City of Seattle press release
Mayor Mike McGinn moved to confirm Randy Engstrom as permanent director of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Engstrom has been the acting director since October 3, 2012.

“Our arts community is a critical part of our local economy and cultural vibrancy,” said McGinn. “Randy has done a great job engaging with the community as acting director and I urge the City Council to confirm him as permanent director.”

Engstrom has deep experience and success working in the Seattle arts community. He has over a decade of grassroots arts and culture experience beyond consulting, having founded Static Factory Media, a multi-media artist development company, and acted as the Founding Director of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. He has also served as a chair to the Seattle Arts Commission, and previously served as a board member of One Reel and board President at Washington Bus Education Fund.

A number of accolades support his past work - City Arts Magazine named him "The Advocate" in December of 2011, he was an Americans for the Arts Emerging Leader in 2009 and was also named to Puget Sound Business Journal's "40 under 40" in 2009.

Engstrom holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School and a BA in Public Administration from Evergreen State College.

About the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs supports the health and vitality of our city by providing access to arts and culture, advancing the role of the arts in our community, and advocating for issues that affect the entire cultural community. The 16-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor and City Council, supports the city agency.