by jasminemahmoud

Amiya Ingram, King County Executive Candidate — 2025 Primary Election

CANDIDATE: Amiya Ingram, King County Executive Candidate

ARTS PLATFORM

My arts platform is surrounded by supporting small businesses and nonprofits, giving them access to funds to assist in upkeep of the local socioeconomic growth and cultural expansion through the arms of our very own community. This looks like grant programs to insight more events in the community surrounded by music, dancing, painting, sculpting, and skating. I also would like to enhance the fashion district area and make it an area KNOWN for shopping, and the connection of cultures helping us give local designers a chance and boosting our visibility throughout the world and driving more trade to other states, and even countries through our talents here in King County.

How do the arts reflect the voices, perspectives, and communities in your district? What are challenges and opportunities? 

During the No Kings Parade I noticed something. Many people there standing with marked up signs and echoes of their voices painted across various fabrics of canvases hand crafted to express their disinterest in the Mass Deportation Efforts and handling by ICE Agencies. Though many used markers, and some even more expansive tools, the ability to see expression of art through that way brought a different sense of meaning to me. The challenge is having to come together only on these terms, and not promoting more times like this where we can use art as a way to transform our community, creative visibility among issues, and define change. Art shows up in so many ways, but I gained a new sense of how art can drive a community together in real time.

How do you envision the arts as part of Seattle, especially as part of critical issues including access, affordability, displacement, education, and racial equity? Do you have any policy ideas around addressing these issues? 

The Small Business Stabilization Stipend Program gives businesses anywhere from $500-$1000 a month. The priority would be given to women and BIPOC communities. This is in order to provide healthcare benefits, and a portion of unemployment wage in order to assist in offsetting the cost of living, and to keep hiring competitive amongst larger corporations. I want to implement a Transit Village that acts as a rehabilitation school/ campus for the unsheltered, and maybe even open up affordable transit village housing for those who are sheltered, but may be interested in it to make a liveable life. 

The aftershocks of Covid and federal arts funding cuts are still being felt by artists and cultural organizations. Please share policy ideas you may have that aim to stabilize the cultural industry and increase cultural engagement to increase quality of life for communities across King County/Seattle? If you don’t have policy ideas right now, what process would you initiate to determine new opportunities in these areas? 

I mentioned the Small Business Stabilization Program and want to highlight that not only just for the businesses and nonprofits, but also communities of Arts and Culture to receive grants, assistance, and incentives to promote more art in the community and a gathering place for community members. I will also implement more festivals and summer events, as well as sponsoring leasing spaces to artists and designers at a lower rate to revive some of our retail areas.

How do you plan to work with governmental agencies including the Office of Arts and Culture and the Seattle Arts Commission? 

I plan to host rotational meetings, and allow people to hear what other leaders have to say as well as hold them accountable and be open to other ideas. I don’t think there’s a shortage of leaders, I believe we should build the leaders we have, and challenge them to do the correct things. From the Office of Arts and Culture and the Seattle Arts Commission. I would like to give you all more funding and full jurisdiction of what the Art community needs. Also create a program that connects local artists directly into resources through grants and other support.

Describe a meaningful arts experience that has stayed with you over time. How have the arts affected your life?

My meaningful art experiences came from a culmination of things including music, poetry, dancing and performing arts. My most meaningful experience is being able to make the Rifle Line on my Color Guard Team. That year summer was hot, Band camp was a pain, and the rifle rookie “me”, Outside of my moms apartment would not give up on this toss that required me to catch it behind my back. My hands numb from the slaking of the wood over and over again, but finally a clean catch. That next day I walked into the gym, air crisp and dry, in performance mode and my head dropped down, ready for the queue. The music starts and I immediately execute the routine almost flawlessly, the end was a little sloppy. However, that performance was enough to not only make the line, but also make the first black African American woman to be captain on that team. Which taught me that if we perfect our own expression, we can make the impossible happen, and I have lived by that.