A Plea for Support from the Seattle Channel

Art Zone on Seattle Channel

Art Zone will be a pioneering first-in-the-nation TV project that could help transform the way people access the arts in this community. As part of a new City of Seattle cable TV franchise agreement, the Seattle Channel has asked Comcast for $500,00 per year for 10 years for funding of Art Zone…local arts TV programming. Comcast has agreed. Approval of the deal must be given by the Seattle City Council after a public hearing and review process.

Arts and music is both a cultural catalyst and an economic driver for our region. The arts build community and are vital to our childrens education. If you think TV coverage of local arts is important please urge the Council to approve this Art Zone funding. This is new money for arts coverage and will purchase increased resources for programming covering and promoting local arts, music and culture in all forms on both television and the Internet.

This programming will focus on getting people to go out and participate in the rich cultural life of our community. The Art Zone will begin as 12 hours of weekly programming on Seattle Channel 21, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm to midnight.

The Seattle Channel named 2005 Best Public TV Station by Seattle Weekly, is proposing to partner with the community artists and arts groups, promoting their events, shooting video of rehearsals and performances, interviewing artists and musicians, profiling organizations, and encouraging viewers to buy tickets and attend concerts, plays, shows, and exhibits.

The Council Energy and Technology committee will discuss the legislation at 9:30 a.m. on March 8. The Seattle City Council will have a public hearing at 5:30 on March 30 in the Shaw Room at Seattle Center, followed by a vote on April 17, 2006.

Please make a phone call, send an e-mail or letter to the Councilmembers listed below or come and speak in person at the hearing to let them know of your support.
Jan Drago, 684-8801, jan.drago@seattle.gov
Sally Clark, 684-8802, sally.clark@seattle.gov
Richard Conlin, 684-8805, richard.conlin@seattle.gov
David Della, 684-8806, david.della@seattle.gov
Jean Godden, 684-8807, jean.godden@seattle.gov
Nick Licata, 684-8803, nick.licata@seattle.gov
Richard McIver, 684-8800, richard.mciver@seattle.gov
Tom Rasmussen, 684-8808, tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov
Peter Steinbrueck, 684-8804, peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov