ABOUT
The Columbia Hillman Arts & Cultural District unites two neighborhoods along Rainier Avenue in Southeast Seattle. Columbia City is a designated Historic District with a well-established business core. Hillman City prides itself as a funky and entrepreneurial strip. The two neighborhoods have distinct personalities but share a cultural vibrancy as a result of being in one of the most racially, ethnically, and economically diverse communities in the nation, as well as having one of the highest densities of artists in the state.
The Columbia Hillman Arts & Cultural District was officially designated by the City of Seattle in August 2017, after two years of community organizing that involved hundreds of artists, creatives, and residents. The City’s Arts & Cultural Districts are dedicated to nurturing and protecting neighborhood arts and culture. Other Districts include Capitol Hill and Uptown.
Arts groups and cultural spaces that call Columbia City and Hillman City home
The District is run by a volunteer steering committee
Jennifer Bennett, Artist and Black & Tan Hall
Kate Bond, Rainier Avenue Business Association
Heather Curran, Theater Artist, Community Activist
Kathy Fowells, SEEDArts
Ben Hunter, Black & Tan Hall, Musician
Afua Kouyate, ADEFUA Cultural Education Workshop
Ramona Lee, Artist
The District is fiscally sponsored by SouthEast Effective Development
We’d like to express gratitude to those who helped establish and launch the District
Jennifer Bennett, Artist and Black & Tan Hall
Tony Benton, Rainier Avenue Radio
Heather Curran, Theater Artist, Community Activist
Chris Digangi, Media Artist
Julie Dillon, Community Arts Activist
Kathy Fowells, SEEDArts
Ben Hunter, Black & Tan Hall, Musician
Lara Lavi Jones & Maurice Jones, Columbia City Theater (former)
Frank Martinez, SouthEast Effective Development (former)
Tia Matthies, Royal Room
Rob Mohn, Columbia City Business Association
Ethan Pollack, Illustrator
Connie Ostrowski, The Makery
Talia Silveri Wright, Community Arts Activist
As well as over 150 individuals, artists, and activists that have supported the Columbia Hillman Arts & Cultural District and have participated in one or more events.