Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
So I'll say hello first to DonRiling. Good morning, Don, good
morning, and the recipient, theperson behind the Artist Trust, it's Christina
gets Hi, Christina, good morning. So Don, in the past,
you've picked some really great beneficiaries.Will you remind us of a couple in
the past. Sure, you know, most of the ones that we choose
(00:23):
for this particular event surround homelessness,hunger, or the arts. So in
the past we've had paths with artas a recipient. We've done several different
food banks, including Rainier Valley FoodBank and Marysville Food Bank, and then
we've also done Pioneer Human Services,which helps out with homelessness absolutely. And
this year you've picked the Artist Trust. Will you tell me what drove you
(00:47):
towards making this selection about this notfor profit? Well, a couple of
things. You know, it's gettingkind of old to talk about the pandemic.
I wish we could just leave itfar behind us, but the reality
is, and I kind of knowa little bit about this because I sing
in the Seattle Men's Chorus and I'vebeen doing that since nineteen eighty seven,
(01:07):
and you know, being keenly awareof what's been going on in the arts
in general in our city, andwith the artists in our city, it's
clear that the pandemic hit them hard, but they're having a harder time getting
back to normal and it's been astruggle. So I really wanted to choose
an organization that really helped out alot of the working artists in the region,
and Artist Trust was our choice.That's awesome, And now Christina gets
(01:30):
is from the Artist Trust. Christina, will you tell me what you do
to help out artists throughout the GreatNorthwest? Sure? So. Artist Trust
is a five oh one c threenonprofit organization and what we do is we
support working artists of all discipline acrossWashington State and we're best known for funding.
(01:53):
So we give artists money in theform of grants. Our grants are
all unrestricted. Some of those grantsare merit based, but we also now
since the pandemic, offer need basedfunding for artists because, just like Don
is saying, the the arts inSeattle and the arts in Washington State have
(02:14):
not recovered since the pandemic, andthat's especially hit our working artists. It's
most especially performing artists, just likeDon was saying. So we've continued to
support artists through find just financial supportso that we can all benefit through the
work of artists. You know,we all benefit so much in the community.
(02:35):
The other ways that we support artistsinclude offering professional development, so we
provide classes and workshops and bring folkstogether around different topics. And that can
be anything from you know, howto run your small business, uh,
how to how to use social mediaas an artist with an eye towards running
a business. You know how tonavigate the tax system during the pandemic,
(03:00):
we even got deeper to help folkswith applying for unemployment as a contract worker
because a lot of things that affectgig economy workers and contract workers also affect
artists because that's how artists show upin our economy. And we've been doing
this work since nineteen eighty six.Primarily we fundraised for all of this support.
(03:22):
So the funding you know, thatwe get from the community, like
the Olympic hot tubs, we turnthose dollars back back over to artists,
either as programs or as direct funding. That's so great. I have so
many questions for you. First one, are you an artist yourself? You
know I don't. I definitely amvery deeply in the arts and a very
(03:45):
creative person. My partner is afull time musician, and I have a
few different artistic practice, But Idon't know that I would identify as an
artist as a capital a. ButI have, you know, lived my
whole life besides artists as friends andat colleagues, and really happy to be
in a role where I get tosupport artists through my work, no kidding.
(04:08):
How long have you been the executivedirector of the Artist Trust. I've
been with Artists Trust about eight yearsand I've been the executive director for about
the last year and a half.Oh congratulations. Another question, who do
you accept as a professional artist towork with? Do they have to already
have a portfolio or do they haveto already have done something professional, made
(04:30):
some money? How does it work? So for funding you know all artists.
We have a lot of different waysto support artists and we really are
for every artist. For example,on our website artists Trust dot org,
artists can find web resources that canconnect them to funding opportunities at Artists Trust
and elsewhere job opportunities, information sessionsfor artists. Professional development for artists can
(04:57):
be for someone who's just starting outand is thinking you know, what's the
best way for me to set upmy website, and we can you know,
we can connect them with experts onour team or in the community that
can help with that, and that'sreally for everyone. For funding opportunities,
we don't choose the artists who receivefunding. We work with a panel of
(05:19):
artists, so it's a pure basedfunding opportunity, and our staff guides the
panel through the process and that canbe typically oftentimes those are those are artists
who are more established, you know, have work samples and have developed a
way to talk about their work.Our emergency grant is not merit based,
(05:44):
so that is actually us as arandom lottery system that so any and any
artists can apply for that if theymeet the specifications for having a financial emergency
as declared by the i r S. But for our mayor based funding,
we also welcome any artists to applyfor that because you might not get it
(06:04):
the first time, but just beingable to talk about your work in the
context of asking for funding and tolearn the process of applying for grants is
an important part of an artist's careerand an important thing for folks to learn.
So I'd say we are for artistsat every stage of career, at
every level, there is a placefor artists at artists trust wonderful? All
(06:28):
right, I want you both toanswer this question first. Don also an
artist, a performing artist, butI want to hear how you answer the
question why the art? I mean, I know, but I want you
to talk about it to people whoare like, why are we giving money
to the arts? And I knowthat sounds completely callous on my part.
Don, I'll let you go first. Why is it so important in our
(06:50):
community to support arts and artists?You know, I mean for me because
I've been in the Courus for somany years and I've had the joy of
working with a lot of local artistsand Greater Seattle as part of our performances.
You know, it's I mean tome, art is just a critical
piece of the fabric of our society. You know. It has the power
(07:11):
to transform and it can educate you, it can inspire you, it can
motivate you, maybe to do somethingyourself personally. There's a quote that I
came across years ago that I reallylike. It's from Mioko Oona of all
people. But it's art is mylife, and my life is art.
And there's so many times when I'vegone to different events in the city,
(07:32):
gone to different galleries, and youknow, I just think art really resonates
in this region a lot more thanit does in other parts of the country.
And I really think the onus ison us to make sure that it
stays vibrant and vital and that theworking artists can survive. Yeah. Absolutely,
Christina. So I think that artistsare essential to the fabric of our
(07:55):
communities. I think that, youknow, when we talk about all of
these other kinds of you know,quote essential services, I feel that supporting
artists belong belongs right there. Ithink artists give so much to our communities.
Certainly we see that here in Seattle, but really it's a privilege for
(08:16):
me to get to see that acrossall Washington State communities. Artists are leaders
in communities. Artists help us navigatedifficult conversations through their work and then also
directly, I think, especially atthis time of so much social division and
political division, art can really bringus all together. And you know,
(08:37):
even though we oftentimes think of usas living in a blue state, there's
a lot of political divide between eastand West and rural and urban here in
Washington State, and I have seenartists work help for those divides. So
I see supporting artists as as asessential as supporting every other services. Also,
artists are human beings with families towho are you know, are getting
(09:03):
you know, suffering the same issuesabout displacement, lack of economic opportunity rising
cross and cities across the state.And so you know, we're supporting artists
because artists gives back so much toall of us. And then also artists
deserve support just like every other segmentof our community. Okadding, absolutely I
(09:26):
didn't need convincing, but I justwant to I bet you work in radio.
I bet you. I do notneed convincing. Thank you, don
I'm gonna Christina think about this,okay, and then I'm going to get
right back to you. Can youtalk about a performance artist in particular,
maybe not by name or by name, who artists trust is helped. So
(09:48):
I'm going to get right back toyou. But now I want to talk
to Dawn about how Olympic Hot Tubcan help local artists. Sure, so
during the month of October, aportion of every tub that we sell,
hot spring spas and free flow spaswith the two brands that we sell,
and since we talked last, wetook on a fabulous new line of swim
(10:11):
spas called Endless Pools. They're absolutelythe best in their category. And the
sale of any one of those threeitems will donate a portion of that sale
to Artists Trust. And that's theway you do it. And of course
I always say that if you're notin the market for a hot tubber swim
spot, although I think you shouldbe, that you should definitely go directly
to Artists Trust's website and donate tothem right on their site, right on
(10:35):
perfect And now, Christina, canyou personalize Artists Trust and tell us a
story about someone? I absolutely cangive me just one moment. Yeah,
So we support with financially, wesupport about one hundred and thirty artists a
year. The total grand speak aboutour about four hundred and fifty dollars a
(11:00):
year to about one hundred and thirtyartists. Those grants are ranging from anywhere
from fifteen hundred dollars so a lotof times that will go to an emerging
artist, or all the way upto twenty five thousand. Our largest grant
is called the Arts Innovator Award andit's two twenty five thousand dollars awards that
goes to a working artist of anydiscipline in Washington State a couple, so
(11:26):
just top of mind, the personwho one of the people that received that
award this year is an artist whois a musician and a performing artist named
Cosa. Overall, we were superexcited to see Kasa chosen because his work
is so boundary, pushing and youknow, really unusual. A thing we
(11:48):
also really loved about Kasa was thathe is a Seattle native who came up
through the music programs at Garfield HighSchool. Uh and then you know has
since moved away from Seattle, establisheda career in New York City, and
came back to Seattle during the pandemicand started to make this his home base
(12:11):
to work. And so we werereally excited to be able to give him
this award as kind of part ofa homecoming, as a way to say
that artists can have a vibrant careerstaying here in Washington State. Right around
the same time that he received offunding, he had put out an album
that was called and was called oneof modern jazz music's most audacious Futurists by
(12:35):
Pitchfork Music, so that we werevery excited to be just part of this
artist's story. And I think oneof the things that I want to point
out with this artist too is howit underscores the importance of arts education in
the school because as somebody who cameup through Garfield High School, because I
was really able to see that acareer in music could be possible, that's,
(13:00):
you know, I'm not something thatwe really see as the need for
art education in school so that folkscan see arts as a career for themselves,
and then on the other side ofthat we can be here to lend
that support. That's a great story. Will you say his name again?
Sure? Kasa overall okay, lookingthem up and I'm also looking up those
(13:24):
endless pools, which are very excitedyou too have been so helpful. Will
you both give your websites? Mineis artist Trust dot org and applications on
there at Resources for Artists and findout more about our organization wonderful and don
Our website is olympiccotub dot com.I want to thank you both so much
(13:48):
for all you do for the community. This is great stuff, and thank
you for your time this morning.Thanks, thank you so much. Yeah,
thanks for having us. I'm greatto meet you on the phone on
Yeah, well person soon. Yep, when he when he hands you a
big fat check, that's the goalright on. But bye now, B
So I'll say hello first to DonRiling. Good morning, Don, good
morning, and the recipient, theperson behind the Artist Trust, it's Christina
gets Hi, Christina, good morning. So Don, in the past,
you've picked some really great beneficiaries.Will you remind us of a couple in
the past. Sure, you know, most of the ones that we choose
(00:23):
for this particular event surround homelessness,hunger, or the arts. So in
the past we've had paths with artas a recipient. We've done several different
food banks, including Rainier Valley FoodBank and Marysville Food Bank, and then
we've also done Pioneer Human Services,which helps out with homelessness absolutely. And
this year you've picked the Artist Trust. Will you tell me what drove you
(00:47):
towards making this selection about this notfor profit? Well, a couple of
things. You know, it's gettingkind of old to talk about the pandemic.
I wish we could just leave itfar behind us, but the reality
is, and I kind of knowa little bit about this because I sing
in the Seattle Men's Chorus and I'vebeen doing that since nineteen eighty seven,
(01:07):
and you know, being keenly awareof what's been going on in the arts
in general in our city, andwith the artists in our city, it's
clear that the pandemic hit them hard, but they're having a harder time getting
back to normal and it's been astruggle. So I really wanted to choose
an organization that really helped out alot of the working artists in the region,
and Artist Trust was our choice.That's awesome, And now Christina gets
(01:30):
is from the Artist Trust. Christina, will you tell me what you do
to help out artists throughout the GreatNorthwest? Sure? So. Artist Trust
is a five oh one c threenonprofit organization and what we do is we
support working artists of all discipline acrossWashington State and we're best known for funding.
(01:53):
So we give artists money in theform of grants. Our grants are
all unrestricted. Some of those grantsare merit based, but we also now
since the pandemic, offer need basedfunding for artists because, just like Don
is saying, the the arts inSeattle and the arts in Washington State have
(02:14):
not recovered since the pandemic, andthat's especially hit our working artists. It's
most especially performing artists, just likeDon was saying. So we've continued to
support artists through find just financial supportso that we can all benefit through the
work of artists. You know,we all benefit so much in the community.
(02:35):
The other ways that we support artistsinclude offering professional development, so we
provide classes and workshops and bring folkstogether around different topics. And that can
be anything from you know, howto run your small business, uh,
how to how to use social mediaas an artist with an eye towards running
a business. You know how tonavigate the tax system during the pandemic,
(03:00):
we even got deeper to help folkswith applying for unemployment as a contract worker
because a lot of things that affectgig economy workers and contract workers also affect
artists because that's how artists show upin our economy. And we've been doing
this work since nineteen eighty six.Primarily we fundraised for all of this support.
(03:22):
So the funding you know, thatwe get from the community, like
the Olympic hot tubs, we turnthose dollars back back over to artists,
either as programs or as direct funding. That's so great. I have so
many questions for you. First one, are you an artist yourself? You
know I don't. I definitely amvery deeply in the arts and a very
(03:45):
creative person. My partner is afull time musician, and I have a
few different artistic practice, But Idon't know that I would identify as an
artist as a capital a. ButI have, you know, lived my
whole life besides artists as friends andat colleagues, and really happy to be
in a role where I get tosupport artists through my work, no kidding.
(04:08):
How long have you been the executivedirector of the Artist Trust. I've
been with Artists Trust about eight yearsand I've been the executive director for about
the last year and a half.Oh congratulations. Another question, who do
you accept as a professional artist towork with? Do they have to already
have a portfolio or do they haveto already have done something professional, made
(04:30):
some money? How does it work? So for funding you know all artists.
We have a lot of different waysto support artists and we really are
for every artist. For example,on our website artists Trust dot org,
artists can find web resources that canconnect them to funding opportunities at Artists Trust
and elsewhere job opportunities, information sessionsfor artists. Professional development for artists can
(04:57):
be for someone who's just starting outand is thinking you know, what's the
best way for me to set upmy website, and we can you know,
we can connect them with experts onour team or in the community that
can help with that, and that'sreally for everyone. For funding opportunities,
we don't choose the artists who receivefunding. We work with a panel of
(05:19):
artists, so it's a pure basedfunding opportunity, and our staff guides the
panel through the process and that canbe typically oftentimes those are those are artists
who are more established, you know, have work samples and have developed a
way to talk about their work.Our emergency grant is not merit based,
(05:44):
so that is actually us as arandom lottery system that so any and any
artists can apply for that if theymeet the specifications for having a financial emergency
as declared by the i r S. But for our mayor based funding,
we also welcome any artists to applyfor that because you might not get it
(06:04):
the first time, but just beingable to talk about your work in the
context of asking for funding and tolearn the process of applying for grants is
an important part of an artist's careerand an important thing for folks to learn.
So I'd say we are for artistsat every stage of career, at
every level, there is a placefor artists at artists trust wonderful? All
(06:28):
right, I want you both toanswer this question first. Don also an
artist, a performing artist, butI want to hear how you answer the
question why the art? I mean, I know, but I want you
to talk about it to people whoare like, why are we giving money
to the arts? And I knowthat sounds completely callous on my part.
Don, I'll let you go first. Why is it so important in our
(06:50):
community to support arts and artists?You know, I mean for me because
I've been in the Courus for somany years and I've had the joy of
working with a lot of local artistsand Greater Seattle as part of our performances.
You know, it's I mean tome, art is just a critical
piece of the fabric of our society. You know. It has the power
(07:11):
to transform and it can educate you, it can inspire you, it can
motivate you, maybe to do somethingyourself personally. There's a quote that I
came across years ago that I reallylike. It's from Mioko Oona of all
people. But it's art is mylife, and my life is art.
And there's so many times when I'vegone to different events in the city,
(07:32):
gone to different galleries, and youknow, I just think art really resonates
in this region a lot more thanit does in other parts of the country.
And I really think the onus ison us to make sure that it
stays vibrant and vital and that theworking artists can survive. Yeah. Absolutely,
Christina. So I think that artistsare essential to the fabric of our
(07:55):
communities. I think that, youknow, when we talk about all of
these other kinds of you know,quote essential services, I feel that supporting
artists belong belongs right there. Ithink artists give so much to our communities.
Certainly we see that here in Seattle, but really it's a privilege for
(08:16):
me to get to see that acrossall Washington State communities. Artists are leaders
in communities. Artists help us navigatedifficult conversations through their work and then also
directly, I think, especially atthis time of so much social division and
political division, art can really bringus all together. And you know,
(08:37):
even though we oftentimes think of usas living in a blue state, there's
a lot of political divide between eastand West and rural and urban here in
Washington State, and I have seenartists work help for those divides. So
I see supporting artists as as asessential as supporting every other services. Also,
artists are human beings with families towho are you know, are getting
(09:03):
you know, suffering the same issuesabout displacement, lack of economic opportunity rising
cross and cities across the state.And so you know, we're supporting artists
because artists gives back so much toall of us. And then also artists
deserve support just like every other segmentof our community. Okadding, absolutely I
(09:26):
didn't need convincing, but I justwant to I bet you work in radio.
I bet you. I do notneed convincing. Thank you, don
I'm gonna Christina think about this,okay, and then I'm going to get
right back to you. Can youtalk about a performance artist in particular,
maybe not by name or by name, who artists trust is helped. So
(09:48):
I'm going to get right back toyou. But now I want to talk
to Dawn about how Olympic Hot Tubcan help local artists. Sure, so
during the month of October, aportion of every tub that we sell,
hot spring spas and free flow spaswith the two brands that we sell,
and since we talked last, wetook on a fabulous new line of swim
(10:11):
spas called Endless Pools. They're absolutelythe best in their category. And the
sale of any one of those threeitems will donate a portion of that sale
to Artists Trust. And that's theway you do it. And of course
I always say that if you're notin the market for a hot tubber swim
spot, although I think you shouldbe, that you should definitely go directly
to Artists Trust's website and donate tothem right on their site, right on
(10:35):
perfect And now, Christina, canyou personalize Artists Trust and tell us a
story about someone? I absolutely cangive me just one moment. Yeah,
So we support with financially, wesupport about one hundred and thirty artists a
year. The total grand speak aboutour about four hundred and fifty dollars a
(11:00):
year to about one hundred and thirtyartists. Those grants are ranging from anywhere
from fifteen hundred dollars so a lotof times that will go to an emerging
artist, or all the way upto twenty five thousand. Our largest grant
is called the Arts Innovator Award andit's two twenty five thousand dollars awards that
goes to a working artist of anydiscipline in Washington State a couple, so
(11:26):
just top of mind, the personwho one of the people that received that
award this year is an artist whois a musician and a performing artist named
Cosa. Overall, we were superexcited to see Kasa chosen because his work
is so boundary, pushing and youknow, really unusual. A thing we
(11:48):
also really loved about Kasa was thathe is a Seattle native who came up
through the music programs at Garfield HighSchool. Uh and then you know has
since moved away from Seattle, establisheda career in New York City, and
came back to Seattle during the pandemicand started to make this his home base
(12:11):
to work. And so we werereally excited to be able to give him
this award as kind of part ofa homecoming, as a way to say
that artists can have a vibrant careerstaying here in Washington State. Right around
the same time that he received offunding, he had put out an album
that was called and was called oneof modern jazz music's most audacious Futurists by
(12:35):
Pitchfork Music, so that we werevery excited to be just part of this
artist's story. And I think oneof the things that I want to point
out with this artist too is howit underscores the importance of arts education in
the school because as somebody who cameup through Garfield High School, because I
was really able to see that acareer in music could be possible, that's,
(13:00):
you know, I'm not something thatwe really see as the need for
art education in school so that folkscan see arts as a career for themselves,
and then on the other side ofthat we can be here to lend
that support. That's a great story. Will you say his name again?
Sure? Kasa overall okay, lookingthem up and I'm also looking up those
(13:24):
endless pools, which are very excitedyou too have been so helpful. Will
you both give your websites? Mineis artist Trust dot org and applications on
there at Resources for Artists and findout more about our organization wonderful and don
Our website is olympiccotub dot com.I want to thank you both so much
(13:48):
for all you do for the community. This is great stuff, and thank
you for your time this morning.Thanks, thank you so much. Yeah,
thanks for having us. I'm greatto meet you on the phone on
Yeah, well person soon. Yep, when he when he hands you a
big fat check, that's the goalright on. But bye now, B
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