ABOUT US

Overview

The Cultural Space Agency is a mission-driven, values-based cultural real estate development company chartered by the City of Seattle. We secure long-term affordable commercial cultural space with community partners; we build community wealth through direct investment in real property; we create opportunities for ownership of commercial cultural space; and we take these actions in partnership with our rich and diverse cultural communities, with a particular focus on the needs of Black and Indigenous communities. We create agency. 

Mission & Values 

Mission & Values

Mission

The mission of the CSA is to secure community-held spaces in which arts and culture thrive. 

  • The mission of the Cultural Space Agency is to secure community-held spaces in which arts and culture thrive.

    We welcome all who align with our mission and values.

    We build capacity.

    We cultivate agency.

    We promote access to wealth building.

    knowledge and opportunities.

    We employ reparative investment.

    We prioritize Black and Indigenous partnerships and all of our rich and diverse cultural communities.

Values

  • Keep Race in the Room: Center the needs of communities of color.

    Build Community Wealth: Create structures that support literal property ownership by community members and organizations.

    Who Decides Who Decides?: Create transparent decision-making pathways where power flows from community to organizational leadership.

    Assets are not Always Financial: Find ways to value intergenerational knowledge, sweat equity, cultural traditions, social networks, and other non-financial assets found in the community.

    Always be Learning: Question dominant cultural assumptions and be inquisitive.

Agency Charter

The Cultural Space Agency was chartered by an act of Mayor of Seattle Jenny Durkan on December 15, 2020.

  • The organizing document, or Charter, of the organization, was created through the input of dozens of community members over the course of many months.

    Link to Space Agency Charter

The Cultural Space Agency is driven by a series of values that have been articulated throughout its development: 

Who We Are 

The Staff

The Governing Council 

  • Sergio Max Legon Talamoni

    PRINCIPAL, LA UNION STUDIO (PRESIDENT)

  • Afua Kouyate

    DIRECTOR OF ADEFUA CULTURAL EDUCATION WORKSHOP (VICE PRESIDENT)

  • CM Ruiz

    FOUNDER, NII MODO (TREASURER)

  • Nia Arunga

    OWNER, SEAWEED INTERNATIONAL (SECRETARY)

  • Geneiva Arunga

    SPOKEN WORD ARTIST AND EDUCATOR

  • Julie-C

    FOUNDER, FOREVER SAFE SPACES

  • Ching-In Chen

    ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

  • Nyema Clark

    DIRECTOR, NURTURING ROOTS

  • Randy Engstrom

    PRINCIPAL, THIRD WAY CREATIVE

  • Tim Lennon

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LANGSTON PAST PRESIDENT

  • Gladys Ly-Au Young

    PRINCIPAL, SKL ARCHITECTURE

  • ChrisTiana ObeySumner

    PRINCIPAL, EPIPHANIES OF EQUITY

  • Melina Rivera

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, FRONT & CENTERED

  • Michael Seiwerath

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, FRONT & CENTERED

  • Sarah Wilke

    DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, MEANY HALL

  • Ixtli White Hawk

    INDEPENDENT ARTIST

  • Olisa Enrico

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CULTURAL SPACE AGENCY MEMBER EX OFFICIO

The Constituency

The Constituency is our community-based advisory group. This roughly 60-member group consists of leaders from our rich cultural communities: Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color who are regional leaders in the worlds of Commercial Real Estate, Arts and Culture, Community Development, Philanthropy, and Finance. To join the Constituency, one must be a graduate of the Cultural Space Agency’s Build Art Space Equitably (B.A.S.E.) certification cohort, or be added to the Constituency by a vote of the existing membership. 

The Constituency defines the organization’s mission, vision, values, and policies. The Constituency guides the organization’s property investments and programming partnerships. The Constituency nominates the organization’s Governing Council. The Constituency is responsible for ensuring that the organization is operating in service of the communities it was designed to serve. 

  • Beverly Aarons, South Seattle Emerald

  • Ebony Arunga, Langston

  • Ebo Barton, Independent Artist

  • Tony Benton, Rainier Avenue Radio

  • Cynthia Brothers, Vanishing Seattle

  • Julie C, Save Our Spaces

  • Gladys Ly-Au Young, SKL Architecture

  • Rachael Kitagawa, Hoshide Wanzer Architects

  • Tim Lennon, Independent Advisor

  • Leslie Morishita, Interim Community Development

  • Issa Ndiaye, West African Community Council

  • ChrisTiana ObeySumner, Epiphanies of Equity

  • Catalina Cantu, La Sala

  • Angela Castañeda, Beacon Business Alliance

  • Cassie Chinn, Wing Luke Museum

  • Mujale Chisebuka, Outsidethinc

  • Asmaret Habte, Multicultural Community Coalition

  • LaVerne C Hall, James & Janie Washington Cultural Center

  • Keanna Rose Pickett, The Postman

  • Rico Quirindongo, City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development

  • Robert Stephens, Jr, Garfield Superblock

  • Susanō Surface, King County Office of the Executive

  • Amber Tafoya, Latino Center for Health 

  • Uche Okezie, Homesight

  • Aramis Hamer, Independent Artist

  • Monette Hearn, Black Heritage Society

  • Ruby Holland, Keep Your Habitat

  • Ben Hunter, Northwest Folklife

  • Sadiqua Iman, Langston

  • Heidi Jackson, City of Seattle

  • Boting Zhang, Independent Advisor

  • Roger Tang, Pork Filled Players

  • Karen Toering, Black & Tan Hall

  • Martin Tran, Shunpike

  • Michael Tulee, United Indians of All Tribes

  • Che Wong, Craft3

  • Tana Yasu, Joe Brazil Legacy Project

Our Supporting Partners

  • $10,000,000 +

    Seattle Office of Planning and Community

  • $5,000,000+

  • $1,000,000+

  • $500,000+

  • $250,000+

  • Supporting Partners

Press Coverage