Watch “artTown” Documenting Tacoma Artists

Impressive new TV series of documentary-style spotlights on Tacoma artists and entrepreneurs.
Impressive new TV series of documentary-style spotlights on Tacoma artists and entrepreneurs. Watch it on cable, or online!

The City of Tacoma’s Media and Communications Office – in partnership with its Community and Economic Development Department’s Arts Program – announces the launch of “artTown,” a cultural documentary-style TV initiative exploring Tacoma’s emergence as a major creative hub in the Pacific Northwest. The quarterly series offers segments featuring diverse perspectives on a variety of creative disciplines. The show launches today – you can view anytime online or watch tonight at 8 p.m. on TV Tacoma.

“In developing the concept for ‘artTown,’ we wanted to offer a more holistic look at creativity in Tacoma,” said Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride. “In addition to what people traditionally think of as ‘creative,’ such as fine art, music or dance, we also plan to spotlight other creative areas of interest that have really flourished in our city like food, fashion, innovative education practices, architecture and more. You’ll see some of that in this first episode.”

The inaugural episode features:

music composed by local artist Isaac Solverson

J.D. Elquist and Travis Pranger from Feather and Oar

Pacific Avenue Streetscape artists Elizabeth Conner and Daniel Martin

graphic designer Art Chantry and letterpress artist Lance Kagey of Beautiful Angle

Metro Parks historian Melissa McGinnis

Tacoma School of the Arts instructors Robin Jaecklein and Kareem Kandi

Arts EnviroChallenger teaching artist Meredith Essex

illustrator and designer Sean Alexander

glass artist Sarah Gilbert

dance choreographer Carla Barragan

jazz musician Kareem Kandi

Old Town Dock public artist Chandler O’Leary

and much more….

Online viewing:

Watch “artTown” anytime on the City of Tacoma’s website.

TV Tacoma air times:

Mondays at noon

Tuesdays at 1 a.m.

Wednesdays at 8 a.m.

Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Fridays at 8 p.m.

Saturdays at 6 p.m.

Sundays at 5 a.m.

TV Tacoma is aired on both the Click! and Comcast Cable systems. On Click!, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 within Tacoma City limits and in Pierce County, with the exception of University Place, where TV Tacoma can be found on Channel 21. On Comcast, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 within Tacoma city limits and on Channel 21 in Pierce County. TV Tacoma is not on the Comcast system in University Place, but is accessible anywhere on the Internet at tvtacoma.com.

It will also be available through Click! ON Demand’s TV Tacoma and TacomaArt & Culture menu listings.

Future episodes will be produced in part based on some of the audience feedback culled via social media, email at mco@cityoftacoma.org or phone at (253) 591-5152.