Staff

Executive

Black and white photo of Gülgün.

Gülgün Kayim

(She/Her)
Director

Bio + -

Gulgun.Kayim@seattle.gov

Gülgün Kayim is of Kurdish, Turkish and Circassian Heritage.

She has more than 25+ years of experience working in the fields of public art, location-based performance, and arts and cultural leadership in nonprofit, educational and government settings. From 2011 to 2023 she served as the founding Director of the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy for the City of Minneapolis.

Gülgün is a member of the Mayor’s subcabinet and works with elected officials, artists, cultural organizations, public agencies, community leaders, and activists to explore how arts and culture are central to building strong healthy communities. Her work in creative placemaking, investments in the arts and artists, public policy, and cultural justice/equity have become national models of practice.

She has also served in positions as Assistant Director of the Artist Fellowship program at the Archibald Bush Foundation, St. Paul, the Coordinator of Public Art on Campus, and the Jerome/Lilly Temporary Public Art Commission programs at the Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota. She also founded and served as the Co-Artistic Director of the award-winning Skewed Visions performance company from 1998 to 2011.

Gülgün served on the Executive Committee of the US Urban Arts Federation and was the local policy, co-chair for Get Creatives Working Coalition and she is a member of Americans for the Arts and Grant Makers in the Arts. She has also served in a variety of advisory capacities with national arts organizations including: ArtPlace America, the National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response, and the Government Alliance on Race and Equity Arts Workgroup. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Arts in Theatre Theory and Criticism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BA with honors in Theatre and Film from the University of Middlesex, London.

Gulgun also speaks Turkish.

Kelly has long blonde hair.

Kelly Davidson

(She/Her)
Deputy Director

Bio + -

Kelly.Davidson@seattle.gov
(206) 794-3943

Kelly has worked with the City of Seattle since 1999, starting as an intern with the Office of Arts & Culture.

She has a degree in Fine Art from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she spent a lot of her time working with the Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery and as an intern working on the grand opening of the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery. Kelly served six years on the Bainbridge Island Public Art Committee, where they launched artworks as part of the downtowns street improvement, as well as initiating community art projects.

Since coming to the City of Seattle, Kelly has worked in five different departments: Office of Arts & Culture, Department of Neighborhoods, Parks and Recreation, Seattle City Light, and Finance and Administrative Services. In her free time Kelly enjoys paddling, skiing, and gardening.

Allie

Allie Lee

she/her

Bio + -

Executive Assistant
allie.lee@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9378

Allie is Executive Assistant to the Director and Department Liaison to the Seattle Arts Commission. Prior to joining the Office of Arts & Culture, Allie worked at the Office of Film + Music and supported the Seattle Music Commission. Allie holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Media Arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and has created hybrid artworks that mix found objects with digital media and performance. She also runs a small leather design studio with her husband and participates in local craft markets.

Allie also speaks Korean.

Communications and Outreach

Otts Bolisay

Otts Bolisay

(He/Him)
Communications Manager

Bio + -

otts.bolisay@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9591

Fourteen years of social justice work has attuned Otts to the rhythms of stories and how they can move us to action. Blogs were the newest form of social media back then, and Otts trained the Seattle contingent of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride to document and share their cross-country journey with the family and supporters they left behind.

Technology planning and strategic communications led to electronic advocacy and movement building, where Otts learned that all the shiny promise of emerging online platforms meant nothing without mobilizing grassroots participation. Along with video production, he began exploring other visual communications like graphic design, comics, and most recently, animation.

Otts is a bit of a flake with his art practice, flitting from illustration and comix, book arts, paper engineering, and social practice.

Nadia Ahmed

Nadia Ahmed

(She/Her)
Communications Specialist

Bio + -

Nadia.Ahmed@seattle.gov
(206) 305-6382

Nadia Ahmed is a Pakistani-American sculptor, performance artist, and arts administrator currently based in Seattle, WA. She moved from Los Angeles to Seattle in 2014, where she studied Art History and Three-Dimensional Forum at the University of Washington.

Nadia’s exhibition history includes Out of Sight, The High Wall, and ACES. She was a 2023 Artist in Residence at Nii Modo and is currently an artist resident at Actualize. With a focus on community building and racial equity, Nadia has worked as an educator, programmer, curator, and fundraiser at multiple nonprofits and arts-based organizations prior to joining ARTS.

Cultural Districts

Jenny Crooks

Jenny Crooks

(She/Her)
Cultural Districts Liaison

Bio + -

jenny.crooks@seattle.gov
(206) 684-7084

Jenny Crooks brings passion and creativity to her work for supporting the cultural community and is dedicated to making funding accessible and equitable. She joined ARTS in 2012 as an Arts Program Specialist to manage the office's community-based funding programs including Neighborhood & Community Arts and smART ventures. During her years at ARTS, she has helped to develop and pilot a number of partnership programs such as Arts in Parks, Artists at the Center, Work Readiness Arts Program, and The Creative Advantage. Additionally, she has supported the City's transition to a City-wide Grants Management System.

She grew up in Maryland, just outside of D.C., and was involved in the arts from an early age. She graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn., with a BA in international environmental studies. After returning to D.C. she worked as a volunteer coordinator at The Studio Theatre and then as a grants specialist at the National Endowment for the Arts. Jenny is also a theatre and collaborative artist and enjoys photography and the outdoors.

Jenny also speaks French and Dutch.

ARTS at King Street Station

Flossie Pennington

Flossie Pennington

(She/They)
ARTS at Kings Street Station/Denny Substation Facility Manager

Bio + -

Flossie.Pennington@seattle.gov
(206) 256-5686

A Seattle native, Flossie is a Capitol Hiller born and raised and has always enjoyed the vibrant, cosmopolitan, and diverse character of the area. After spending the majority of her career in corporate, Flossie decided she wanted to do something more personally meaningful and creative with her work life. Flossie is committed to working through a race and social justice lens that will have positive impacts on inclusion and accessibility to underserved and marginalized communities.

Teisa Fainga

Teisa Fainga

she/her

Bio + -

Maintenance Laborer
(206) 684-7171

Teisa is a transplant from the Island of Tonga in the South Pacific. She is responsible for the maintenance of ARTS at King Street Station. In her spare time, she loves taking care of her three puppies, working in her yard, traveling, and volunteering. 

Teisa also speaks Tongan.

Tesla Kawakami

Tesla Kawakami

(They/Them)
ARTS at King Street Station Visitor Services Coordinator

Bio + -

Tesla.Kawakami@seattle.gov
(206) 727-8654

As Visitor Services Coordinator, Tesla is ready to greet you at the front desk of ARTS at King Street Station. After graduating from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Tesla worked as an intern with the education department at the Seattle Art Museum. They are passionate about accessible art programming for underserved communities.

Tesla is also an oil painter who creates landscapes regional to the Pacific Northwest where they were born and raised. Their artwork explores the effects of climate change and the interactions between humans and nature.

In their free time, Tesla enjoys taking dance classes, playing with their cat, and writing prose.

Black man with glasses and grey beard wearing a hat

Abu Munkar Abd-Allah Mustafa

(He/Him)
Dedicated Security Officer

Bio + -

My name is Abu Munkar Abd-Allah Mustafa, most people just call me “Abu” or “Mustafa”. I’m originally from New York state, actually Long Island, born and raised.

I consider myself a humble, easy-going person — loving life, through its ups and downs. I enjoy walks and movies and am a private person. I do enjoy meaningful talks about the varieties of living. I believe that goodness lives through all times of whatever we may face as a world of people.

A simple good morning, good afternoon, or good night goes a long way.

Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Sandra Boas-DuPree

Sandra Boas-DuPree

she/her

Bio + -

Operations & Development
sandra.boas-dupree@seattle.gov

(206) 684-4758

Sandra is a native to Seattle and majored in finance and marketing at the University of Washington. After working as a contract specialist with Sedgewick Payne brokerage, where she managed multi-million dollar international accounts, she came aboard LHPAI in 2003. Her artistic lineage starts with her father, the noted jazz pianist Kenny Boas, one of Seattle's celebrated jazz-era musicians. She continues as a founding member of The Mahogany Project, a performing arts group that provides African-American's a means to be the makers and owners of their art. Her play Journey from Spruce Street premiered in the 2007 Mahogany Project's theater festival. In 2015, her play Jazz Prayer about the 1940s jazz era in Seattle premiered at Theater Off Jackson with Freehold Theater's Emboldenedplay about Buddy Bolden. Sandra's plays, including Sister Fusion and Black Label, challenge simple-minded stereotypical beliefs about African Americans and reveal her family's vanguard confrontation of racist barriers in Seattle. A social activist, her career has always included involvement in race and social justice initiatives in both the public and private sectors.

Jasira is a young Black woman with glasses and long braids.

Jasira Andrus

(She/Her)
Building Monitor

Bio + -

Jasira.Andrus@seattle.gov

Originally from Port Angeles, WA, Jasira has called Seattle’s south end home since 2021. Having received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at Western Washington University, she made sure to find time to nurture her love of music, participating in jazz combos and courses throughout her time in undergrad. With a love of history, she also minored in American Cultural Studies, dedicating time to learning more about the histories of historically underrepresented people within the United States.

Since moving to Seattle, Jasira has pursued the art of filmmaking, working as a screenwriter and director. Her work plays with themes of absurdity and surrealism, two concepts she finds essential to understanding her experience as a Black woman. She also draws inspiration from folklore, fairytales, thrillers and old comedies she enjoyed growing up. Jasira’s hope for her work is that it can push past limiting ideas of Black women’s art, and be a vehicle for conversation, change, and joy. A graduate of Northwest Film Forum’s Filmmaking Fundamentals course and Remove the Gap Production’s series intensive, her training has been hands on and guided by the work of Seattle film industry professionals. In 2023, Jasira was selected as the writer/director apprentice for Northwest Film Forum’s Action! Narrative Apprenticeship program, creating a short film with a team of other apprentices.

When she’s not writing or working on set, you can find Jasira riding her bike around Seattle’s south end, watching movies with her friends, or cuddling with her cat, Beignet.

Jahi Bouvier McGhee

Jahi Bouvier McGhee

(They/Them)
Facilties Rental Coordinator

Bio + -

jahi.mcghee@seattle.gov
206-684-4758

Jahi Bouvier, born and raised in Seattle with family ties to the Central District, is a visual artist and activist. While pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications at Eastern Washington University, Jahi ran D1 track & field and joined the first African American fraternity, the highly esteemed Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Inc.

With a background in digital photography Jahi combines their technical skills with their passion for activism to create thought-provoking pieces that are both aesthetically pleasing and socially relevant and has exhibited their work in various locations including Caffe Zingaro, Boston Consulting Group, Belltown Artwalk, and Seattle Credit Union to name a few.

When Jahi isn't creating art, they can often be found volunteering in their community, working behind the scenes of various esports productions as an assistant broadcast engineer, advocating for social/economic/environmental change, and performing as a legacy member of the kickball organization BaseGods.

No photo

Aalijah Fulton

Building Monitor

Bio + -

Ari wears a tall bucket hat, chunky shades, and a black coat with a heavy, furry collar.

Ari Lindholm

(He/Him)
Stage Tech Lead

Bio + -

Ari.Lindholm@seattle.gov
206-580-5307

Ari came to the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture as a “3rd Chapter in life.” He's done technical work in Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute since 1994, working with Pacific Northwest Theatre Associates.

Ari just escaped a 15-year run as a top gun, freelance Audio Visual Wizard working deep inside the regional tech industry and events. For the last 5 years, he was first pick on any and all high profile events in the region due to his mastery of Sound, Video & Lighting.

ARTS logo

Washington Mose

(He/Him)

Bio + -

ARTS logo

Daniel Reyes

(He/Him)
Maintenance Laborer

Bio + -

Office Operations

Allie McGehee

(She/Her)
Finance Manager

Bio + -


alexandra.mcgehee2@seattle.gov
206-684-8362

Allie comes to ARTS from the Office of Inspector General where she worked as the Operations Manager. Her background in City government has been centered in criminal justice and she has previously worked on projects including the design of the Community Service Office program, policy research for the Seattle Mental Health Court, and community education around Seattle Police Department's body camera policy. Allie is really excited to step out of the criminal justice space and support the work at ARTS.   

Allie has a MPA from the University of Washington and BA from the University of Maryland. She grew up outside of DC and loves to read, drink coffee, travel, and spend time with family.

Allie also speaks German.

Sarah wears circular wire-framed glasses and has shoulder-length, wavy brown hair.

Sarah Blumenfeld

(She/They)
Contracts Coordinator

Bio + -

Sarah.Blumenfeld@seattle.gov

Sarah brings a wealth of experience from the higher education, non-profit, and tech sectors. With a social justice lens that recognizes the complex ways in which different people navigate the world, they are dedicated to fostering collaboration and uplifting the well-being and success of those most impacted by systemic barriers. Having previously served as the Cultural Partnerships intern from 2019-2020, Sarah is excited to now be joining ARTS full-time. Prior to that, she served as an AmeriCorps with Communities in Schools of Renton-Tukwila, where she supported program development and community partnerships.

Originally from Southern California, Sarah made Seattle her home after graduating with a BA in sociology and cultural anthropology from Seattle University in 2020. Sarah feels extremely lucky to be back in a space that combines their passion for the arts, community, and equity, and is excited to continue working towards creating a more just and inclusive world through their role at ARTS. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys caring for their indoor plant garden, strolling through museums, and exploring Seattle's restaurant and cafe scene.

Alexandra Chase

Alexandra Chase

she/her

Bio + -

Sr. Panel Coordinator and Data Liaison
alexandra.chase@seattle.gov
(206) 718-3430

Alexandra is a social worker with a background in racial equity consulting, policy advocacy, arts administration and fundraising, database management, and direct service with youth and families. She is inspired by the words of author and activist Arundhati Roy who once said, “another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” Alexandra believes that another way of living is possible and through sustained commitment and action we can create the world we want to be a part of.

She holds a Master of Social Work with a focus on community-centered practices and values equity, social justice, compassion, collaboration, accountability, and curiosity. She approaches her work in a way that centers those most impacted by policies and programs and utilizes a community’s inherent skills and abilities to make change. Alexandra believes in the importance of understanding the systems and structures that shape society and actively working to dismantle white supremacy culture through deep personal work and the eradication of inequitable policies and practices within organizations, government entities, and our community at large.

In her personal life she loves to work with clay in her home pottery studio, go hiking, paddle boarding, camping, snag books from the Peak Picks section at the library, attend local music and art shows, and spend time with her partner and their dog, Tegan.

Steven Eng

Steven Eng

he/him

Bio + -

Accounting Services
steven.eng@seattle.gov
(206) 615-1825

Steven oversees the accounting operations for the office including creating general ledger journal entries, general ledger maintenance and reconciliation, accounts receivable, asset management, approving vouchers, and preparing various financial reports. He also assists in the loading of the yearly budget into the city of Seattle's financial accounting system. Prior to joining the office in 2010, Steven worked for more than 20 years in various financial institutions in Seattle as an accountant and data warehouse analyst. In his spare time, Steven enjoys watching sports, especially basketball, soccer, football, and baseball. He plays basketball every week.      

Sheila Moss

Sheila Moss

she/her

Bio + -

Accounting Services
sheila.moss@seattle.gov
(206) 233-7016

Sheila has been with the office since 2009 and performs accounting and administrative duties within the city's financial system including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, and payroll, as well as some human resources duties. Sheila is also a talented vocalist and lyricist and has written, arranged, and recorded music for many years.

Partnerships, Education, and Grants

Ashraf Hasham

Ashraf Hasham

he/him

Bio + -

Partnerships, Education, and Grants Manager
ashraf.hasham@seattle.gov

(206) 514-1057

Ashraf oversees the City's youth investments in arts education, creative youth development, and career-connected learning. He comes to this role from The Vera Project, a homegrown, nationally-renowned, participatory, all-ages, volunteer-fueled music venue & DIY arts space at the Seattle Center, where he served as Executive Director. Prior to that, he spent time with Chicago's largest arts education provider, Urban Gateways, where he was Program Manager for Advocacy & Engagement, as well as Seattle's TeenTix, a revolutionary arts access & youth empowerment organization where he has played multiple roles over the years, most recently as Director of Partnerships & Programs.

Ashraf earned a bachelor's degree in Arts Administration from Wagner College in New York City, and gained his chops in the editorial department at Aperture magazine, the external relations department at the Henry Art Gallery (a contemporary art museum on the University of Washington campus), and as the front-of-house manager at On the Boards (Seattle's renowned contemporary performance mainstay).

Nationally, Ashraf serves on Americans for the Arts (AFTA)'s Arts Education Advisory Council, and locally serves on the Central Waterfront Oversight Commission. His writing has appeared on AFTA's ARTSblog, The Seattle Globalist, City Arts, The Stranger, and the Staten Island Advance. Ashraf can be seen in the wild on various dance floors as well as at arts events, thrift stores, and live music venues around town.

Ashraf also speaks Urdu.

Kate Fernandez

Kate Fernandez

(She/Her)
Hope Corps Project Manager

Bio + -

Kate.Fernandez@seattle.gov
(206) 948-3059

Kate Fernandez is a California native who has lived in Seattle longer than she hasn’t. During this time, she has zig-zagged between design and administration in an attempt to transfer knowledge between those two worlds that shifts and shapes culture.

As Director of Interpretation & Visitor Experience at the Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, Kate brought these realms together and led the design and build of the galleries and public spaces for the new museum. She is also the founder of several letterpress print shops, producer of grassroots music and arts festivals, and curator of experiences at the intersection of art and nature. Most recently, Kate has worked as a consultant to local and national nonprofits to help them find creative solutions to their strategic problems.

Kate holds a BA in Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington and studied typography and design at the School of Visual Concepts.

Zach wears glasses and a cap.

Zach Frimmel

(They/Them)
Grants Project Manager

Bio + -

Zach.Frimmel@seattle.gov
(206) 963-9226

Zach Frimmel is a concept-based songwriter, music journalist, and intersectional world-builder. They grew up in Florida’s DIY art and punk scenes. Zach has lived on the unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples since 2012.

Over the last ten years, Zach has orchestrated professional development and progressive grantmaking programs at Artist Trust, Northwest Film Forum, and the Seattle Department of Neighborhood’s (DON) Food Equity Fund. They were also the music specialist for the 2023 CityArtist panel. Zach comes to ARTS after a year of working as the Civic Engagement Coordinator at DON, staffing the Seattle Renters Commission, plus co-designing the PACE program with community partners to create culturally relevant civic education for historically disenfranchised voices to leverage their advocacy power.

From 2017-2020, they were a contributing writer for KEXP and The Stranger, championing local and worldwide music communities. Zach builds sonic worlds under the solo project riife. They released their debut sound-body-of-work, topics of cancer, in June 2021 on the Seattle cassette label Den Tapes as well as self-produced it on vinyl.

Zach is currently writing and conceptualizing the next riife album, is amped to start a dream job at ARTS, and can often be found at a local show or dancing the night away with friends.

Irene Gómez

Irene Gómez

she/her

Bio + -

Project Manager
irene.gomez@seattle.gov

(206) 684-7310

Irene administers ARTISTS UP and CityArtists Projects funding programs in addition to related technical support. She's an active member of the city's Race & Social Justice Initiative Change Team and volunteers on several boards and committees of a community foundation, artist collectives, and heritage organizations. Film, travel, friends, and being the parent of an emerging media artist balance interests outside of work.

Irene also speaks Spanish.

Kathy Hsieh

Kathy Hsieh

she/her

Bio + -

Cultural Investments Strategist
kathy.hsieh@seattle.gov
(206) 733-9926

Kathy oversees the community-building, funding, and racial equity programs of the Office. A change agent in transforming the City's arts funding program through a racial equity lens, she helped the agency earn the Seattle Management Association's first Race & Social Justice Management Award. A leader with the City's nationally recognized Race & Social Justice Initiative, she has presented on numerous national panels, and is an adjunct professor on Asian American Theatre for the University of Washington.

Kathy is also a theatre artist and award-winning actor, playwright, director, and producer with a special focus on work that creates visibility and opportunities for and highlights the talent and contributions of, artists of color. She has been honored by the National Association of Asian American Professionals in Seattle as their Artist of the Year and as an actor by ArtsFund in 2003, featured in The Dramatist Magazine as "50 to Watch" in 2007, received A Special Award of Recognition by The Seattle Theater Writers Gypsy Awards for Excellence in Playwriting and Verizon's Asian Pacific American Bash's Innovator Award in 2012, and is the 2015 International Examiner Community Voice Awardee in the Arts.

Kathy also speaks Mandarin.

Tina LaPadula

Tina LaPadula

she/her

Bio + -

Arts Education Project Manager
tina.lapadula@seattle.gov

(206) 518-4205

Tina LaPadula is an East coast transplant and warrior for equitable art-making and learning opportunities. For more than 15 years she poured most of her creative energy into Arts Corps, the award-winning arts and social justice nonprofit she helped found. She has collaborated with The Frye Museum, The Museum of History and Industry, and Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival to curate exhibitions and events that elevate the art and perspectives of young people. As a teaching artist, Tina has taught for Centrum Arts, Seattle Children's Theatre, The University of Washington, and in a multitude of schools and afterschool programs. She has served as a consultant to many cultural organizations facilitating workshops on racial justice and the arts. Tina supports the growth and development of teaching artists locally and nationally, most notably as the founder of the Seattle Teaching Artist Network, as a faculty member for the WA State Teaching Artist Training Lab, as the former chair of the Association of Teaching Artists, and on the national advisory team for the Teaching Artist Guild. Her writing and opinions have been featured by Americans for the Arts and The National Guild for Community Arts Education.

Alex Rose

Alex Rose

(She/Her)
Partnerships Program Manager

Bio + -

Alex.Rose@seattle.gov
(206) 459-6517

Alex Rose brings her passions for music, culture, and community to her work at the City of Seattle. As Partnerships Program Manager, Alex connects young people to creative careers, supports the Seattle Music Commission, and brings creative entrepreneurs together to network and access resources. With a background in digital marketing, Alex is drawn to the magic that happens at the intersection of creativity and technology. She is also a singer, producer, bandleader, and mom.

Alex also speaks Spanish.

Kristi Woo

Kristi Woo

she/her

Bio + -

Creative Youth Development Project Manager
kristi.woo@seattle.gov

(206) 727-8671

Kristi serves as ARTS' Creative Youth Development Project Manager and has a passion for cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and community advocacy. Kristi is a former Arts Education Manager of the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and Education Manager for the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. Her innovation in bridge-building amongst schools, families, and artists along with advocacy in underserved communities around arts education is well respected. She has worked and volunteered with pluralistic communities in Seattle's Rainier Valley, Chinatown International District, and Central Area neighborhoods for more than 20 years.

Policy & Planning

Ele Watts

Ele Watts

(They/Them)
Impact & Assessment Manager

Bio + -

Ele.Watts2@seattle.gov

Ele Watts is the temporary Impact and Assessment Manager for ARTS, on loan from Parks and Recreation where they were the data analyst for the Recreation Division. Much of their career has focused on sustainable agriculture and local food systems, before they made the switch to public program evaluation, data management, analysis, and technical support. Ele has an MPA from the University of Washington, and a BA from Vassar College.

While not much of an artist themself, Ele is an enthusiastic consumer/supporter of the arts, especially literary arts, theater, comedy, immersive experiences, and place-based art. They also spend their free time volunteering, rollerblading, undertaking large food preservation projects, admiring rabbits, gamifying otherwise mundane situations, and making spreadsheets for their friends.

Public Art

Jason Huff

Jason Huff

(He/Him)
Public Art Program Manager

Bio + -

Jason.Huff@seattle.gov
(206) 684-7278

As a public art project manager with our office since 2007, Jason has worked with local and national artists to design and install artworks for the City's Civic Art Collection. From 2000 to 2007, Jason was the artistic director at the Kirkland Arts Center.

Born and raised in White Plains, NY, he received his BFA in art from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and his MFA in ceramics from the University of Washington. Jason continues to work in ceramics and has exhibited his work regionally at Gallery IMA, SOIL, Bellevue Art Museum, Gallery IMA, and nationally at the Contemporary Crafts Gallery in Portland, OR; San Angelo Museum of Fine Art in San Angelo, TX; Contemporary Arts Collective and Donna Beam Fine Arts Gallery in Las Vegas, NV; and the Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery in Reno, NV.

Adetola Abatan

Adetola Abatan

(She/Her)
Public Art Project Manager

Bio + -

Adetola.Abatan@seattle.gov
(206) 794-1839

Adetola Abatan is an artist, musician, curator, engineer, and arts leader based in Seattle, WA. She believes visual art amplifies her inner voice and articulates her musings on race, gender, faith, and identity.

Her collage artworks have featured in the Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair at Wa Na Wari, Meloy Gallery, Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery, Mini Mart City Park, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and PublicDisplay.Art magazine.

Adetola curated the 2022 Blue is Our Color exhibit in the Hedreen Gallery as well as the 2023 Future Cosmologies exhibit at Mad Art Gallery. She holds an MFA in Arts Leadership from Seattle University as well as a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ade also speaks Yoruba.

Jeremy Beliveau

Jeremy Beliveau

they/he

Bio + -

Project Manager
jeremy.beliveau@seattle.gov
(206) 459-6554

Jeremy Beliveau is a lifelong artist and musician who was raised in Massachusetts and moved to Seattle in 2012. Jeremy has a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Bard College and a master's degree in Museum Studies from the University of Washington. Before joining the team at ARTS, Jeremy worked on exhibits for the National Park Service, Center on Contemporary Arts (CoCA), Museum of Flight, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Public Library, and Chief Seattle Club. In their free time, Jeremy enjoys composing and recording music, playing with ink and paint, and doting over their houseplants.

James Coley

James Coley

(He/Him)
King Street Station Program Lead

Bio + -

james.coley@seattle.gov
206-684-4186

Originally from Seattle, James is a professional writer, composer, and arts educator with a background in film, digital media, and music composition. He holds an M.Ed in Arts Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where his work centered on the use of art to combat and overcome systems of oppression. His passion is for building cross-discipline partnerships to leverage collective action for social change. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, composing, studying history, and getting up before sunrise to work on his novel.

Sandy Esene

Sandy Esene

she/her

Bio + -

Registrar
sandy.esene@seattle.gov

(206) 615-2003

Sandy is passionate about care of collections and is excited to be a steward for the City of Seattle's Permanently Sited and Portable Works collections. As the Public Art Registrar Sandy maintains the artwork database and collection authority files, maintaining legal documents, histories of use, and physical histories of collection objects. She provides data, information, and expertise for inquiries regarding City artwork collection. Sandy is a self-confessed ancient cultures geek and writes contemporary fantasy novels that incorporate adventure, ancient myth, and history.

Blake Haygood

Blake Haygood

he/him

Bio + -

Curator and Collections Supervisor
blake.haygood@seattle.gov
(206) 684-7132

Blake helps rotate and maintain the Civic Art Collection, with more than 3,200 works; assists in curating City exhibitions; and provides handyman services in the office when needed. He is a practicing artist and his work can be viewed at blakehaygood.com.

Jesse has long, dark, wavy hair and is smiling in front of a brick background.

Jesse Jimenez

(They/Them)
Public Art Project Manager

Bio + -

Jesse.Jimenez@seattle.gov
(206) 867-1971

Jesse Jimenez is passionate about creating spaces where art and community connect. As a Public Art Project Manager for the City of Seattle, Jesse is dedicated to making public art an integral part of daily life.

Their journey spans from public health to leading public engagement programs at major museums. These experiences have strengthened Jesse’s belief that public art should reflect the people and communities it serves.

Jesse is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—not only in the art itself but throughout the creative process. Whether working with local artists, organizing community events, or managing budgets, Jesse approaches every project with transparency, collaboration, and a deep respect for community voices.

They are excited to bring their energy and expertise to the ARTS team, continuing to foster spaces that are both welcoming and meaningful.

Tiffany Hedrick

Tiffany Hedrick

she/her

Bio + -

Artwork Conservation
tiffany.hedrick@seattle.gov
(206) 615-0175

For over seven years Tiffany has facilitated and performed conservation for the city of Seattle's public art collection, comprised of more than 2,800 portable and 450 permanent works of art. Tiffany also works with Seattle Parks and Recreation to assess, restore and maintain artworks in their collection. Tiffany received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Washington and her Master of Arts degree in Conservation from Northumbria University. When not scaling totem poles, Tiffany loves to go camping and hiking, spend time in the garden, build furniture and train her Border collie and Australian shepherd on their agility skills.

Rebecca Johnson

Rebecca Johnson

she/her

Bio + -

Project Manager
rebecca.johnson@seattle.gov
(206) 684-0182

Rebecca “Becky” Johnson has worked in the field of public art for ten years, including the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro Art program, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture, and public art consulting. Becky received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, a minor in Business from the University of Central Arkansas, and a Masters of Public Art Studies from the University of Southern California. As a new resident of the Pacific Northwest, Becky loves exploring Seattle and the greater area with her partner.

Maija McKnight

Maija McKnight

she/her

Bio + -

Public Art Project Manager Supervisor
maija.mcknight@seattle.gov
(206) 684-7311

Maija has worked in the arts field for more than 15 years including serving as the Arts Coordinator for the City of Auburn, Washington and within the education departments of Tacoma Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, and Seattle Asian Art Museum. With an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Western Washington University and a master's degree in Museum Studies from the University of Washington, this former Montanan enjoys spending time at the beach with her family and making things out of metal in her studio.

Maija also speaks Mandarin.

Rana San

Rana San

(She/Her)
King Street Station Activations Project Manager

Bio + -

Rana.San@seattle.gov
(206) 256-6279

Rana San is an intermedia artist, curator, and community builder whose creative practice centers experimental and analog approaches to storytelling through film, writing, and movement presented on screen and stage.

In community, Rana crafts collective experiences that champion the work of independent artists and activists, centering those whose voices have been historically underrepresented. Her experience spans curating and producing festivals, exhibitions, and events featuring film and video poetry, dance and choreography, visual and media art installation, sound and music, and durational performance art.

Rana co-directs Cadence Video Poetry Festival, an annual showcase of literary works presented as visual media, and most recently served as the Artistic Director at Northwest Film Forum. Rana earned her BA from the University of Washington and holds a MA in Arts and Cultural Management from Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.

Rana also speaks Turkish.

Ben Schreck

Benjamin Schreck

he/him

Bio + -

Curatorial Assistant & Artwork Conservationist
benjamin.schreck@seattle.gov
(206) 615-1742

Ben Schreck is an interdisciplinary artist residing in Seattle whose practice resonates with familial relationships and generational departures. Through object-based performance and collaboration, the work weaves the present and the past.

Born in Carlock, Illinois, he later moved to Boulder, Colorado to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a BFA in Sculpture and a BA in Art History. Ben received his MFA in 3d4m from the University of Washington, Seattle. Learning through the reciprocal exchange of teaching, Schreck has worked as an educator, fine art fabricator, preparator, and artist, as well as being selected as a 2017 Emerging Artist in Residence with the Centrum Foundation in Port Townsend, WA. In addition to national tours showcasing performance with the Flinching Eye Collective-recipients of The Idea Fund funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in 2014,-Schreck's work has been exhibited internationally and nationally, with exhibitions in Valdivia, Chile; Cuernavaca, Mexico; Bethlehem, Palestine; Houston, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; Seattle, WA, among other venues.

Ruri Yampolsky

Ruri Yampolsky

she/her

Bio + -

Office of the Waterfront Arts Liaison
ruri.yampolsky@seattle.gov
(206) 684-7309

Ruri Yampolsky is the Waterfront Program Art Manager for the city of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, working to ensure that arts and culture are fully integrated into one of the largest civic transformations Seattle has undertaken. On loan to the Waterfront office from the Office of Arts & Culture, she has many years of experience managing Seattle’s Public Art Program and complex (as well as some uncomplicated) public art projects, working to expand public experience by providing a range of projects in a variety of artistic expressions that shape urban space, engage the community, encourage civic dialog and bring new voices into the field. She served for six years on the Public Art Network Council for Americans for the Arts, finishing out as vice-chair, and focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in public art practice, policies, and procedures. She is a registered architect with a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in architecture with a minor in Latin from Barnard College.

On Leave

Lovell Davis

Lovell Davis

(He/Him)
Facilities Manager

Bio + -

lovell.davis@seattle.gov
(206) 256-5484

Lovell Davis comes to ARTS with 10+ years in Facility Maintenance. He has an eye for creating a safe environment where the community can gather and enjoy the lives of each other and art. In his spare time, he works with youth and uses art and other avenues to build mentoring relationships. He enjoys time at the ocean with a book doing absolutely nothing or spending time in his yard.

Arts & Culture

Gülgün Kayim, Director
Address: 303 S. Jackson Street, Top Floor, Seattle, WA , 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 94748, Seattle, WA , 98124-4748
Phone: (206) 684-7171
Fax: (206) 684-7172
arts.culture@seattle.gov

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The Office of Arts & Culture promotes the value of arts and culture in, and of, communities throughout Seattle. It strives to ensure that a wide range of high-quality artistic experiences are available to everyone, encourage artist-friendly arts and cultural policy.