Seattle Arts Commission and Municipal Art Commission Annual Reports, 1955-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle (Wash.). City Clerk
Title
Seattle Arts Commission and Municipal Art Commission Annual Reports
Dates
1955-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.2 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number
1802-I2
Summary
Annual reports of the Seattle Arts Commission and its predecessor, the Municipal Art Commission.
Repository
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov
Access Restrictions

Records are open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In 1971, a city ordinance established the Seattle Arts Commission (SAC) to promote development of and public interest in the arts, as well as to advise the city on cultural and artistic development. The fifteen-member body replaced a predecessor agency, the Municipal Arts Commission, and staff support was originally provided by the Seattle Center. The Commission was given cabinet-level status in the city government in 1976.

In 2002, a reorganization abolished the existing SAC, created a new Seattle Arts Commission made up of volunteers and a new city Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs (OACA), and divided the functions of the old SAC between the two new organizations. The current commission is comprised of 16 citizen volunteers appointed by the Mayor and City Council. OACA was brought into the Executive Department in 2013 and its name was changed to the Office of Arts and Culture.

The department supports arts groups, community festivals, and neighborhood arts councils; funds and promotes public art, and promotes Seattle as a cultural destination. It also oversees the One Percent for Art program (one of the nation’s first), where one percent of Seattle’s capital improvement project funds are reserved for public art. Since the program began in 1973, it has acquired nearly 3,000 artworks.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Annual reports of the Seattle Arts Commission and its predecessor organization, the Municipal Art Commission, date from 1955 to 1984; researchers should note there is a gap from 1962 to 1980. Early reports discuss goals of the Commission, recommendations for projects and programs, and actions taken in the areas of art, music, dance, theatre, and general City beautification through the planting of trees, plants, and flowers, the installation of public art, and enhancements to Seattle parks and waterfronts.

Reports from the 1980s include organization charts, budget information, and descriptions of programs such as One Percent for Art, Artists in the City, and the Neighborhood Arts program, among others.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item and date], Seattle Arts Commission and Municipal Art Commission Annual Reports, Record Series 1802-I2. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Annual reports are arranged chronologically by year.

Custodial History

Records were originally filed with the City Clerk in the Comptroller/Clerk's Files (CFs) and were removed to create this record series.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Seattle Arts Commission and Municipal Art Commission Annual Reports, 1955-[ongoing]Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Municipal Art Commission Annual Report
1955
1/1
Municipal Art Commission Annual Report
1956
1/1
Municipal Art Commission Annual Report
1960
1/1
Municipal Art Commission Annual Report
1962
1/2
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1980
1/2
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1981
1/2
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1982
1/2
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1983
1/2
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1984
1/3
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1987
1/4
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1991
1/4
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1992
1/4
Seattle Arts Commission Annual Report
1995

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Art commissions--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Art, Municipal--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Arts--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Community arts projects--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Performing arts--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Artists in the City Program (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Neighborhood Arts Program (Seattle, Wash.)
  • One Percent for Art (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government

Form or Genre Terms

  • Annual reports

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Seattle Arts Commission (creator)
    • Seattle (Wash.). Municipal Art Commission (creator)