Call for artists to submit work for Africatown Plaza in Seattle’s Central District

Artists from Nigeria made an effort to be part of the project.

SEATTLE – Artists from around the world are invited to submit work that will be part of a community-led residential effort in the Central District of Seattle.

The Africatown Community Land Trust deals with evictions and community property in the Central District.

One of the group’s newest projects is eventually becoming a healing space for the Black Community.

“If you look around Seattle, you see a lot of cranes, and most cranes don’t build things that everyone can afford,” said K. Wyking Garrett, president of the Africatown Community Land Trust.

The Africatown Community Land Trust has steadily created spaces that re-invite a community that has been displaced by rising housing costs and development.

“Just so the church, the black church that has hosted the Central District for nearly 140 years, can be here and be part of the future,” said Garrett.

The corner of 23rd Avenue and Spring Street turns into Africatown Plaza. There will be 126 affordable apartments with common areas and an art collection focused on healing and wellness.

“We know that art and culture are critical to the Black experience,” said Elisheba Johnson, co-founder of the arts organization Wa Na Wari.

Wa Na Wari is helping co-curate the collection, which is featured in over 20 locations on the website.

Johnson invites black and African diaspora artists from all media to submit proposals – including sculpture, painting, mixed media, integrated art, augmented reality, and sound art.

“By the 23rd, we want people to know by now that you are entering a black room and that that black room is the central district,” Johnson said.

Artists from Nigeria made an effort to be part of the project.

Africatown Plaza jumps off a similar project in the Liberty Bank Building nearby.

Construction on Africatown Plaza is expected to begin this winter.

The deadline for submission has been extended to May 28th. Artists can submit proposals here.