ALLIED ARTS :: ABOUT ALLIED ARTS

TIMELINE

1950’s
• The group that will come to be known as Allied Arts gathers informally in 1952 as the "Beer and Culture Society."
• The group convenes the "Congress of the Allied Arts" in 1954, the date recognized as the birth of AAS.
• In 1955, the group formally incorporates as Allied Arts of Seattle. Immediately, Allied Arts successfully lobbies the mayor and city council to create a Municipal Arts Commission. This advisory body championed by AAS begins a sweeping series of actions embodied in a master plan for city, including the dedication of 2 percent of city capital funds to purchase art, the staging of an annual arts festival, the hosting of a world's fair, public funding for Seattle preforming arts organizations — the Symphony, Ballet and Opera — the burying of public utility lines, the preservation of historic landmarks, and and the planting of street trees. The group also campaigns for a State Arts Commission and a ban on billboards.
• 1956 — Allied Arts and the new Seattle Arts Commission successfully campaigns for the Civic Auditorium, which led to the creation of the Seattle Center with the world's fair six years later.

1960’s
• Takes the lead in developing the nation’s first state and city legislation to control billboards.
• Engages private sector participation in the arts with formation of the Corporate Council for the Arts, which has grown to the largest private arts supporter in the PNW.

1970’s
• Fosters the creation of the Seattle Arts Commission.
Spearheads legislation to create one of the country’s first Percent for Art ordinances.
• Instigates Friends of the (Pike Place) Market to lead the fight to save our signature landmark from being lost forever.
• Initiates legislation to rescue Pioneer Square and stimulate its dramatic rebirth.
• Assists in establishing the Landmarks Preservation Board> to protect our city’s architectural heritage.
• Sponsors a "Survival Series" to showcase smaller Arts organizations, which provides invaluable exposure to many fledgling arts groups, including the newly founded Intiman Theatre, Northwest Chamber Orchestra and Empty Space Theatre.

1980’s
• Publishes The Terra Cotta Project, a catalogue that recognizes and celebrates Seattle’s historic buildings.

1990’s
• Spearheads the creation of the Mayor’s Theater Advisory Group to ensure passage of laws to promote & finance the rehabilitation of historic downtown theaters and to protect all landmark buildings from speculative development.
• Demands public inclusion in preparation of Seattle’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, which causes this predominantly private effort to fold.
• Introduces the Constitution for the Arts to address areas in need of attention and change in civic management of the arts in Seattle.