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Mar
31

King County Creative

Information and resources for residents who work in King County's creative economy.

The Creative Economy Initiative

King County has long been home to artists, filmmakers, musicians, union crews, and content creators who help make this region culturally vibrant and economically strong. The Creative Economy Initiative is focusing on Film and Music in particular as key elements of our creative economy.

King County Creative has three primary goals:

  • Leverage King County resources and assets to equitably grow the regional film industry
  • Leverage King County resources and assets to equitably grow the regional music industry
  • Work to preserve artistically generative spaces throughout King County

What is "creative economy"?

The creative economy refers to sectors that are based on creative and intellectual assets, rather than traditional commodities or services. King County’s creative economy is comprised of working creative laborers, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in the creative sector. It encompasses a wide range of activities including arts, design, media, architecture, fashion, advertising, gaming, and more.


King County is keenly focused on supporting workers in film and music production, and more broadly focused on the creative sector overall. The creative economy thrives at the intersection of innovation, originality, cultural heritage, and the generation of intellectual property. It encompasses both commercial and non-commercial activities and plays a significant role in driving economic growth, fostering cultural development, and shaping societal progress.

Film and television production

King County has long been a home for filmmaking. But our state tax incentives and local infrastructure has not remained competitive with our neighbors to the north and south, making it difficult to attract films. King County will work to improve our edge, generate jobs and stimulate business in the local economy through film.

Find information about film permitting in King County

Harbor Island Studios

Owned by King County, Harbor Island Studios is a 117,000 square-foot facility with two sound stages, located in an industrial area of South Seattle. The studio will provide our film industry with infrastructure it has lacked for decades and support the growth of local film industry jobs.

Find more information about Harbor Island Studios

View technical information about the Harbor Island Studios facilities

Learn how to film a production at Harbor Island Studios

Regional music industry and artists

a crowd with their arms raised at a concert. Yellow lights from the stage silhouette the crowd while mist silhouette's the performer.

Music is a huge thread in the fabric of life in our region. Groundbreaking artists throughout the decades have come from Puget Sound to change the way that music is recorded, produced, promoted and performed. Today, while our music legacy continues to evolve, explosive growth and the rising cost of living is putting pressure on the people and venues that made us. The Creative Economy Initiative will work to address the needs of music artists in our region.

Find more information about how the Creative Economy supports the local music scene

Sponsor and donate

We can currently accept cash and in-kind donations up to $2,000 – and we are grateful and excited about any and all support you would like to provide!

Please contact creativeeconomy@kingcounty.gov to discuss your contribution to Harbor Island Studios, or any other program/project within OEOCE.

Searching for information about festivals and events or tourism and hospitality?

Please email your questions to creativeeconomy@kingcounty.gov.

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