Created Commons Initiative Launches During Seattle’s Welcome Back Weeks

ARTS' new program, Created Commons, launches as a part of the City of Seattle's Welcome Back Weeks, July 12 - 26. In partnership with the Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Parks and Recreation, ARTS' new Created Commons initiative transforms outdoor spaces across Seattle into venues for spectacular temporary arts and cultural extravaganzas. The program will kick-off as part of the Welcome Back Weeks festivities featuring three large-scale events throughout downtown Seattle.

Experience local artists and creatives as they revamp our streets, parks, and plazas into once-in-a-lifetime summer events featuring live music, dance, performance, public art installations, and interactive activities. Bring your family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and pets to join outdoor festivities celebrating the strength of our community.

Kicking Off Welcome Back Weeks

Created Commons has teamed up with the City's Welcome Back Weeks to bring you dazzling events in Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, and Westlake. Each site will feature unique programming blending sensory musical and performative arts by hometown favorites like Hollis, Massive Monkees, the Black Tones, Chong the Nomad, Party Hat Gallery, Totem Star, and many more!

The full schedule can be found below:

Welcome Back to the Chinatown-International District

When: Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, 11am - 7pm
Where: Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
FREE

Saturday, July 17:
- 11am: Chinese Association, Drill Team, Martial Art Demo
- 12:15pm: Chrysalis Circus
- 1pm: Massive Monkees
- 2pm: Daniel Pak & Totem Star (FRESA and Kiddus Fecto)
- 3pm: Guma' Gela'
- 4pm: Chrysalis Circus
- 6pm: Chong the Nomad
- Activities & Pop-Ups: Free screen printing from Party Hat Gallery, Self Defense Class, SFD Vaccine Pop-Up

Sunday, July 18:
- 11am: Lion Dance
- 12pm: Totem Star (Grae Violett, Lily Indigo, and Yung Fuego)
- 1pm: Chrysalis Circus
- 1:45pm: Bleachbear
- 3pm: Guma' Gela'
- 3:30pm: Chrysalis Circus
- 4pm: Evan Flory Barnes
- 6pm: Hollis
- Activities & Pop-Ups: Free screen printing from Party Hat Gallery, Self Defense Class, SFD Vaccine Pop-Up

Welcome Back to Pioneer Square

When: Saturday, July 24, 10:30am - 3pm
Where: Occidental Square, 117 S Washington St, Seattle, WA 98104
FREE

- 10:30am: Busking
- 11:30pm: Totem Star (Sharmaine and Haley Graves)
- 12pm: Shenandoah Davis
- 1pm: Shaina Shepherd
- 2pm: The Black Tones
- Activities & Pop-Ups: Pasquale Santos, Guma' Gela', 'Found Fashion' Exhibition with Path with Art, Party Hat Gallery, Vaccine Pop-Up

Welcome Back to Westlake

When: Sunday, July 25, 12 - 9pm.
Where: Westlake Park, 401 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
FREE

• A 'Halloween in July' event where kids and families can dress up and trick-or-treat across local vendors and stores in Westlake Park and Pacific Place
• Sidewalk sales and food trucks with local small business owners bringing their stores into the public space for outdoor vending
• Free face painting, a costume contest, THRILLER dance classes, workshops and activities for the whole family
• Live performances throughout the day featuring El Vez, Teatro Zinzanni, SANCA's Cirrus Circus, Lelavision, Up Up Circus and more
• Vaccine pop-up offering Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer

You can learn more about the Welcome Back Weeks here: https://www.seattle.gov/mayor/covid-19/recovery

Created Commons Neighborhood Edition

Created Commons is partnering with the Seattle Department of Transportation to bring you unique sensory experiences in public space blending temporary public art installations, music, dance, and interactive activities all curated by local artists and collectives like Tariqa Waters of Martyr Sauce, Northwest Tap Connection, Monyee Chau, DK Pan, Guma Gela, Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery, La Sala, LelaVision, and more. Neighborhood locations include Othello, Rainier Beach, Westwood, Pioneer Square, and Chinatown-International District.

Follow us on social media or subscribe to our blog to stay up to date. We can't wait to see you!

The Formation of Created Commons as a Response to COVID-19

With COVID-19's devastating impacts on Seattle's economy-specifically, Seattle's arts and culture sector-ARTS partnered with the Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Parks & Recreation to create more opportunities for artists. Building on the momentum of Stay Healthy Streets, Stay Healthy Blocks, and Safe Starts Permits for outdoor dining and retail; Created Commons was formed to bring cultural and artistic activation to Seattle's streets, sidewalks, plazas, and parks.

Modeled after New York City's Open Culture program, Created Commons transforms outdoor space across Seattle into venues for temporary visual and performance art. Seattle's Created Commons program will employ artists throughout the summer and fall months of 2021 to enliven public space for community resiliency and economic recovery. This program is a central workforce development strategy to the economic and civic recovery our City needs to rebuild by centering collective well-being, mental health, and employing cultural workers. All programming will follow King County Public Health (KCPH) guidelines.

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