In the Community
The ACCESS Project (Artistic and Cultural Community Engagement with Seattle Symphony)
What is the ACCESS Project?
Seattle Symphony's institutional commitment to engage the diverse populations of our community with the world of symphonic music.
How did the ACCESS Project evolve?
Launched as an integral component of Seattle Symphony's 2003–2004 Centennial Season, the ACCESS Project began as an initiative
of the Community Engagement Council. The council comprised representatives from the Seattle Symphony Board of Directors, as well as
prominent members of the Asian, Latino and African American communities throughout the region.
What are the ACCESS Project goals?
- Expand Seattle Symphony's audience base to reflect the demographics of our community
- Sustain community partnerships
- Create interdisciplinary pathways to the arts
- Increase understanding and appreciation of the relationships among musical genres
- Provide resources for people to deepen relationships with symphonic music and musicians
- Feature artists of color
Whom does the ACCESS Project serve?
Since 2002, the ACCESS Project has served over 16,000 people in underserved communities in South and Southwest Seattle.
Who are the ACCESS Project's sponsors?
- National Endowment for the Arts
- Educational Legacy Fund
- The Greater Seattle Chapter of the LINKS
- The Benaroya Company
- Washington State Arts Commission
- The Seattle Foundation
- US Bank
- Fales Foundation Trust
- Washington Mutual
- AMGEN
- Seattle Foundation
Who are the ACCESS Project's partners?
- Seattle Public Schools
- Elementary
- Bailey Gatzert
- Leschi
- T.T. Minor
- Wing Luke
- African American Academy
- Middle
- Aki Kurose
- Denny
- Meany
- Mercer
- African American Academy
- High
- Cleveland
- Rainier Beach
- Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center
- Southwest Interagency Academy
- Seattle Public Library SERF Sites
- Community Day Center
- El Centro de la Raza
- Toddler Tech
- Zion Prep
- Community and Service Organizations
- Childhaven
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
- West Seattle Kiwanis
- Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
SPHINX Laureate Winner Christina Castelli with Meany Middle School Orchestra.
ACCESS Project Highlights (2005–2006 Season)
Last season, the ACCESS project arranged for transportation and concert tickets for more than 2,000 students from Denny, Mercer and Aki Kurose middle schools, Secondary Bilingual Education Center, and African American Academy to attend three Meet the Beat series concerts in Benaroya Hall.
The Seattle Symphony presented free ACCESS Community Concerts at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, Aki Kurose Middle School and West Seattle High School with over 2,500 in attendance.
The ACCESS project presented Lou Gossert, Jr., in an inspirational visit to Aki Kurose Middle School in December 2005. Music Alive! Composer-in-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank visited T.T. Minor and New School at South Shore Elementary schools in May 2006. Class visits and Symphony on Wheels served more than 3,200 students in ACCESS-affiliated schools.
For a list of ACCESS Community Concerts for the 2006–2007 season, click here.
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