2009 has been a year of significant challenges and changes for 911 Seattle Media Arts Center. In the face of the worst economic recession since the great depression, the Center has seen a drop in revenues from Foundation support, Government Agencies, Education Revenue, Memberships, and Individual Giving. We have matched these realities with reductions in staff, operating expenses, and facilities costs. At the end of this year, 911 Media will be completely debt free and liquid to face 2010 with our best financial position in the past five years.

These new financial realities have not impeded our core mission of providing access and instruction to artists to the tools of new media technology. We are transitioning from being a Supermarket of New Media to a Service Provider of New Media. Rather than stand alone, we will partner with other organizations to bring our daring, audacious and delightful exhibitions, education, equipment, and Youth Programs to the public. 911 Media has never been a building but a community. When the founding mothers started the Center at 911 East Pine, they pooled their resources and their knowledge to create opportunities for New Media Art and Documentary Film in the Seattle metropolitan area. The Center has had a nomadic existence, moving from Capitol Hill to the Cascade neighborhood, then to South Lake Union, and currently residing in the University District.

Achievements in a Down Economy

2009 saw the move from South Lake Union to the University District. This Herculean effort was assisted; by an activist Board, intrepid interns, staff, members, and a band of noble volunteers. The Center closed on August 23rd and reopened in our new location, 909 NE 43rd Street, Suite 206 on October 1st.

In February 2009, we rolled out our new web site with a streamlined design and a decentralized administrative capability so that more than one web master can upload updates, corrections, and new items.

Also in February we upgraded our membership database to a new open source experiment originally designed for Amnesty International called civiCRM. The new database allows us to; track membership, register classes, manage donations, and organize grant applications. We are actively refining this new tool and expect to have it fully implemented by mid-summer 2010.

Education Achievements

113 Adults took 33 classes in 2009. New courses in Arduino, Jitter, and a novel mind camp developed with Youngstown Cultural Center and Dorkbot Seattle, entitled “Frayed Wire” was created. Beginning Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Web 101, Photoshop, Web Media Integration, Bare Bone Podcasting, Bare Bones iMovie, Writing a Documentary, Basic Video Production, DVX Certification, Media Literacy Workshop, [UW-Bothell] ran in 2009.

Youth Education Achievements

Four hundred youth, 20% of which were defined as “at risk,” took 25 classes. In 2008 we had 10 classes for youth, thus seeing an increase of 250%. Programs included; Cartoon Animation, Digital Animation with After Effects, Web Design, [Coyote Central], Late Night, Basic Video Production, [ARC/South Park Community Center], Web Design [ARC/Rainier Beach Community Center], Media Literacy Workshop, [Eastside Prep], Media Pirates Ahoy! [Center for Wooden Boats], Young Producers Project [Old Firehouse Teen Center, Redmond] and Young Producers Project [911 Media Arts Center, Seattle].

Exhibitions 2009

In January we continued our exhibition of the US premier of Virtuelle Mauer by artist Tamiko Thiel. The exhibit went next to Boston where it won the IBM “Innovation Award” at the 2009 Boston Cyberarts Festival. The exhibition is on a two-year international tour with Asian venues just announced.

February saw the Opening of “Between Here and a Kind of Fleshlessness” by artist Tivon Rice. The artist gave a talk, which was videoed and made available on the Internet. Two pieces, which premiered at 911 Media, toured to Los Angles and were reviewed by LA Times Art Critic, Christopher Knight.

“Sur face” and exhibition by Margot Quan Knight opened with an artist talk, which was videoed and made available on the Internet. During the run of the exhibition, Knight learned that she won an Artist Trust GAP grant.

“People Doing Strange Things with Electricity 4” opened in June, as a group show hosted by Dorkbot-Seattle. The exhibition featured works that were networked with each other. One piece featured a live Twitter feed.

“Paper Thin Walls” opened August 1st and explored the 25-year history of 911 Media Arts Center through posters, show cards, magazines, and other ephemera. This was the last exhibition in our South Lake Union facility.


In October we partnered with DX Arts UW, The Simpson Center for the Humanities [UW], The Henry Art Gallery [UW] and Cornish College of the Arts to bring Australian performance artist, Stelarc to Seattle. He met with students and gave a public lecture on his work.

In December, in partnership with Wing Luke Asian Museum, we provided support for a group exhibition entitled “Transcendence” organized by 911 Affiliate Curator Lele Barnett. The exhibit opens December 18th and runs through the summer 2010.

Events 2009

Wiimbleton, a virtual doubles tennis tourney was held in April. With additional equipment from Magnolia Audio/Video the event had its own mascot, “Wiimby Bear”, sports commentators, referees, ball girls, and 500 audience members.

4 exhibit openings, 3 artist panels, and one event closing reception were held in conjunction with our exhibitions program.

The Ian Harrison Memorial raised $1,600.00 towards the Youth scholarship fund. The first Ian Harrison Scholar in residence was awarded to Isaiah Hoben Halvorsen for the 2009-2010 school year.

On August 14th we hosted our 25th anniversary celebration with 3 out of the four founding mothers in attendance. Past Board President and City council member Nick Licata, past Executive Director Fidelma McGinn were in attendance.

On October 1st we awarded the third Anne Focke Arts Leadership Award to Helen Gurvich at a gala dinner at the Bullitt Cabaret in the ACT Theater. $20,000.00 was raised for programs at 911 that evening.

Production Achievements

911 Media Arts placed entries in the 24 & 48-hour film races.
Youth programs created 3 extended shorts, which are being entered in Youth Film Festivals across the country.
Member James Longley was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship [911 has 3 MacArthur Geniuses as members]

Financial Achievements

In the worst recession since the Second World War, 911 Media Arts Center endured a 48.6% loss in income. We responded with targeted cuts to our overall expenses. The savings are as follows.

Human Resources cut 54.9%
Facilities Costs cut 70%
Operations Costs cut 40.6%
Workshop Costs cut 46.4%
Program Costs cut 36.4%
Total Expense cut 52.6%

Our Greatest Loss

In January 2009, the members, staff, Board, volunteers and interns lost 911 Education Coordinator Ian Harrison. Losing money is nothing compared to losing a dear friend and colleague, and at the end of the year we still miss him.