Future Arts is a Seattle-based nonprofit founded with the mission of bridging the gap between the tech and arts industries in the city. Co-founders Yuliya Bruk and Anna Czoski have set a big goal of having an artist-in-residence at every tech company in Seattle within the next 10 years. With a focus on targeting startups and fostering collaborations between tech and art, Future Arts aims to enhance community engagement, cultural development, and creativity in the city. Both Bruk and Czoski, graduates of the University of Washington’s Digital Arts and Experimental Media program, bring a wealth of experience in tech and art to the organization.
As Seattle continues to experience a booming tech industry with record-high earnings for tech workers, the cultural and creative identity of the city is at risk of being overshadowed by the tech sector. Future Arts seeks to create an environment where interdisciplinary creativity is supported and where artists are incentivized to stay in Seattle rather than moving to larger creative hubs like New York or Los Angeles. Through programs, initiatives, and public art installations, Future Arts aims to support underserved artists working with technology, with a particular focus on youth education and interaction with artists through their Future Arts Live! hybrid livestream experience.
In an effort to further support artists and sustain the organization’s initiatives, Future Arts launched the Future Sparks membership program, allowing community members to contribute financially to the cause with monthly contributions as low as $10. By partnering with institutions like the Cornish College of the Arts, Future Arts has facilitated large-scale interdisciplinary art projects such as the mural “Cut, Crush. Decay,” which incorporates augmented reality, mycelium, and generative AI models for motion capture. Through their initiatives, Future Arts aims to enrich the artistic landscape of Seattle and provide opportunities for artists working at the intersection of art and technology.
Companies such as Amazon and Meta have shown a willingness to incorporate art into their spaces, with Amazon even having an artist-in-residence program and dedicating space in its re:Invent office tower for the new home of Gage Academy of Art. However, Future Arts envisions a future where every tech company in Seattle collaborates with artists, engineers, developers, and program managers, creating a vibrant ecosystem that goes beyond being solely a tech hub. By nurturing creativity and supporting artist residencies, Future Arts believes that Seattle can maintain its cultural and creative vibrancy while embracing technological innovation.
Future Arts has organized events such as the “Augment Seattle Showcase,” where artists showcased interactive art installations in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. By bringing together local artists and providing a platform for them to exhibit their work in a mixed reality setting, Future Arts aims to engage the public and showcase the intersection of art and technology. Through partnerships, sponsorships, and grants, Future Arts has been able to support a variety of artistic projects, providing opportunities for artists to experiment and collaborate within the tech-focused landscape of Seattle. The organization’s efforts to foster collaboration between tech and art industries and to support artists in the city contribute to creating a more vibrant and inclusive creative community in Seattle.
