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As distasteful as it might seem, the entanglement of the arts and business on Capitol Hill appears to be part of the path to keeping the neighborhood’s culture alive if not thriving. Earlier this year, Pike/Pine was recognized as one of the most successful neighborhoods in the country for the meld of artistic and economic success.

The future could bring an even more bottom line-based approach to developing the arts — a Capitol Hill cultural district where projects are allowed to build bigger and higher in exchange for creating spaces where artists can work.

Thursday night, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce hopes to help foster arts growth on the Hill with the first meeting of a group of artists and arts lovers formed to “make sure their voice is heard when it matters.” Randy Engstrom, director of the Seattle City Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, is slated to be among attendees of the “networking” event. The Arts on the Hill 2013 event is free and you do not have to be a Chamber member to attend. You can register here.

On Thursday September 26th, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce will introduce a new networking group being formed within the Chamber. Artists and arts organizations are feeling the pressure of the economic growth on the Hill. We want to make sure their voice is heard when it matters.

Thursday September 26, 2013 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM PDT at Richard Hugo House

Featured Guests Include:

• Randy Engstrom, Director, Seattle City Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
• Margit Rankin, Executive Director, Artist Trust
• Lila Hurwitz, Associate Director, Artist Trust
• Tree Swenson, Executive Director, Richard Hugo House
• Kevin Maifeld, Director/Professor, MFA in Arts Leadership, Seattle University
• Tonya Lockyer, Executive/Artistic Director,  Velocity Dance Center
• Andy Fife, Consultant, Arts and Community Development
• Ellen Forney, Graphic Novelist, Board Vice President & Chair Blitz Committee, Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce
• Jeannine Anderson, Blitz Wrangler, Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce
• Jeffrey Cook, Arts Committee Chair, Capitol Hill Community Council
• Michelle Dunn Marsh, Executive Director, Photo Center Northwest
• Michael Seiwerath, Executive Director, Capitol Hill Housing Foundation, 12th Avenue Arts Building
• Hallie Kuperman, Owner, Century Ballroom
• Mark Livingston, Communications Director, Gage Academy of Art
• Jason Plourde, Executive Director, Three Dollar Bill Cinema
• Lyall Bush, Executive Director, Northwest Film Forum
• Matthew Richter, Cultural Space Liaison, Office of Arts & Culture
• Karen Maeda Allman, Author Events Co-coordinator, Elliott Bay Book Company