In the midst of the 2012 budgeting process currently being undertaken by the King County Council, Councilmember Larry Phillips has introduced two provisos concerning funding of the County’s Historic Preservation Program (HPP). Read the rest of this article »

The American Association of Museums recently offered a webinar titled “Congress Takes a Hard Look at Charitable Giving: How Will Museums Fare?” This topic should be of particular interest to lovers of arts and heritage in Washington state, because our own Senator Patty Murray is a co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, the committee that will be exploring changes to the charitable tax deduction as part of their package of options to reduce the federal deficit. Their work must be completed by November 23, so there is no better time to make our voices heard on this issue. Read the rest of this article »

AKCHO members got a preview of the popular Friends of Georgetown History’s annual Haunted History Tour at AKCHO’s October membership meeting, which was held at The Stables in Georgetown on October 18. This meeting was arranged by AKCHO Programs Chair Jessie Cunningham with the help of FOGHi member Patricia Filer. Read the rest of this article »

Senator Maria Cantwell has joined the Senate Cultural Caucus after being urged to do so by a contingent of local heritage organizations.  In late August, Cantwell staffers met in Seattle with Alma Plancich, executive director of the Ethnic Heritage Council; Jill Linzee, Executive director of Northwest Heritage Resources; Rob Townsend, executive director of Northwest Folklife, and Joan Rabinowitz, executive director of Jack Straw Productions. Read the rest of this article »

King County recently solicited qualifications and concepts for the adaptive reuse of Harborview Hall, a 1931 art deco tower located on the campus of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The county received four submittals from reputable developers. The proposals take a fresh look at the feasibility of renovating Harborview Hall in a manner that supports the mission of Harborview, ensures the seismic stability of the facility, and preserves a building that has historic significance. Read the rest of this article »

On November 19, the Seattle Public Library kicks off its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, also called the Century 21 Exposition. See below for program times, locations and descriptions – these are listed on the AKCHO calendar as well. Read the rest of this article »

The Japanese Cultural & Community Center has opened Hosekibako (Jewelbox), its new resale shop that is filled with Japanese art, antiques, collectibles and household treasures.  The public is welcome to come browse and buy. Read the rest of this article »

The Seattle Times Co. is moving out of its historic headquarters in early 2012 and will be offering the 2.5 acre block it occupies as a ground lease investment opportunity to prospective developers. As reported recently by The Seattle Times, the property, at Fairview Avenue N and John Street in the South Lake Union neighborhood, has been listed by the broker Century Pacific. Read the rest of this article »

Deadline: 12/9/2011

The American Association of State and Local History offers its smaller institutional members the opportunity to apply for the Alderson Grant Internship Program. The program recognizes the demand for students to gain “real world” experience and for AASLH members to get qualified interns into their institutions. Read the rest of this article »

Seattle Asian Art Museum
Now through 2/19/2012

Kamekichi Tokita and Kenjiro Nomura were first-generation Japanese Americans, or Issei, who made their home in Seattle. While many artists turned their sights to the Northwest’s natural grandeur, Tokita and Nomura looked to the places they knew well—the neighborhood in and around Japantown or Nihonmachi (today part of the International District), the working waterfront, and the farmlands cultivated by Japanese American families. Read the rest of this article »