UACC’s Impact in Uptown

Blue and white gradient background with the following text: 48 member organizations
ONi Arts Collective performs at Mural Amphitheater. Photo by Sunny Martini. Image description: A group of five dancers dressed in streetwear, each striking a pose as they move onstage at Seattle Center's Mural Amphitheater. The mural is visible behin
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: 31K+ audience members
Seattle Storm mural in progress, photographer unknown. Image description: A painter perches on a red scissor lift in front of a building covered by a mural. The mural is unfinished and currently features a green and yellow background with a Storm pla
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: $150K+ distributed to local artists
Uptown Storefronts installation, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: A blue-framed storefront window is nestled into a beige stone building facade. Inside the window, a person dressed in black is working on what looks like a large canvas, pai
Randy Bowles plays at Counter Culture Uptown Movie Night, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: As the sun sets on a gravel-covered park, several people sit on chairs facing the camera. In the foreground a gray-ponytailed musician wearing a yel
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: more than 100 creative workers hired
Path With Art installation at Counterbalance Park, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: A large monitor displays a split-screen slide that says "ART WITH FRIENDS" on the left, with a multi-colored impressionist artwork on the right. To the rig
Taiko group CHIKIRI performs at Counterbalance Park, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: A gravel-covered park with a concrete pad at its center, ringed by a multicolored lighting installation. On the concrete pad, a group of performers dress
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: 20 visual & performing artists placed in Uptown businesses
Brazil in Motion, photo by Sunita Martini. Image description: A group of dancers moving together, dressed in brown tops and grass skirts. A blurred video monitor is to the left of the group.
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: more than 2,000 volunteer hours
Uptown Storefronts installation, photos by UACC volunteer. Image description: A tall, windowed storefront with plantings at bottom holds a triptych of black and white artworks with a combination of illustration and text.
ONi Art Collective performs as part of the Artists at the Center program, photo by Sunny Martini. Image description: A tall, bearded man wearing a multi-colored, patterned short-sleeved shirt stands on a stage. He is holding a tall drum and waving to
Andrea Stuart-Lahalle welcomes the audience to Counter Culture Uptown Movie Night, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: A woman in a maroon tunic and black leggings, jacket, and cap speaks into a microphone. She stands in front of a large moni
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: 4 Performing Arts in Parks awards received
Invitation for 2023 Uptown Artists Reception. Holographic background with Uptown Arts District logo in top right corner and a line art owl perched on the top of the invitation text. Text reads: "Uptown Artists Reception featuring a special performanc
Blue and white gradient background with the following text: 35 Uptown banners placed in the neighborhood
Uptown Arts District wayfinding banner, designed by Seattle Sims. Photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: Looking up toward a blue sky and tall tree branches, an Uptown banner is secured to a light pole. The banner has four arcs at top in blue, r
Queen Anne Marketplace mural, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: In a small parking lot, the side of a building is covered in a large, wide mural. The mural features two yellow birds perched on the top of the Space Needle, with what appear t

“The arts are a big part of the draw to this neighborhood, but usually that's ticketed performing arts events that people have to pay to attend. I think it's great to have more visual art opportunities there that people can see for free any time of day!”

— Uptown Resident

UACC In Action

Since UACC’s inception in 2016, we have grown to include 48 member organizations, with many represented on the UACC board. Our all-volunteer board has engaged more than 31,000 Uptown residents and visitors through community events and activations, distributed more than $150,000 to local artists and performance groups, and met with dozens of civic leaders as we advocated for artists and cultural organizations in the Uptown neighborhood.


Here’s a snapshot of what we have accomplished over the past few years:

    • Represented community on Tower Crane Safety Reform Coalition

    • Advocated for artists and arts/cultural orgs around Seattle Center light rail station, Memorial Stadium project

    • Advocated for artists and arts/cultural orgs around parking issues in Uptown

    • Advocated in favor of Doors Open King County

    • Advocated in favor of Thomas Street Redesign Project

    • Met with civic leaders including Marshall Foster and Diamatris Winston (Seattle Center), Brian Cater and Jon Graef (4Culture), Matt Roewe (Uptown Alliance)

    • In 2023-2024:

      • Distributed 26 awards and $106,000 to artists and groups

    • In 2024-2025:

      • Distributed 21 awards and $106,000 to artists/groups

    • 79% of all Artists at the Center awards distributed to BIPOC artists

    • Supported Seattle Arts & Culture for Anti-Racism with a $1,000 donation

    • Partnered with Fishbowl Gallery to revive third Thursdays Uptown Artwalk

    • Involved Uptown businesses in programming and events

    • Partnered with Seattle Center, Seattle Parks & Recreation, SIFF, Tidy Uptown, Uptown Alliance, and Uptown Artwalk

    • Programmed three Uptown Storefronts artists at Counterbalance Park as part of the Seattle Parks Performing Arts Initiative, engaging 150 community members

    • Partnered with Path with Art and barrientos/Ryan to produce Uptown Artists Reception and art installation

    2024:

    • Produced Counter Culture: Outdoor Movie Night in partnership with SIFF, Seattle Parks & Rec, Seattle Neighborhoods Matching Funds, and Uptown Artwalk

    • Placed 35 banners around Uptown as part of a place branding initiative, designed by UACC Artist in Residence Seattle Sims

    • New Artist in Residence Grace Gonzalez began planning and research for a community crosswalk beautification project

    • 20 artists/groups accepted into the program

    • 11 BIPOC artists, 8 LGBTQ+ artists, and 2 youth artists represented

    • 12 storefront art installations & 8 storefront activations

    • 9 hours of live programming

    • 5 artists mentored

    • $35,000 distributed to 19 artists/groups for installations and activations.

    • $9,265 distributed to cover costs at 10 host locations.

    • 61 creative workers hired

    • 642 hours worked, including art creation and program administration

    • 31,400+ audience members reached

    • 10 Uptown businesses and organizations directly supported.

    • 1,380 volunteer hours from UACC board members

UACC Board members Monique Courcy and Pete Rush, photo by UACC volunteer.
Counter Culture Uptown Movie Night, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: Night view of audience, sitting and standing as they watch a film on a large monitor in Counterbalance Park. The monitor rests on a trailer bed pulled by a white truck, v
UACC board members Cyrus Despres and Alana Knaster, photo by UACC volunteer.
Selfie of UACC board members Pete Rush, Kristen Liang, and Cyrus Despres with SIFF COO Andrea Stuart-Lehalle and Tidy Uptown volunteers Michele O'Connell and Linda Rozanski.
Selfie of UACC board members Pete Rush, Cyrus Despres, and Kristen Liang, with Seattle Parks' Tom Diamond and Tidy Uptown's Linda Rozanski.
Path with Art group photo at Uptown Artists Reception, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: 7 people stand in front of a monitor and the Path With Art banner. They are in Counterbalance Park, with golden hour light shining in from the west.
A local musician plays an acoustic guitar/vocals set at the Uptown Artists Reception in Counterbalance Park. Photo by UACC volunteer.
UACC board members at the TeenTix gala.
Uptown partners at an early event, photo by UACC volunteer. Image description: One woman standing, and one man and one woman sitting at a table covered with informational brochures and flyers for local arts and culture organizations.