Now showing artTown Episode 10

The City of Tacoma’s Media and Communications Office – in partnership with the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality – has released a new episode of artTown, a cultural documentary-style TV initiative exploring Tacoma’s emergence as a major creative hub in the Pacific Northwest.

In this episode:

• Explore the public art inside and outside at People’s Community Center that is helping preserve and share the history of the Hilltop community
• Learn how the City of Tacoma’s Artist in Residence, Roni Chelben, worked to engage the community through theater, video, and conversations around the causes, challenges and possible approaches to addressing homelessness
• Meet poet Kevin Miller and learn how his dog Scout has helped him be more observant and grow as an artist
• Catch Will Jordan and Joe Edwards as they chat about habits for creative growth, artistic integrity, and their own musical journeys

Launched in 2013, the series has earned numerous awards and features diverse perspectives on a variety of creative disciplines. Offering a more holistic look at creativity in Tacoma, artTown stretches beyond what people might traditionally think of as “creative” – such as fine art, music or dance – to spotlight other creative areas of interest that have flourished in Tacoma like fashion, innovative education practices, socially-engaged work and more.

Online viewing:
Watch “artTown” anytime at cityoftacoma.org/artTown

YouTube:
Watch segments or the full episode anytime on the City of Tacoma’s YouTube Channel

TV Tacoma air times:
Mondays at noon
Tuesdays at 1 AM
Wednesdays at 8 AM
Thursdays at 6 PM
Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 5 PM
Sundays at 5 AM

TV Tacoma is aired on both the Click! and Comcast Cable systems. On Click!, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 within Tacoma City limits and in Pierce County, with the exception of University Place, where TV Tacoma can be found on Channel 21. On Comcast, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 within Tacoma city limits and on Channel 21 in Pierce County. TV Tacoma is not on the Comcast system in University Place, but is accessible anywhere on the Internet at tvtacoma.com.

Are you Tacoma’s next Poet Laureate?

2017-2019 Tacoma Poet Laureate Kellie Richardson performs at the Tacoma Arts Month opening party.

Call to Artists for 2019-2021 Tacoma Poet Laureate

Application Deadline: February 18, 2019, 11:59 pm

Stipend: $4,000

OPPORTUNITY
The Tacoma Arts Commission announces the eighth annual Tacoma Poet Laureate competition, the winner of which will be named Tacoma Poet Laureate for 2019-2021.

The Tacoma Poet Laureate will hold the title for a period of two years, from May 2019 to April 2021, and receive a stipend of $4,000.  The individual will actively contribute to and advance Tacoma’s literary community in meaningful ways through readings, performances, workshops, presentations, publications and/or special projects; participate in Tacoma Arts Month each October; and help produce the 2021 Tacoma Poet Laureate ceremony to announce the next Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate is expected to determine the direction, focus, and appropriate public components for their term of service.

In keeping with the City of Tacoma’s Equity and Empowerment Initiative, the Tacoma Poet Laureate should actively strive to engage the breadth of Tacoma’s citizenry, expanding access to the literary arts to underserved/underrepresented audiences including people of different races/ethnicities, ages, sexual orientation and identity, ability, and income.

People who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural, and other identity groups are encouraged to apply.

Current Tacoma Poet Laureate Kellie Richardson will curate and host a poetry event at which the winner of this year’s Poet Laureate competition will be awarded. The event date and location will be announced.

DUTIES
The artist selected as Tacoma Poet Laureate must be willing and able to:

• Offer a minimum of two free public workshops in Tacoma each year relating to poetry (four workshops total.)
• Actively contribute to and advance Tacoma’s literary community in meaningful ways through readings, performances, workshops, presentations, publications, special projects, etc. as agreed upon with the City’s Arts Office staff.
• Participate in Tacoma Arts Month programming each October (can be participation in a public event that the City is already producing).
• Competently handle administrative duties including being the point of contact for all programming inquiries from the public, managing a schedule, arranging details for programs, and coordinating press releases with City’s Arts Office staff.
• Help produce, with the assistance of the City of Tacoma’s Arts Office, an event in Tacoma in April 2021 to announce the winner of the 2021‐2023 Tacoma Poet Laureate  program.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant must live in Pierce County and be actively engaged in Tacoma’s creative community. Staff will verify addresses against official Pierce County map.
• Applicant must be a practicing artist, dedicated to producing poetry (in any form, genre, or style) on a regular basis.
• Applicant must be 18 years or older.
• Applicant cannot be a previous Tacoma Poet Laureate title holder.
• Applicant cannot be a current Tacoma Arts Commission member, City Council member, City of Tacoma staff member, or Tacoma Poet Laureate selection panel member.

HOW TO APPLY
Visit www.cityoftacoma.org/artsopps for all the details and apply at https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit.

QUESTIONS?
For questions or assistance, please email Naomi Strom-Avila at nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or call (253) 591-5191.