Restoration, preservation and renovation of art, culture and history in Seattle

November 23, 2015

Summary

Washington Hall, other Capitol Hill and Central District facilities to receive economic boost from Building for Culture Program

Story

A complete restoration of historic Washington Hall highlights a list of the projects throughout Seattle and King County that will receive funding to help maintain their buildings and preserve the arts and heritage programs that are held inside.

“Washington Hall is just one example of the rich artistic and cultural heritage throughout King County,” said Council Vice Chair Joe McDermott. “Through the Building For Culture grant program we have made a significant investment in promoting and preserving that heritage for generations to come.”

Since its original opening in 1908, Washington Hall has hosted performances by the likes of Billie Holiday, Jimi Hendrix, Macklemore, and many others. Preservation organization Historic Seattle was awarded a $986,000 grant towards the completion of the $9.8 million restoration.

The funding for maintenance, repairs, and preservation were allocated from the Building for Culture Program and unanimously approved by the County Council. Building for Culture is a partnership between King County and 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency, using bonds backed by the hotel-motel tax to build, maintain, expand, preserve, and improve new and existing cultural facilities.

After the Council approved the creation of the Building for Culture Program, 4Culture put out a request for proposals to nonprofit arts, heritage and cultural organizations and eligible public agencies, as well as owners of national-, state-, or local-designated or eligible landmark properties. 4Culture then convened independent peer panels composed of arts, heritage, and preservation professionals, and other community representatives to review applications and make the final selections.

Click here to see the facilities receiving funding on Capitol Hill and in the Central District.

The bonds supporting these projects are made possible by early retirement of the Kingdome debt. State law requires that hotel-motel tax revenues King County collects this year after repayment of the Kingdome debt be directed to arts and cultural programs.