Make it stand out

Welcome

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. 

CSA Mission & Values

  • Misson

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

  • Values

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

  • 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.

Space Agency Charter

The Cultural Space Agency was chartered by the 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