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Nate Jackson Super Funny Thanksgiving Weekend

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Yo! I’m excited to announce that I’m going to be hopping off the road from this 80-city college tour to bring the 8th Annual Super Funny Thanksgiving Weekend Comedy Show live and direct to Tacoma.

It’s going down Saturday, November 24th!! We have two incredible national headliners performing live in Tacoma, WA! Tacarra Williams, from Comedy Central presents Kevin Hart’s Next Level Comedy Special and Kevin Tate, from HBO All Def Comedy Jam. They will have y’all in stitches laughing! So, round up the homies and pull up!

It’s going to be a bomb ass show! So click the blue button below and get your tickets today! If you need to set up a meet-up for physical tickets… Simply Reply… and let me know. Come get your laugh on, let off some stress, and have a fun night out with your friends, family, and/ or loved ones.

Also, last thing… tickets have already been on sale for 5 days now and they are moving fast. So if that’s you… Reply, and lets get you all set up!

“I’m F.I.N.E.” barry johnson at the 950 Gallery barry johnson celebrates growing up ‘80s and color in his new solo show at the 950 Gallery

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Spaceworks Tacoma announces “I’m F.I.N.E.” a solo exhibition at 950 Gallery by interdisciplinary artist barry johnson that explores life growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s and the party lifestyle that accompanied it. This show will display work in 2D, 3D, mixed-media, film, performance and installations exploring color, music and love.

barry will take the gallery and convert it into a series of memory banks from events in his past. This show is built atop of the backbone of soul music from the past thirty-years. barry tapped his father to curate a playlist of all the songs that he played in his youth and what barry grew up to. The work in the show will mostly be large scale, consisting of human figures cast in lush colors. There will be sculpture installations and performances from Seattle dancers Markeith Wiley and Noelle price. barry also has been given access to paint the gallery walls and will create temporary murals through the space.

“Growing up, there was rarely ever a moment whenever music wasn’t playing in my household. It played at all hours of the day and night and rarely played the same song. I heard and memorized Sade’s music long before I even knew what she looked like and my dad was the first person that turned me onto Tupac’s music and influence” says johnson.

The opening reception will be a party filled with soul music, games and performances. The gallery is open to the public every Thursday 1-5pm or by appointment, call (253) 627-2175. For more details and pictures about the exhibit visit www.spaceworkstacoma.com/gallery

SPANAWAY LAKE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS ALMOST, MAINE

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 Spanaway Lake High School presents the heartwarming story of Almost, Maine, directed by Evan James Hildebrand.

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

Almost, Maine features the talents of: Patrick Halverson, Neleh Vander Velden, Xayvien Ceccarelli, Heidi Garcia-Martinez, Cas DePoister, Ashley Carlton, Kaylee Christensen, Larissa Gaulke, Toby Madakor, Madison Cadwell, Liz Bigley, Mandi Murray, Daphne Alvarado, Sam Rios, Reagan Howell, Alisha Nkwonta, and Cameron Johnson.

Almost, Maine will run Friday, November 9, 2018 until Sunday, November 18, 2018. Friday & Saturday showings are at 7:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm. There will also be a special Thursday show on November 15th at 7:00pm. This show is recommended for all ages (there are some relationship themes).

Tickets are $5.00 with ASB and $7.00 for all others. Tickets may be purchased in person at the auditorium.

All performances are held at Spanaway Lake High School, 1305 168th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387

Mobile Incubator to visit five Seattle park locations

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During the month of November, community members might notice a bright orange 1957 Shasta camper trailer in their neighborhood park. The Mobile Incubator is a mobile office where artists, designers, performers, writers and other cultural entrepreneurs can come to seek free business advice for their creative ventures.

The Mobile Incubator is itself a work of art, featuring creative contributions from a variety of artists in its design, including a 1,000+ piece wooden mosaic. Since its inaugural voyage from Seattle, the mobile office has travelled over 25,000 miles across 42 states.

Lucas Spivey, BFA/MBA hybrid, will host open office hours out of The Mobile Incubator. “My goal is to teach business principles to artists, but I encourage everyone to interact on their terms because I feel that people learn best when they’re comfortable and excited,” said Spivey.

These events are funded by the Arts in Parks program. The Arts in Parks program supports new and established community festivals, art happenings and music concerts that enliven Seattle parks. These arts and culture offerings celebrate diversity, build community connections and energize parks while connecting with underserved communities. Arts in Parks is an initiative of Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Office of Arts and Culture. For questions or more information, please email artsinparks@seattle.gov.

You can stop by to visit Lucas and The Mobile Incubator at the following locations. And while you’re there, don’t forget to take a selfie with the pink flamingos!

Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the November 5-7 dates for The Mobile Incubator at John C. Little, Sr. Park have been cancelled. Further information will be provided on the remaining dates by November 6. Please contact artsinparks@seattle.govwith questions.

Park Address Dates Times
Flo Ware Park 2800 S Jackson St., 98144 Nov. 9-11 11am-3pm
First Hill Park 1201 University St., 98101 Nov. 12-14 3-7pm
Ballard Commons Park 5701 22nd Ave. NW, 98107 Nov. 16-18 11am-3pm
Lake City Mini Park 12359 Lake City Way NE, 98125 Nov. 19-21 3-7pm

Children’s Film Festival Seattle inspires our kids to manifest their dreams

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The 14th annual Children’s Film Festival Seattle, set to light up the Emerald  City from January 24 to February 9, 2019 will encourage young audiences members to “Be the Dream” as they find inspiration in more than 150 films from 40+ countries. From a gala opening night at SIFF Cinema Egyptian to dozens of screenings of at Northwest Film Forum, the festival aims to provide the best international cinema for young people ages 2 to 14, while promoting the ideals of equity, inclusivity, empathy and global awareness. Hands-on workshops, filmmaker meet-and-greets, and interactive fun in the lobby are all part of the fun of CFFS — the largest and most respected festival of its kind on the West Coast!

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2019 WILL INCLUDE:

  • A sing-a-long screening of the 1979 classic,
    “The Muppet Movie” on opening night.
  • An exciting quintet of feature films including “Liyana” (Swaziland), “Supa Modo” (Kenya) “Chuskit” (India), “One Girl” (United Kingdom, Romania, Finland and Italy) and “Kayak to Klemtu” (Canada) that all celebrate the resilience of strong girls.
  • Other features will include Tito and the Birds (Brazil), Wendy: Best Friends Forever (Germany), “Mr. Moll and the Chocolate Factory” (Switzerland) and “My Giraffe” (The Netherlands)
  • More than a dozen short film programs arranged around thematic content ranging from gentle animation for the festival’s youngest viewers to challenging films exploring global issues for middle schoolers. Programs will include an all Spanish-language program, an Indigenous Showcase presented in collaboration with Seattle’s Longhouse Media, and a program of all Japanese-language shorts presented in association with Tokyo’s KINEKO International Children’s Film Festival.
  • A 10-year anniversary screening of the world’s oldest surviving animated feature film, “The Adventures of Prince Achmed,” made in 1926 by Lotte Reiniger and first presented with a vibrant new score by Seattle musicians Miles & Karina in 2009, at Northwest Film, and an interactive installation in the lobby based on Reiniger’s silhouette animation magic.
  • Opportunities for educators and homeschool groups to book special screenings on weekdays throughout March 1.

ABOUT NORTHWEST FILM FORUM

An independent film and arts nonprofit located in Seattle, Northwest Film Forum incites public dialogue and creative action through collective cinematic experiences. Each year the Forum presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events, multidisciplinary performances, and public discussions. A comprehensive visual media organization, the Forum offers educational workshops and artist services for film and media makers at all stages of their development. More information is available at nwfilmforum.org.

Apply now for Arts in Parks funding!

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Apply now for Arts in Parks funding! The Arts in Parks program supports new and established community festivals, art happenings and music concerts that enliven Seattle parks. These arts and culture offerings celebrate diversity, build community connections and energize parks while connecting with underserved communities. Click here for program information and to apply.

In 2018, Arts in Parks funded 39 projects in parks, including 32 event-based projects and 7 temporary art installations. These projects provided over 400 hours of free programming! “I loved the opportunity to be a part of Arts in Parks, and being able to give back to my own community,” said one past program participant. “I got great appreciation from the community and hope to see the program continue and grow!”

Arts in Parks is an initiative of Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Office of Arts and Culture.

New Commissioners Sought for the Seattle Design Commission

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Mayor Jenny Durkan is recruiting to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Seattle Design Commission. The open positions are:

  • A licensed architect
  • A transportation planner
  • A landscape architect

All positions will start their two-year terms in March 2019.

Established in 1968, the Seattle Design Commission advises the Mayor, Council, and City officials on design excellence in City funded capital improvement projects, projects in the City right-of-way, or projects constructed with City funds. You can see the scope of our work at www.seattle.gov/designcommission.

Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Commissioners are eligible for a second two-year term. The 10‐member commission is comprised of architects, artists, urban designers, urban planners, landscape architects, civil engineers, a member‐at‐large, and one member from Get Engaged, the YMCA Young Civic Leaders Program.

Commission meetings are the first and third Thursdays of each month and occur in the day. In addition, members may serve on commission subcommittees and represent the commission on other City boards or commissions. Commissioners work between 15-20 hours a month. During the term as a commissioner, and six months following the end of the term, commissioners may not contract with the city on any capital improvement project reviewed by the commission. Commission members receive an hourly rate as compensation for their service.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply. 

To be considered, please send a letter of interest and resume by November 30, 2018, to:

Mayor Durkan c/o:

Michael Jenkins, Executive Director
Seattle Design Commission

Michael Jenkins, Executive Director
Seattle Design Commission

City of Seattle – Office of Planning and Community Development
600 4th Avenue, 5th Floor
PO Box 94788
Seattle, WA 98124‐7088

For more information:
Michael Jenkins, (206) 386-4024, michael.jenkins@seattle.gov.

City of Seattle launches expanded Spacefinder Seattle website

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The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) partnered to increase and broaden offerings on Spacefinder Seattle, a website designed to connect organizations, community groups, and artists to spaces. The tool provides information on more than 400 rooms, halls, and venues for meetings, events, workshops, rehearsals, performances, and presentations. Spacefinder Seattle can be found online at www.SpacefinderSeattle.org.

 

WANT TO ADD YOUR SPACE TO SPACEFINDER?

Go to spacefinderseattle.org/account/new.

 

Originally developed by ARTS for artists seeking space, Spacefinder has been expanded to help community groups and nonprofit organizations find lower-cost spaces. In addition, Spacefinder has been upgraded to include:

  • expanded space types and amenity filters for meetings/meet-ups, workshops/classes and office spaces
  • more filters for accessibility features in rental spaces
  • ability to indicate and search rental spaces that are free or subsidized
  • ability to open in google maps to view rental space locations and other map features
  • additional venues such as restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries with spaces for meet-ups

There are no fees associated with using or listing on the site, which is underwritten by the Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY

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On Sale Now! The Williams Project’s
Thought-Provoking New Production of Tony Kushner’s
A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY
October 25 – November 18 at Hillman City Collaboratory
A story about the struggle between conscience and comfort – how much are you willing to sacrifice for your beliefs? All tickets pay-what-you-can and available now.
Seattle, WASH. (September 5, 2018) – The Williams Project today announced that single tickets to its production of Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day, directed by Ryan Guzzo Purcell, are on sale now. Set in Germany in the early 1930s, during Hitler’s rise to power, A Bright Room Called Day follows a group of ordinary Berliners. This circle of friends, all artists and activists, resembles Seattle today: diverse, theoretically progressive but largely comfortable, unsure how bad things will get, struggling between practicality and militancy, idealism and realpolitik. As their story unfolds amidst a gathering national storm, Kushner’s prescient work tackles questions of community and civic responsibility that will sound eerily relevant in our time and place. How should everyday people engage with politics in a dangerous time? How do we know what tactics to use? How do we build coalitions, despite our differences? The Williams Project’s A Bright Room Called Day will run October 26 – November 18, 2018 at the Hillman City Collaboratory in South Seattle – all tickets are pay-what-you-can and available now at TheWilliamsProject.org.
“It’s a play about politics, and creeping fascism, so of course everyone will say it’s about Trump,” says Artistic Director Ryan Guzzo Purcell. “And, I guess it kind of is. But this play is amazing because it was written thirty years ago. Tony Kushner predicted our present political moment not because he knew Trump was coming but because he understood how the stories Americans tell themselves might someday clear the way for someone like Trump. And so, the play becomes about us. About Seattleites, in 2018, and what we need to do to change ourselves, our city, and our country. And because it’s Kushner, this play finds a way to rigorously engage that debate and still be funny and sexy and theatrical and human.”
Building upon The Williams Project’s commitment to making theatre that sparks civic discourse and connects communities, performancesof A Bright Room Called Day will feature partnerships with other local nonprofits and advocacy organizations, highlighting for audiences ways of becoming more civically engaged. After specially-designated performances, stay to talk with representatives from partner organizations about how their work makes a difference in Seattle communities and how you can get involved. Look for updates on these non-profit partnerships in the coming weeks at TheWilliamsProject.org.
About the Venue
The Hillman City Collaboratory is a social change incubator, where community forms across boundaries and visionaries bring their dreams to life. The Collab is a cooperative, multi-purpose space shared by grassroots organizations and individuals who care about social justice, creative expression, and community building. The Collab strive to be an instrument of transformation, providing a built environment and programming that supports community and equips change-makers. Learn more at hillmancitycollaboratory.org.
FOR CALENDAR EDITORS
WHAT:
A Bright Room Called Day
By Tony Kushner
Directed by Ryan Guzzo Purcell
A new president has just come to power by the slimmest of margins. Though his rhetoric is alarming, democratic institutions are strong and the opposition is looking good heading into the next election. This is Berlin, in 1932. In Agnes Eggling’s apartment, a group of artists and activists struggle between their conscience and their comfort, trying to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for their beliefs. First produced in 1985, this prophetic play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner is a wake-up call and warning for contemporary America, posing timely questions about citizenship, resistance, and complicity. In Williams Project fashion, this production will partner with local nonprofits and activist organizations to connect audiences with new avenues for civic engagement in their communities. All tickets are pay-what-you-can and available now at TheWilliamsProject.org.
WHERE:
Hillman City Collaboratory
WHEN:
October 25 – November 18, 2018
Thursday-Sunday (with two exceptions, there is no performance on Thursday, October 8, and instead there is a performance on Monday, October 12).
Show begins at 7:30 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m.)
Opening Night is Friday, November 26, 2018. Media Invite to come.
TICKETS:
$0-$50 – ON SALE NOW
Online Box Office >> TheWilliamsProject.org
All seating is general admission. Learn more about The Williams Project’s inclusive approach to ticket pricing here: http://www.thewilliamsproject.org/box-office.
SOCIAL:
Facebook – /TheWilliamsProject
Instagram – @TheWilliamsProject
About The Williams Project
The Williams Project is a theatre ensemble that strives to make theatrical excellence accessible to diverse and engaged audiences, while paying our artists a living wage. The writing of Tennessee Williams shapes our vision of theatrical excellence, so we strive, like him, to create theatre that is:
  • Entertaining enough to make everyone feel welcome and a part of the community;
  • Ambitious enough to risk humiliating failure;
  • Powerful enough to move people to love each other more, even in the face of the temporary nature of theatre and life.
The Williams Project strives to make theatre in a manner consistent with our belief that professional artists are vital to our culture, and that such artists deserve to be compensated in a way that recognizes their value. Great theatre artists sacrifice greatly to make important work, and we pay our artists a living wage in order to support that work.
This production of A Bright Room Called Day is supported, in part, by grants from 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax, the Washington State Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Show Sponsor for A Bright Room Called Day is Verity Credit Union. KUOW is this production’s Media Sponsor.

 

The City of Seattle Awards $400,000 to Help Improve Digital Equity

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The Technology Matching Fund grants will be offered for the 21st year in a row to organizations in Seattle working on improving lives through technology literacy

Photo courtesy YouthCare, a 2018 recipient

The Seattle City Council unanimously approved $400,000 in Technology Matching Funds be awarded to 12 local organizations. These grants are given out annually to uphold the commitment by the City of Seattle as outlined in the Digital Equity Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to improve connectivity, digital skills training, and provide devices, and technology support to communities that might not have equitable access.

“Furthering technology equity and access is an important way to create opportunity for historically underserved neighborhoods,” said Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. “These investments allow our communities to capitalize on technology and job training while making a more inclusive city.”

This year, projects receiving funds will support a broad range of community-driven, collaborative solutions to achieve digital equity in Seattle. They will reach over 8,300 residents, including immigrants, refugees, seniors, youth, and people with disabilities.

“It’s a pleasure to be part of this process each year as we build this relationship with organizations that are making a difference in making technology more available to everyone,” said Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell. “We inch closer to digital equity each year when we allocate this funding. I’m especially pleased to see this funding package emphasizes programs that work with adults and youths experiencing homelessness.”

One recipient is YouthCare which will use their award of $49,940 to help young people experiencing homelessness with their employment and education goals.

“YouthCare is excited for this opportunity to use technology to help young people experiencing homelessness achieve their employment and education goals,” said Development and Communications Manager Jody Waits. “Lack of access to technology can be a significant barrier that homeless young people must navigate, and overcome, in their path to stability. This grant will allow YouthCare to bridge the digital equity gap so that homeless young people can have the tools and skills to get off the streets and find lasting career opportunities.”

City funding for the awards is matched by the community through additional cash, donations of hardware, software, supplies and labor. A one-half to one match is required of each organization receiving funding; however, the community contribution is often greater than the City’s support. This year’s projects are projected to provide more than $300,000 in community matching resources.

“It’s a pleasure to award these grants that help build vital skills like job hunting, helping kids with homework, and accessing government services,” said Tracye Cantrell, Acting Director of Seattle Information Technology. “Through increased outreach to the community, we saw a greater number of submissions this year from a diverse pool of applicants, which is exciting.”

Literacy Source received $32, 379 will expand their digital literacy classes to serve more adults with limited English proficiency.
“We’re thrilled to receive this grant to continue our work improving the literacy skills of the community we serve,” said Literacy Source Executive Director Lynn Livesley. “Developing these skills is critical to the personal growth of an individual and to the community’s overall economic outlook.”

The 2018 Technology Matching Fund award recipients and their projects:

Photo courtesy YouthCare, a 2018 recipient
  • Community Passageways: Technology Equity for Young Adults of Color
  • East African Community Services: 2018 Technology Matching Fund
  • Garinagu HounGua: Garifuna Digital Literacy Workshop Series
  • Helping Link: Mobile Computer and iPad Literacy Lab
  • Literacy Source: Open Doors – Increasing Basic Digital Literacy
  • Millionair Club Charity: Computer Lab Expansion/Update
  • PROVAIL: Adaptive Technology for Children with Disabilities
  • Seattle Neighborhood Group: Building Our Bridge: Crossing the Digital Divide
  • Somali Family Safety Task Force: 2018 Digital Literacy in West Seattle
  • South East Effective Development: Technology Builds Community
  • United Indians of All Tribes Foundation: Broadband and Public Computer/Internet Access
  • YouthCare: Employment Technology Supports for Homeless Youth (pictured above)

To learn more about the City of Seattle’s commitment to Digital Equity and the Technology Matching Fund, visit http://www.seattle.gov/tech/initiatives/digital-equity/technology-matching-fund.