Title
Olympia Armory Creative Campus Project Update and Anchor Partners Introduction
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive an update regarding the Armory Creative Campus and meet the anchor partners.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update regarding the Armory Creative Campus and meet the anchor partners.
Staff Contact:
Valerie Roberts, Armory Building Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.753.8468
Presenter(s):
Valerie Roberts, Armory Building Manager
The Bridge Music Project Executive Director, Bobby Williams
Capital City Pride Event Producer and Festival Director, Natalie Coblentz
Community Print Director, Kelsey Smith
Hummingbird Studio Community Programs Coordinator, Randi Miller
OlyFilm Board Chair Jeff Bearhand or Board Member Adeena Chamberlain
TC Media Board President Meagan Murphy Ross
Background
The City of Olympia is working to transform the historic Armory building into a new Creative Campus. The working vision of the Armory is to support the arts as integral to Olympia's way of life; encourage community growth through creativity and innovation; use the arts to connect people, ideas, and place, while operating from an equity framework.
The programming of the Olympia Armory: Creative Campus will be achieved primarily through leases with community Arts Organizations (Anchor Partners). Key partners will be actively involved in the Phase 1 design process as well as integrated opportunities to seek public input on various design phases. Other key groups involved will be City of Olympia staff across departments, Eastside Neighborhood Association, and other representative groups.
In late 2023, an RFQ was issued for Armory Anchor Partners, noting "Armory Anchor Partners receive stable, affordable space from which to continue their mission to provide accessible art education, skills building, equipment and resources for community development at an affordable rate."
Al...
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