Seattle's young curators are carving out a space for themselves in the local art scene, bringing diversity and fresh ideas to the City of Seattle's Civic Art Collection. A new exhibition titled "Fresh Perspectives" showcases the fruits of their labor, displaying 50 works by 30 artists across various media. The event begins tomorrow at ARTS at King Street Station Gallery. It promises to be an immersive experience, complete with live jazz by Jahnvi Madan, as reported by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

These curatorial prodigies sprang from a summer intensive program supported by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and funded by City Light’s 1% for Art Fund. The initiative not only educates participants on art curation and administration but also fairly compensates them with a stipend, similar to a summer job. Their efforts resulted in a selection of artworks from a roster of pre-approved visual artists. After that, City Light employees chose pieces for City offices and buildings that will now grace the "Fresh Perspectives" exhibition.

Hasaan Kirkland, both an artist and educator, helmed the education initiative aimed at young adults ages 17-20. It is part of a deliberate strategy to tackle the underrepresentation of people of color in art curation and, by extension, the public art they influence. Through studio visits, museum tours, and office excursions, participants got hands-on experience in the art world. Kirkland’s work has drawn praise for its comprehensive approach to addressing diversity in the art field, and the program has been spotlighted for its commitment to nurturing and including youth voices.

"Throughout my 12 years of public schooling, I’ve never had an arts teacher of color, and I’ve rarely been able to take arts classes in general due to low funding," Naima Joseph, one of the program's participants, shared at the closing ceremony last August, as highlighted by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. The program culminated in another exhibition, “FRESSSSSH!,” which focused exclusively on works by local artists of color, further pushing the boundaries and redefining whose art holds space in the city.