Office of Arts and Culture

SEA-MC tit. 3, subtit. II, ch. 3.14, subch. VI

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.800 Office established—purpose and functions

3.14.800 - Office established—purpose and functions There is established in the Executive Department an Office of Arts and Culture, under the direction of the Mayor, to stimulate a diverse and lively arts and cultural environment that draws on the full potential of artists across a broad cultural spectrum, reflects and responds to civic concerns and aspirations, and enriches the lives of all members of our community. The functions of the Office of Arts and Culture shall include the following: A. Assist the City in the development of high quality arts and cultural programs and services, and promote Seattle as a capital of creativity and innovation; B. Advise the City on arts and cultural policy; C. Develop arts and cultural initiatives to encourage greater participation in, and increased public access to, arts and culture in Seattle. Such programs and initiatives may include partnerships with other City agencies, as well as other public or private entities; D. Administer and implement the City of Seattle's Municipal Arts Fund, including the "One Percent (1%) for Art" appropriations; E. Provide information and resources to artists and arts and cultural organizations; and F. Promote Seattle's artistic and cultural assets in music, visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, and media arts. (Ord. 124539, § 1, 2014; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.810 Director—appointment and removal

3.14.810 - Director—appointment and removal The Director of the Office of Arts and Culture shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of all members of the City Council, and may be removed by the Mayor upon his or her filing a statement of reasons therefor with the City Council. (Ord. 124539, § 2, 2014; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.815 Director—Duties

3.14.815 - Director—Duties The Director of the Office of Arts and Culture shall be the head of and responsible for the administration of the Office of Arts and Culture. Under the direction of the Mayor, the duties of the Director of the Office of Arts and Culture shall include the following: A. Subject to the City's personnel ordinances and rules, appoint, assign, supervise, control, and remove all officers and employees in the Office of Arts and Culture; B. Prepare and update annually a Municipal Arts Plan, as required by Section 20.32.040; C. Manage the preparation of the preliminary proposed budget for the Office of Arts and Culture subject to review and comment by the Seattle Arts Commission, authorize necessary expenditures and enter into contracts for professional and expert services in accordance with the adopted budget, develop and manage programs, and undertake authorized activities; D. Administer all ordinances pertaining to the Office of Arts and Culture and its functions; E. Execute, administer, modify and enforce such agreements and instruments as the Director shall deem reasonably necessary to implement arts and culture programs consistent with all applicable laws and ordinances, as the Director shall deem appropriate for carrying out the responsibilities, functions, and activities of the Office of Arts and Culture; apply for grants and donations for departmental programs, and solicit and use volunteer services; F. Serve, in conjunction with other affected members of the Mayor's Cabinet, as the City's representative to intergovernmental and public-private boards, commissions, organizations, and committees engaged in issues pertaining to arts and culture; G. Provide staff support for all commissions associated with the Office of Arts and Culture; H. Consult with and report regularly to the commissions associated with the Office of Arts and Culture on the workings of the Office, and attend, either in person or by designated representative, all regular meetings of the commissions; I. Make periodic reports to the Mayor and City Council concerning the activities of the Office of Arts and Culture and programs for the arts and culture, generally; J. Promulgate and amend, in accordance with the City Administrative Code, Chapter 3.02, rules and regulations to carry out Office of Arts and Culture activities; and K. Set fees and charges for all cultural spaces owned or operated by the Office of Arts and Culture that compete with market pricing at comparable venues. In setting these fees and charges, the Director is not subject to the provisions of Chapter 3.02 of the Seattle Municipal Code. L. Exercise such other and further powers and duties as shall be prescribed by ordinance. (Ord. 125730, § 1, 2018; Ord. 124627, § 1, 2014; Ord. 124539, § 3, 2014; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.820 Seattle Arts Commission—Established.

3.14.820 - Seattle Arts Commission—Established. There is established a Seattle Arts Commission to promote and encourage public programs to further the development and public awareness of and interest in arts and culture and to act in an advisory capacity to the City in connection with the artistic and cultural development of Seattle. (Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.825 Seattle Arts Commission—Membership and officers.

3.14.825 - Seattle Arts Commission—Membership and officers. The Seattle Arts Commission shall consist of fifteen members. Except as provided for some initial terms in Section 4 of Ordinance 121006, seven members shall be appointed by the City Council, seven members shall be appointed by the Mayor, and the fifteenth member shall be appointed by the Commission as constituted. The members appointed by the Mayor and the member appointed by the Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the City Council. Positions on the Seattle Arts Commission shall be numbered from one through fifteen. For purposes of filling vacancies, odd-numbered positions from position one through position thirteen shall be Mayor-appointed positions and even-numbered positions shall be Council-appointed positions. Each member shall serve for a term of two years, with an option for renewal, not to exceed three terms or six years; provided that for positions one through seven, the initial terms shall be one year, and these initial terms shall not count toward the three-term or six-year maximum. Membership shall reflect Seattle's artistic, cultural, and geographic diversity, and include members from the community at large. The Commission shall elect from its members such officers as it shall deem necessary; provided, that a Chairperson shall be elected by a simple majority of the members for a one year term. In addition to the members set forth above, one designated young adult position shall be added to the Seattle Arts Commission pursuant to the Get Engaged Program, Chapter 3.51. The terms of service related to this young adult position are set forth in Chapter 3.51. (Ord. 124539, § 4, 2014; Ord. 121568 § 6, 2004; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.830 Seattle Arts Commission—duties

3.14.830 - Seattle Arts Commission—duties The Seattle Arts Commission shall have the following duties: A. Promote greater public participation in, and access to, arts and culture; B. Advocate for the role of arts and culture in civic life, and for the value of arts in education; C. Encourage donations and grants to the Civic Arts Account of the General Donation and Gift Fund and advise the Director of the Office of Arts and Culture regarding the receipt and expenditure of such funds; D. Advise the City concerning the receipt of or purchase of works of art to be placed on municipal property, except for museums or art galleries or works of art placed or to be placed in connection with projects reviewed by the Seattle Design Commission; E. Advise and assist the City in connection with such other artistic activities as may be referred to it by the City; F. By May 1 of each year, submit a written report to the Director of the Office of Arts and Culture on the Commission's priorities for the funds solely allocated for the use of the Office of Arts and Culture for the following budget year. This report shall be provided to the City Council and shall be included in any initial budget recommendations made by the Director to the Mayor; G. Within 15 days of the Mayor's presentation of the proposed budget, provide the City Council with written comments on the proposed Office of Arts and Culture budget, including how the proposed Office of Arts and Culture budget reflects the funding priorities outlined in subsection F of this Section 3.14.830; H. Initiate, sponsor or conduct, alone or in cooperation with other public or private agencies, public programs to further the development and public awareness of, and interest in, the fine and performing arts; I. Hold regular public meetings and keep a written record of its proceedings which shall be a public record; and J. Adopt administrative rules and procedures necessary to accomplish its purposes. (Ord. 124539, § 5, 2014; Ord. 123460, § 1, 2010; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.840 Deaccessioning and disposition of surplus artworks

3.14.840 - Deaccessioning and disposition of surplus artworks A. When the Seattle Arts Commission determines that an artwork is surplus to the City's collection of artworks, the Commission may deaccession the same and arrange for its disposition through an exchange of the artwork for one or more other artwork(s) of comparable aggregate value for the City's collection, with the City being responsible for the payment or receipt of any monetary difference between the value of the City's artwork and the aggregate value of such exchanged artwork(s); through a sale by an art gallery or dealer; through a public auction or process inviting bids or proposals from the public and the acceptance of the best response; through the Director of Finance and Administrative Services in the same manner as other surplus property; through an indefinite loan to another governmental entity on condition that the receiving entity will maintain the artwork and provide an accompanying notice of the City's retained ownership; or through re-donation, sale or other arrangement agreed upon with the donor or artist at the time of the City's acquisition of such artwork; and, in the event the artwork has been destroyed or damaged beyond repair at a reasonable cost, or has no or only a negligible value, it may be disposed of as scrap. B. If an artwork was donated to the City on condition that the artwork be returned or transferred to another person or entity when it is no longer displayed or ceases to be a part of the City's collection, upon the occurrence of circumstances making such condition applicable, the Seattle Arts Commission shall request directions from the donor or the donor's representative(s), as appropriate, and return the artwork to the donor or transfer the artwork consistent with the terms of such condition, if such condition applies, and the directions of the donor or the donor's representative. C. In the event the artist has reserved a right to repurchase the artwork when the City's artwork is to be disposed of, the Seattle Arts Commission shall allow the artist a reasonable opportunity to buy it back at its fair market value, as determined by appraisal. Alternatively, the Commission may accept the exchange of the artwork for one or more other artwork(s) that the Commission is willing to include in the City's collection and that has/have an aggregate appraised value equal to the fair market value of the City's artwork. D. The Office of Arts and Culture may implement, in connection with the deaccessioning of any artwork in the City's collection, a written commitment made to the creator or donor of any artwork at the time such artwork is commissioned, purchased, donated, or otherwise procured for the City's collection, to share with such creator or donor a portion of the proceeds of the sale of such artwork upon its deaccessioning and removal from the City's collection if such sale proceeds, after the deduction therefrom of all of the expenses related to such sale, exceed the amount paid by the City for such artwork by at least $200 and the portion of such proceeds that is provided to the creator or donor under such commitment does not exceed 15 percent of such proceeds. E. No artwork shall be deemed surplus to the City's collection of artworks if the City administrative unit responsible for administration of the fund used to acquire the same requests its retention and the City's legislative authority provides for the continued maintenance of such artwork. (Ord. 124539, § 6, 2014; Ord. 123361, § 34, 2010; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Seattle Mun. Code ch. 3.14, subch. VI, § 3.14.845 Application of proceeds of sale of artwork

3.14.845 - Application of proceeds of sale of artwork A. The proceeds from the sale of a purchased artwork, after deducting the expenses of the sale and any percentage share due to the artist, as authorized by subsection D of this section, shall be deposited to the credit of the fund from which the expenditure was originally made to acquire the artwork. B. Any work of art that is an asset of a revenue bond or voter-approved general obligation bond fund may be replaced by exchange for one or more other works of art or an aggregate equivalent value, and may not be disposed of as surplus or deaccessioned property without being so replaced until after the redemption date for all bonds of the particular bond issue that served as the revenue source for the acquisition of such work of art. C. The proceeds from the sale of an artwork that had been donated to the City shall be deposited and expended in accord with the donor's direction accompanying the gift, and in the absence of such instructions, to the Municipal Arts Fund for use in acquiring other artworks. D. The Office of Arts and Culture is authorized to enter into contractual agreements committing the City to provide the creator of an artwork to be acquired for the City's collection, upon such artwork's subsequent deaccessioning and offering for sale, (1) a first right to purchase such artwork, and (2) up to fifteen percent of the net proceeds of such sale if, following the deduction and payment of all sale-related expenses, such net proceeds equal or exceed $200. (Ord. 124539, § 7, 2014; Ord. 121006 § 7(part), 2002.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT3AD_SUBTITLE_IIDEOF_CH3.14EXDE_SUBCHAPTER_VIOFARCUFetched: 11/1/2026