Olympia Artspace Alliance Olympia City Council Candidates Survey
Olympia Artspace Alliance sent a survey to the candidates running for the Olympia City Council to find out their impression of the arts in Olympia and what they believe the City’s role is in supporting the arts. Eight of the nine candidates running for various positions on the Olympia City Council responded. Below are their responses.
Photos from top to bottom, left to right: Yen Huyhn (Pos. 2), Robbi Kelser (Pos. 2), Clark Gilman (Pos. 4), Candace Mercer (Pos. 4), Lisa Parshley (Pos. 5), Talauna Reed (Pos. 5) , Dontae Payne (Pos. 6), Corey Gauny (Pos. 6), Jim Cooper (Pos. 7) and Spence Weigand (Pos. 7). What local arts experiences have you enjoyed and/or participated?
Position 2
Yen Huynh: I am fortunate to have enjoyed many arts experiences in Olympia. I love bringing my friends and family to watch live theater at Harlequin Productions and the Olympia Little Theater. I jump at every opportunity to attend a local arial show, a performance by the Olympia Collective of Lady Arm Wrestling, and a Story Oly event. Participating in community mural projects makes my heart happy and the annual Procession of the Species is an Olympia gem! While volunteering at the Olympia Film Society and working at the Washington Center, I experienced first hand how art can help build community and bridge differences as well as developing a deeper appreciation of the importance of preserving Olympia’s heritage.
Robbi Kelser: As a younger person I was fortunate enough to dance with Ballet Northwest and performed at the Washington Center numerous times (what a fabulous experience this continues to be for our young people!). My son performed in Ballet Northwest's Nutcracker for several. years (I even joined him as a "Party Mom" for a couple of those years) and our family was very involved in volunteering for that show. I have always enjoyed Arts Walk and the Procession of the Species. My husband and I regularly donate to the Washington Center - it's so important to have such a wonderful venue available to all types of events and performances.
Position 4
Clark Gilman: I participated in efforts to make empty downtown storefronts available for display of art. I believe I am the first sitting City Councilmember to perform a show at Artswalk. I sang and played Hawaiian music on my ukulele. I loved the whole run of State of the Arts and purchased local artist creations as gifts there for almost 30 years. I am so excited by the Plinth Project and public art in general across our city. And to my eyes, the decor in Old School Pizza, the line of patter from Alan at Adam Street Market, and Lizzie's political posters in the window of Deschutes Cyclery are all performance art.
Candace Mercer: I helped produce the Olympia Rafah Solidarity Mural, I also worked with Procession of the Species for several years in the studio, notably with the Peace Doves. I have been a fan of Artswalk and the Bridge Music Project. I went to comedy at Le Voy every WED for over 100 shows. I loved to see bands at Rhythm and Rye, my favorite local band is DBST/Form Destroyer.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Arts Walk, Procession of the Species, and participating in the plinth project judging
Position 6
Dontae Payne: My family and I enjoy spending time at The Painted Plate and occasionally went to Let’s Paint during its’ time. We enjoy visiting and photographing murals all around downtown and attending Arts Walk festivities along with experiencing the excitement of Procession of the Species. We’ve also enjoyed attending shows at the Performing Arts Center and the Olympia Family Theater.
Corey Gauny: Viewing the Art Displays and competitions along Percival Landing, Childhoods End Gallery, SPLASH Gallery, Rhythm and Rye, Washington Center, Music venues, The culinary Arts of many of our local restaurants.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: performing and visual arts across the region. Whether a busker on the street, the plinth project or a play or show at a local theater, I have done them all and continue to support al arts in our city as I am able!
Spence Weigand: Admiring city-commissioned public art statues, Arts Walk, cruising local art galleries, and enjoying performances at the Washington Center for Performing Arts on which I serve as a Board Director and man the Capital Campaign Fund.
Which two of the following do you believe are the arts most significant contribution to the City of Olympia?
Position 2
Yen Huynh: Economic vitality,
Contributing to our quality of life
Robbi Kesler: Economic vitality, Attracting Tourists
Position 4
Clark Gilman: Enhancing Neighborhoods, Contributing to our quality of life
Candace Mercer: Economic vitality, Creating Jobs
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Economic vitality, Downtown revitalization, Attracting Tourists, Creating Jobs, Enhancing Neighborhoods, Contributing to our quality of life
Position 6
Dontae Payne: Economic vitality, Contributing to our quality of life
Corey Gauny: Downtown revitalization, Contributing to our quality of life
Position 7
Jim Cooper: Economic vitality, Contributing to our quality of life
Spence Weigand: Downtown revitalization, Contributing to our quality of life
How should the City contribute to affordable living and workspace for artists?
Position 2
Yen Huynh: In the City’s affordable housing efforts, I am interested in workforce, cooperative, and other housing models that can benefit artists. It
will be important for the City to consult with artists and arts organizations to find pathways to achieve affordable living and workspace
for artists. Possible pathways could include leveraging artists participation in programming such as an artists in residency program.
Robbi Kelser: Lack of affordable housing has a negative impact on our community for so many wide reaching reasons - including arts and culture, sustainability. The arts help communities stand out and thrive. The City should continue to look at ways to increase efforts to address affordable housing and perhaps look at ways its efforts could be focused on living and workspace for artists either through incentives during development (if the end result is truly an affordable housing unit) or grants.
Position 4
Clark Gilman: Artists who live off of their art are certainly squeezed for housing and workspace, along with everyone else who earns less than 120%
of the median income. I believe the City should refocus our contributions to efforts that specifically benefit people who live in this community and are paying too much for rent and experiencing the uncertainty of rising rents and investors gentrifying existing housing stock. I hope that the Armory will provide workspace and possibly some shared specialty tools and equipment for artists.
Candace Mercer: We are suffering the effects of 40 years of anti-growth housing policy. We must facilitate a housing boom by removing barriers to construction. We can also look to repurpose existing stock for studio and living. My target, which may be magical thinking is a 1bedroom apartment for $1K or less. I would also love to see an area zoned specifically for the creation of artist spaces. We have so little arts infrastructure relative to the number of artists we have.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Consider building single room occupancy SRO) or micro-housing space with the Armory project for artists in resident or local artists. Use this as a model for other SRO projects elsewhere around town combined with leveraging city own property.
Position 6
Dontae Payne: One idea the City could explore is partnering with non-profit organizations with missions to serve artists through bringing more affordable housing to Olympia. A certain number of units can be designated for artists to foster an environment that supports those that provide creative and economic contributions to our city. Another option is to subsidize housing in exchange for artists’ work in the community and engagement with the City’s programs and initiatives to ensure Olympia continues to have thriving artistry and provide affordable housing and/or workspace to artists.
Corey Gauny: My wife is an artist and I work for the state as a Management Analyst. Our nuclear family provide support for one another to provide the support for our passions and pursuits. Art is an important part of our community. I believe that some of the new public Art spaces that our community have planned could hire artists to provide services such as janitorial services, administrative functions etc. in a part time capacity that would help offset the housing costs for an artist.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: we need to build more workforce/ artist housing. places where folks can create where they live. I support projects like this as we can identify them.
Spence Weigand: Develop the Armory to create fantastic work/live spaces.
What kind of support role do you see for the City in developing and sustaining an Arts Center at the former Armory?
Position 2
Yen Huynh: The City has invited community members into the Armory space, provided tours, and is currently seeking feedback for how people would like to see the building used as a creative campus. All input will inform a more detailed plan and the City will be involved with facilities, maintenance, and some management functions.
Robbi Kesler: Like many community members, I'm excited about the prospect of having a cultural hub/creative campus available for the community. The City has done well to start the process, and I think of the City as a facilitator. The City should ensuring that artists, cultural groups, arts organizations, and community members are able to offer input and ideas in order to have a community asset that does the most good.
Position 4
Clark Gilman: The City is already down the road of developing an Arts Center in the former Armory. We held an open house this past week to gather community ideas for the space. The Cultural Access Program, funded by a new tax, is one potential source of sustaining support, another is staff efforts to win grants and solicit donations.
Candace Mercer: I love this project! I feel the city should support as much as it can the development of this project. It is much needed, and the Procession of the Species was proof of concept that a community art studio is something that supports the professional development of artists, allowing them to explore different media and cross pollinate. I look forward to this space becoming what we have needed for so long.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Campaigning for the Cultural Arts Access Plan initiative by doorbelling and any action necessary to get the pass the initiative. As a finance committee member continue the budget work necessary to help provide support for the Armory Arts Center. Testify in the legislature for capital considerations to help remodel and retrofit the building as an arts center and open space for teaching and studio space.
Position 6
Dontae Payne: City officials have an opportunity to encourage parts of the Armory to be used as a workspace for artists to share their work and display their ongoing artistic contributions to Olympia. The Armory is a location that can display the work of artists as well as portfolios of local artists who have inspiring stories to share with community members. I believe this will give the City a window of opportunity to stress the importance of developing affordable / workforce housing for our local artists who work and contribute to our community.
Corey Gauny: I can see the city providing support for grounds maintenance through the use of our parks teams as well as facility maintenance for some of the other maintenance programs that the city manages.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: A huge one! this is a great project and I look forward to having new creative and display/ performance space in our downtown. Maybe even a future opportunity for creative housing onsite. Looking forward to hearing the communities’ vision for this!
Spence Weigand: The city should be the leader in this arena, and make sure that we take full advantage of this unique creative opportunity. Fostering of the arts adds beauty, inspiration, and vitality to our city!
What should the City do to support artists in our community who identify as black, Indigenous, and people of color?
Position 2
Yen Huynh: The City should make a concerted effort to ensure that there is BIPOC representation in our arts programs and opportunities. Some efforts include spending with, outreaching to, building relationships with, and including BIPOC artists in opportunities at the City (i.e. poet laureate program, grants, mural projects, art classes).
Robbi Kesler: Outreach! So much of the art projects, events, installations, etc. that the City currently does seems limited to those already actively participating in arts opportunities. I think the City needs to engage in underrepresented groups to ensure the art space(s) are truly representative of our community.
Position 4
Clark Gilman: Continue to open up to non-academic and informally trained art and artists. The poet laureate position is a great example of opening our minds and hearts to welcome people with different approaches to poetry as message and word play and community building. I also believe it is appropriate to specifically target support to communities who have been systematically excluded from access in the past.
Candace Mercer: I do not believe resources or opportunities should be distributed on the basis of race or identity. I want to provide a fertile ground for all artists.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Work to pass the Cultural Art Access initiative so we can create a Cultural Art access Plan. By developing this plan we will increase access to public schools, after-school plans, and access museums, cultural events, art programs, and Parks programs. Use City Parks, Arts, and Recreation programs to ensure access and opportunity to all marginalized community members.
Position 6
Dontae Payne: City officials should conduct outreach in BIPOC spaces to invite them to be part of Olympia’s projects and initiatives. This includes other diverse spaces such as skills centers, colleges, and universities as well as incorporating inspiring talent from other places regionally or even the nationally.
Corey Gauny: I believe the city needs to make sure that any and all support for artists provides the opportunity for all members of our community regardless of their identity. When we conduct an analysis of our programs we want to ensure that these programs and services are marketed to all members of all communities, to ensure we are reaching out to members from all parts of our community.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: provide broader access for these populations and work hard to identify artists/ performers of color to promote across the community.
Spence Weigand: The city should support all artists, but should help this particular community by making sure the Armory project has enough dedicated living and work space for BIPOC
What should the City do to support artists in our community who identify as LGBTQ+?
Position 2
Yen Huynh: Similar to how the City should support artists in our community who identify as BIPOC, the City should make a concerted effort to ensure that there is LGBTQ+ representation in our arts programs and opportunities. Some efforts include spending with, outreaching to, building relationships to, and including LGBTQ+ artists in opportunities at the City (i.e. poet laureate program, grants, mural
projects, art classes).
Robbi Kelser: Same as prior answer - outreach and support.
Position 4
Clark Gilman: I believe we should support them through equitable opportunities to participate in publicly supported arts and keep an ear open to concerns about bias. Second, Should Olympia support explicitly LGBTQ+ art in our community? Absolutely, just as we strive to specifically support people of color who have been systematically excluded so should we support LGBTQ+ art and artists that have been systematically excluded or hidden.
Candace Mercer: See answer to #6. Olympia is a welcoming community. I reject segregating artists by race or identity. It goes against my deep feeling that artists need to mix among themselves for maximum creativity.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Same as question 6. and provide art display opportunities such as the plinth project and perhaps provide an opportunity for one of our future Gateway projects to highlight an LGBTQ+ artist
Position 6
Dontae Payne: City officials should conduct outreach in LGBTQ+ spaces to invite them to be part of Olympia’s projects and initiatives. Encouraging both LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists to share a wide array of stories and experiences through their art provides the ability to express themselves openly and fosters richer and more authentic expression through art. Addressing affordable and workspace needs for both BIPOC and LGBTQ+ residents is likely a significant way to achieve results for these populations, including those who are artists.
Corey Gauny: I believe the city needs to make sure that any and all support for artists provides the opportunity for all members of our community regardless of their identity. When we conduct an analysis of our programs we want to ensure that these programs and services are marketed to all members of all communities, to ensure we are reaching out to members from all parts of our community.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: provide broader access for these populations and work hard to identify GLBTQ+ artists/ performers to promote across the community. provide an opportunity for one of our future Gateway projects to highlight an LGBTQ+ artist.
Spence Weigand: Same answer as Question 5.
What role do you see for the City in developing and supporting the Creative District?
Position 2
Yen Hyunh: - A place for artists to live and work, with affordable spaces for makers and creatives.- A diverse economic hub inspiring growth and expansion of existing and emerging artists and businesses.- Spaces filled with historic character and adaptive reuse of underutilized spaces.- Retain, promote and encourage Olympia's quirky, vibrant and artistic community.
Robbi Kesler: The City needs to monitor progress towards the desired outcomes of the Creative District. As a previous question alluded to, lack of affordable housing may be impacting the Creative District's vision of being a place for artists to live and work, with affordable spaces for makers and creatives. The City should work closely with businesses and artists to ensure there is support as the pandemic continues to negatively impact the arts related business (artists, venues, etc.) at a disproportionally higher rate.
Position 4
Clark Gilman: The Creative District is a planning overlay to guide new development in much of downtown Olympia. It is entirely a City creation coming out of the Downtown Strategy process. Our efforts to support artists and artisans in this effort have focused on reasonable development standards for "adaptive reuse" of existing structures. I believe the Creative District planning will continue to guide our investments in infrastructure and our changes to development guidelines.
Candace Mercer: We need to make it happen. Period. I am the only candidate who has been a working professional artist for her entire life. Those insights will serve this project well. I have been parts of music, fine art, street art, comedy and writing communities. I know art saves
lives, it did mine. I know art builds strong people and gives people important outlets for their emotions. I see our creative district inspired by artists, but also accessible to non artists so they feel welcome to create. A good example of this was Vomity at Le Voy, it made entry to stand up easy and welcoming and I saw so many comics grow in that space. I want to get Olympia back to being the hippest town in the west, with a focus on creativity and not social justice. Which is not dismiss the latter, I am also an activist, but that the joy of free expression is being threatened, and I want to see Olympia continue to be on the cutting edge artistically.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: We have a Downtown strategy, which provides the justification for supporting and helping by using city-owned property to help act as a nidus or spark to begin the creative district. Continue our work towards Downtown Investment District (DID), as this could provide some financial support of developing a Creative District.
Position 6
Dontae Payne: The City should continue consulting the WA State Arts Commission regarding the development and implementation of the Creative
District to gain insight and to deliberate over as many concepts for the district as possible. It is also beneficial to consult other creative districts in the state or even around the nation to inspire concepts for Olympia.
Corey Gauny: The role I see the City playing is to using tools such as zoning and tax incentives to support a creative district. I would also like to see creative venues distributed throughout our neighborhoods as well.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: We have a continued role in bringing this to life and are always looking for new opportunities.
Spence. Weigand: Increasing perceptions of public safety downtown so that citizens--and tourists--are comfortable experiencing the arts and spending money there. I love the idea of a Creative District and hope the city continues to encourage its development and success!
Do you support the Cultural Access Program which would provide dedicated funding for arts, heritage, and science organizations?
Position 2
Yen Hyunh: Yes
Robbi Kelser: Yes
Position 4
Clark Gilman: Yes
Candace Mercer: Yes
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Yes
Position 6:
Dontae Payne: Yes
Corey Gauny: Yes
Position 7:
Jim Cooper: Yes
Spence Weigand: Yes
What other ways can the City support and promote the visual and performing arts?
Position 2
Yen Hyunh: I am interested in working with our many arts organizations and local artists to explore how art can be more extensively used to bring us together, advance social justice, help heal our community, and achieve creative solutions to community challenges.
Robbi Kelser: No answer
Position 4
Clark Gilman: Olympia does and will continue to promote visual and performing arts through community events, arts displays, and communications. I am very proud of our Park, Arts, and Recreation staff and Arts Commission members. I am confident they will continue to guide us to more ways the City might support and promote the arts.
Candace Mercer: Supporting venues that are open for performance and showings. Keep doing events like Love Oly and Bridge that focus local art projects. I do feel Olympia has a strong arts program now, I do not want to let it get lost among our homelessness and public safety crises.
Position 5
Lisa Parshley: Combine our affordable housing, social justice and equity, sea level, and climate mitigation work with art and performing arts, using arts as a method of recording the work of the city and community on these issues, provide beauty to affordable housing and the work of these issues and improving community involvement in these issues.
Position 6
Dontae Payne: The City can promote the arts through publicity of it the Armory location to help start other conversations around work space and
affordable housing. The City can also continue collaboration with The Evergreen State College and SPSCC. Developing more affordable housing and workspace for artists could play a critical role in helping higher ed institutions increase enrollment for
prospective artists who may want to have careers in our community and those prospective students will see the potential to make a life for themselves in Olympia post-graduation.
Corey Gauny: Working with great community stewards like WSECU, Oly Fed and other businesses to host music and video event in public spaces to include our Community Center, the Arts Center, our parks and other areas throughout our community.
Position 7
Jim Cooper: We need to find ways to preserve our current arts infrastructure, we are adding facilities (armory) and need to account for long term maintenance and upkeep of facilities and our art collection. I hope the cultural access program will have this built in at the core.
Spence Weigand: I am a proponent of shutting down vehicular traffic on Washington St. between 4th and Legion. I envision a pedestrian mall featuring the arts with the Washington Center as the anchor and this public gathering space as the centerpiece of the Creative District. I would suggest that the Washington Center is one of our biggest city jewels, and that it is one of the best kick-starters of economic growth downtown and has a huge impact on the vibrancy of our city. Here's what we’re missing: a fantastic outdoor entertainment venue. I would like to see the city partner with the Port to develop an outdoor amphitheater on Port property. It would be an amazing city asset with Budd Inlet and the Olympics as a back-drop. It would also encourage spending of money from outside our community as well as enriching local lives.