WHAT'S IN A STRATEGY?

Just three years ago, ARTE NOIR officially stepped onto Seattle’s arts scene. In that short time, we’ve grown, listened, reflected, and gained deep insight into who we are — and how we fit within the local, national, and international arts landscape.

As we continue to evolve, we recognize that we need more than just ideas — we require a clear, functional framework to guide our next steps. Something that could hold both our current understanding and our boldest hopes for the future. Enter Imago, LLC.

Thanks to early and generous support from Threshold Philanthropy, we began a strategic planning journey — and now, as we celebrate our three-year anniversary, that process is complete. We’re excited to share that ARTE NOIR now moves forward with a focused strategy — a roadmap designed to help us better define our lane, grow within it, and create new pathways that lead to long-term sustainability.

This plan isn’t just ours — it’s rooted in the voices and insights of many in our community. Together, we clarified ARTE NOIR’s unique role in the arts ecosystem and how we complement and collaborate with existing organizations. Over the next three years, every step we take will be guided by a well-considered mission, a clear vision, and core values — ensuring that every investment in ARTE NOIR goes further, deeper, and wider.

As we mark this milestone, we offer our heartfelt thanks:

• To Threshold Philanthropy for connecting us with the brilliant team at Imago, LLC

• To The Gathering Collaborative and King County for supporting our shared work in addressing systemic racism

• To our incredible board of directors for embracing this journey and guiding it with care and commitment

• And with special gratitude to Juan Alonso-Rodriguez and Donna Moodie for their extraordinary leadership and the countless hours they dedicated to making this process a success

  
  

While this roadmap serves as our internal compass, it’s ultimately for our community. It is a reflection of the voices, insights, and support that continue to shape ARTE NOIR. It reinforces our commitment to artists and to the work that lies ahead.

We’re proud to publicly share a summary of ARTE NOIR’s Strategic Roadmap — a vision for the future, built with and for community.

ARTE NOIR is leaning into its mission to celebrate and sustain Black art, artists, and culture by cultivating inclusive spaces, fostering opportunities, and honoring community through the diversity and vitality of Black creativity. With a physical anchor in Seattle’s Central District and a growing national and international footprint, the organization is building on its foundation to become a leading cultural force for Black arts and economic empowerment.

ARTE NOIR believes that Black art is not only an expression of culture but also a vehicle for liberation, community wealth, and cultural transformation. We are committed to uplifting the creativity of the African diaspora, amplifying Black ownership and visibility, and ensuring that Black artists and makers are seen, supported, and celebrated.

Our sector’s current state is marked by deep economic pressures, demographic changes, technological disruption, and shifting philanthropic priorities, all intensified by a post-pandemic arts landscape, ultimately creating new opportunities for culturally rooted organizations like ARTE NOIR to lead with creativity, expand equity, and reimagine sustainability in the arts.

Over the next three years, we aim to:

·       grow our visibility as a national voice for Black art and culture, 

·       deepen our local impact through expanded partnerships and youth programming, and 

·       strengthen our financial foundation through a diversified and values-aligned funding model.

By aligning thought leadership, donor engagement, and strategic storytelling, ARTE NOIR is charting a path toward a future where Black artists are resourced, celebrated, and connected, one where their creativity not only shapes the cultural landscape but also fosters thriving communities.

Here’s to the next chapter — grounded in strategy, lifted by community, and driven by purpose.

Vivian Phillips, Founder + Board President

Executive Director Jazmyn Scott introduces the artists at the opening of our Central District Legacy exhibit in April 2025.