerce St. and 11th. (2014)

First Night is Tacoma’s New Year’s Eve festival, an all-ages family-friendly celebration held in Downtown Tacoma’s Theater District. The affordable admission price ($10-$15) includes access to museums, music, art, drama, dance and a whole day and night of activities. 

To make this event possible and successful, help is needed by generous volunteers.  As a volunteer you receive a free button to access the Tacoma Art Museum, Glass Museum, Children’s Museum, and all events on First Night!

If you are interested in helping with the event
please click on this link to fill out a short form

Volunteer Roles available

Shop Tacoma-Made Gifts and Pop-Up Mall At 2nd Annual Downtown Holiday Haul Crawl

Join Facebook Event

Once again, Tacoma’s Downtown Holiday Haul Crawl invites one and all to its 2nd Annual event. This day will be full of events, giveaways and holiday specials at local boutiques and restaurants. The museum district event draws dozens of local vendors and Tacoma-based artisans with one-day deals.

Haul Crawl Pop-Up Mall

In addition to resident businesses, Stocklist Goods and Satori partnered up once again to bring additional vendors to their Pop-Up Mall:

• December 9th, 10am – 4pm
• Participants include: Adam Auter, Angela Larsen, Delightful Neighborhood Market, Frakking Bombs, Frame & Flora, Girl Loves Cake Desserts, Heather Rowland, Jenny Schlatter, Lightvessels Collective, Lucy Nilan Ceramics, Nap Northwest, Paper Airplane Factory, Pom Pon- Satori’s Floral Pop Up, Rhonda Fargnoli Knitting Instructor at RISD CE, Splendor & Stone, Soul Mantras, The Arts & Crafts Press, Veronica & Harold, Woodland Teatime

Free Haul Crawl Parking

Being a Working Artist in Tacoma, Artist Trust Workshop

Diana Leigh-Surma working on her Artscape mural at the Valhalla Hall demolition-site in the Hilltop Business District. Photo by Kris Crews.

In this round table discussion, artists Lisa Kinoshita, Masahiro Sugano, and Asia Tail discuss how to make it as an artist in Tacoma. Moderated by Artist Trust Program Manager Katy Hannigan, the panel will talk about the opportunities, challenges, and resources for Tacoma artists and share their own experiences as working artists.

Audience members are invited to ask questions and share their own perspectives. A happy hour precedes the discussion honoring 2017 Artist Trust grant recipients from Tacoma.

Open for artists of all disciplines at all career stages

Free Registration

Call For Submissions

Commerce Street Transit Center, a multi-city transportation hub, is located next to one of the largest public performance and gathering spaces, Theater Square. TRANSFORM aims to collect community input and feedback to create a cultural and transportation plan for future development.

Creative Colloquy is partnering with Spaceworks Tacoma to present an impactful writing opportunity:

We want you to share your thoughts about the proposed revitalization project soon to undertake Tacoma’s Theater District called TRANSFORM.

TRANSFORM is a project by Pierce Transit, City of Tacoma and Broadway Center for The Performing Arts, aimed at revitalizing Tacoma’s Theater District.  The idea is to develop a plan to redesign the transportation and cultural hub framed by 9^th and 11^th Streets between Broadway and Pacific Avenue into a vibrant district at the core of our Downtown.

As residents of Tacoma, what are your feelings on this project? Do you believe there is value in re-energizing our Theater District or not? How and why?

Spaceworks Info Sessions

Tiffanny Hammonds works on Artscapes mural “5 Stages” at the corner of 11th & Market. Photo by Kris Crews.

Starting in December 2017, Spaceworks Tacoma will begin offering monthly info sessions at various locations around Tacoma. Meet the staff, ask questions and learn about all the opportunities Spaceworks has to offer. We will present information about all our programs including:

Incubator, Artscapes, Coworking and Special Projects

Info Session

Tuesday, December 5, 2017
6:00-7:30 PM
Tacoma Arts Community Center
1102 S. 11th St.
Tacoma, WA 98405
Facebook Event

It’s #Giving Tuesday! Could You Make a Gift to Tacoma’s Dreamers?

photo: Scott Haydon, NEON 2016

“Spaceworks is bridging the gap between artist and business, with the community’s best interest at heart. ”

-Dion Thomas, Entrepreneur/Artist, Gallery of Ambition

Tacoma offers a lot of space for creativity and many opportunities to thrive. By providing technical assistance and training to artists and creative entrepreneurs Spaceworks helps them realize their big dreams and offer more to our community.

This November 28th, consider making a gift to Spaceworks and joining the global giving movement, Giving Tuesday

#GivingTuesday

November 28, 2017

With your contribution to Spaceworks, you help each entrepreneur and artist turn their gifts into public art projects, inspired businesses, and innovative ways for our community to grow.

Click here to make a gift

Your investment will keep giving back to Tacoma all year long! Thank you for your support.

Thank You, Tacoma

Jaison Rivera painting live during Spaceworks’ fundraiser NEON 2017. Photo by Scott Haydon

With the holiday season upon us we wanted to take a moment to express the gratitude we have for the continued support we have from our community.

Fish Tank – Fall 2017 Entrepreneurs Show Off Their Businesses

At Fall 2017 Fish Tank, Spaceworks celebrated 10 businesses that developed new launch strategies through its Incubator training program. The entrepreneurs showcased skills from dance to film tech to lingerie design.

During a public showcase the entrepreneurs shared their wares, performed, and talked about upcoming launches. They also gave a quick overview of their business offerings during 60-second pitches.

See this Fish Tank in photos by Kris Crews →

November 2017 Art Walk, Spaceworks Picks

Opening Reception
“Present / Tense” Exhibit

November 16, 2017, 5 PM – 9 PM
FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC

Left: Malayka Gormally “Signs” (detail). Right: Tom Gormally “US” (sculpture detail photo). Photos by Mark Woods

Spaceworks Gallery

950 Pacific Ave. Suite 205, Tacoma, WA
ART – FOOD – BEVERAGE

Connect via  Facebook Event

“Present / Tense” features paintings, sculptures, and drawings by Malayka Gormally & Tom Gormally. Spaceworks Gallery is honored to bring this exhibit to Tacoma, and we invite you to join us for the opening reception or during regular gallery hours.

Malayka explores emotional strength, connection, and conflict between people of disparate races, generations, and political beliefs. Tom critiques the current political and social zeitgeist.

Read more about the artists and current exhibit >>

 

Social Media for Social Good

November 16, 2017, 7 PM – 9PM
$5 ($3 goes to Tacoma Urban League)