Seattle City Council Candidate Forum To Focus On Arts, Culture

SEATTLE, WA — A local nonprofit group has invited all the 2019 Seattle City Council candidates to participate in a forum focused on arts, science, and cultural heritage. As of this week, 12 of the 14 candidates running will participate in the Oct. 7 forum at Town Hall Seattle.

Here's more from an Inspire Washington press release:

Every candidate from all seven Seattle City Council District elections are invited to attend a Cultural Sector Candidate Forum to share their platforms on issues affecting arts, science, and heritage programming in Seattle. The Forum will be held Monday, October 7, 6-8:30 p.m. at Seattle’s Town Hall, located at 1119 8th Ave., Seattle.

Everyone who values or engages with arts, science, and heritage organizations in Seattle are encouraged to attend to meet the candidates and hear their platforms. The event will be hosted by Inspire Washington, a newly launched cultural sector non-profit that serves as a statewide force for advocacy and promotes broad awareness of the sector’s community impact.

KNKX, Town Hall, and Inspire Washington are sponsoring the event. KNKX News Director, FlorangelaDavila, will moderate the forum. Inspire Washington’s Executive Director, Manny Cawaling, will kick-off the event with a brief overview of the important issues facing cultural sector organizations in Seattle. Cultural sector organizations from every Seattle City Council District will then introduce the candidates from all seven races. There will be time for short candidate statements and a brief, moderated Q&A with each candidate.

“Washington’s arts and cultural sector is a critical driver for our state’s economy,” Cawaling said. “Our work represents 7.8% of our state’s GDP which surpasses state construction dollars. Additionally, every person who attends a cultural event spends an average of $32 locally on a range of things; from childcare, to parking, and meals. Our work matters and here in Seattle that’s amplified due to the hundreds of cultural organizations that are creating exemplary programs. Beyond the economy, our programming nurtures individual growth and strengthens communities. We are excited to host this voter’s Forum and challenge all candidates to be cultural champions.”