The Tacoma Arts Commission has declared this year's AMOCAT Arts Award honorees, singling out individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted the local community through arts and culture. A public library, a creative reuse nonprofit, a community-centric center, and standout individuals are among those recognized for their dedication and impact, as reported by a recent announcement.
Tacoma Public Library earns the Arts Patron Award for transforming into a space that not only provides access to information but also encourages creative engagement in the community. Hosting the Community Hub, the Main Branch becomes a crossroad for organizations like Write253, Remakery, and the Tacoma Tool Library. These partners bring events such as Tacoma Wayzgoose and Tacoma Reads, shown to be citywide loci fostering resilience and community connection as stated on the city's website.
Remakery and Mi Centro are joint recipients of the Community Outreach by an Organization Award. Remakery promotes creativity and sustainability through workshops and events, encouraging the community to re-imagine the potential of existing materials. Offering its services from the second floor of Tacoma Public Library’s Main Branch, Remakery extends affordable hands-on making opportunities to the public. Established in the Hilltop neighborhood in 2001, Mi Centro fosters support for Latine and Indigenous families with a comprehensive blend of educational, advocacy, outreach services, and arts programming. The organization has notably hosted Tacoma’s Latine Pride for two consecutive years, earning recognition with the Tacoma Pride Ruby Award.
The Community Outreach by an Individual Award acknowledges the contributions of Saiyare Refaei and Irina Rasputnis in using the arts to foster community bonds. Saiyare Refaei, a Chinese-Iranian artist, integrates murals, printmaking, and poetry into collaborative projects that spotlight education and healing, while Irina Rasputnis, through organizing festivals and directing community bands, builds community through participatory music and art. According to the Tacoma government's release, Rasputnis' ventures like Tacoma Porchfest and Tacoma HONK! Festivals are prime examples of spaces where neighbors come together, exchanging meaningful interactions and support.
The award recipients will be honored at the Tacoma Arts Month Proclamation at the Tacoma City Council meeting scheduled for September 30, in what promises to be a recognition of Tacoma's vibrant arts scene. The event will take place at the Tacoma Municipal Building and is set to highlight these award winners' contributions to nurturing the cultural landscape of the city.
