I am pleased to announce that today, January 22nd, the Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 119150 and Council Bill 119146 to authorize the expansion of the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. The beautifully designed Art Deco building in which the SAAM is housed has been a fixture of Volunteer Park and the SAM for over 85 years, but extensive renovations and an expansion have been needed for a long time. Today’s vote was the finalization of plans 10 years in the making to renovate the SAAM and increase its education and exhibit capacities. The public benefits of this expansion will include:
- A partnership with Seattle Public Schools which includes 7 in-school education programs and 75 free school group field trips annually.
- Eight workshops, 3 day-camps, and 15 free lectures and panel discussions
- A $50,000 scholarship assistance fund with annual escalation
- An annual public cultural event
I and my peers on the Council are proud to support public art and art education, and I hope you will join me in my excitement for the future re-opening of the beautifully renovated and expanded SAAM. Thank you for your correspondence and support for this bill and I hope you will continue to speak up on matters that are important to you.
See you at the re-opening!