Title
Armory Update
Recommended Action:
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Commissioners will receive update and tour of the Armory project including opportunities for future public art in association with building upgrades.
Staff Contact:
Valerie Roberts, Armory Building Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.753.8468
Presenter(s):
Valerie Roberts, Armory Building Manager
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia will transform the historic Olympia Armory into a space that will 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 working within an equity framework. The conceptual design through community visioning was completed in November 2022. In July 2023, artists, culture bearers, and a youth action council imagined possible uses of the space through art installations and creative projects through NEA funded Art Interventions.
In January of 2024, eight non-profit arts organizations were identified as future tenants (Anchor Partners for the building), including The Bridge Music Project, Capital City Pride, Community Print, Kokua Services/Hummingbird Studio, Olympia Film Collective, Olympia Lamplighters, PARC Foundation and TC Media. These organizations will create a core partner group to activate the campus and bring the community vision to life.
The Armory building is currently closed for construction to complete essential life/safety and accessibility upgrades that will make the Armory building a safe, accessible, and functional space that will transform into a community arts center. The selected Anchor Partner organizations will work with the City of Olympia and Ameresco, the contractor for construction, to help inform the design and construction process for the upgrades over the next two years.
In 2024, Partners will develop updated business plans required to enter into contract negotiations, identify lea...
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