The arts and culture beat is again thumping in downtown Seattle, echoing off the streets where more than 200 local leaders in the creative sector recently convened. A collaboration between the Office of Economic Development, Seattle Center, and players in the arts to discuss a major lift for the city’s heart. The chant is clear: no arts, no recovery—you can all but hear this becoming a hashtag.

Last Wednesday, the Office of Arts & Culture reported that the bigwigs and creative minds gathered at the ARTS at King Street Station. They were there to schmooze, genuinely connect, and brainstorm ways to integrate arts and culture into the downtown revitalization strategy seamlessly. Director Kayim knows what’s up, emphasizing that “There is no downtown recovery without arts recovery.” You can bank on that message as the city looks to bounce back with style and substance.

The downtown vibe isn’t just about the nine-to-fivers anymore. We’re talking about murals, galleries, and live shows—the full monty. And it’s about time, given how the sector took one on the chin during the gloomy days of lockdowns and restrictions. The event on March 19 was an all-hands-on-deck affair, a sign that when facing the music of economic revitalization, Seattle wants to write its score.

So, what’s the game plan moving forward? According to Art Beat’s intel, there’s a concerted effort to flip the script. To create spaces where art is not just displayed but lived, to immerse the public in a cultural experience that extends beyond the walls of traditional institutions. Imagine that—a downtown where every corner offers a slice of creative pie. Director Kayim’s words from the event, per the city’s news release, “More than 200 arts and culture leaders joined us at ARTS at King Street Station to connect, celebrate, and learn about how we’re also partnering with community to weave arts and culture throughout the revitalization of downtown and Seattle as a whole,” capture the vibrant image the city hopes to portray.