The recent Colman Commons Grand Opening featured a historic panel of Black women in Seattle arts. Among the visionaries honored was Jazmyn Scott, the force behind cultural hub and fine art gallery ARTE NOIR, who shared her truths about resilience, community, and what it truly means to fund Black creativity.

The Seattle waterfront was recently flooded with pure musical magic as Jamie-Michelle Charles, starring as Wendy in Acts on Stage's Teen Summer Musical production Peter Pan: Ready to Rise, delivered a breathtaking sneak-peek performance of the show, happening this weekend.

At the Colman Commons Grand Opening Celebration earlier this month, the atmosphere was charged with reflection, gratitude, and artistic excellence. Among the esteemed honorees was legendary Seattle artist Barbara Earl Thomas, whose insights into her lifelong creative journey left a lasting impression.

Earlier this month, the Seattle arts and culture community gathered to witness the historic grand opening of Colman Commons. Among the esteemed visionaries on stage was Stephanie Morales, the founder behind Made Space Seattle.

Earlier this month, the Colman Commons Grand Opening celebrated the launch of a new community space and honored incredible Black women in Seattle’s creative community. Among these women was Sierra Jones, who made it clear we cannot build sustainable sanctuaries for others if we are running ourselves into the ground.

One week after the grand opening of Colman Commons, Executive Director Ashleigh McCurdy is still absorbing the magnitude of what the night meant for the artists, for the community, and for the future of the space itself.

The waterfront was buzzing last week, and if you weren’t there, you missed a historic shift in our city’s cultural landscape. When Colman Commons officially threw open its doors, it transformed the historic Colman Building into a sanctuary for Black creativity, connection, and unfiltered joy. 

If you were with us at Colman Commons last Friday, you felt the room shift the second you walked through the doors. The energy was warm, heavy in the best way, and electric with shared purpose. We were honored to host A Space Inside for their first open mic in over a year—marking the beginning of an exciting new partnership as their long-term home.

The vibes were high in the Black Media Matter studios this week when The Pop-Up! welcomed Colman Commons Executive Director Ashleigh McCurdy. With the city buzzing in anticipation, McCurdy took to the mic to discuss one of the most exciting community developments of the summer: the Colman Commons Grand Opening, happening tomorrow, Thursday, August 6. 

If you are anywhere near Pioneer Square during Seattle Art Fair week (July 23–26, 2026), you need to pull up to Colman Commons. Ward—the visionary behind Seattle’s iconic 2020 Black Lives Matter street mural and the founder of the Pacific Northwest's premier sneaker care facility, The Re-Sole 206—is debuting her first-ever solo exhibition: The RETROspective.

The wait is over, Seattle. After nearly a year, healing arts studio Inside’s Open Mic Night is officially back, and this time, they’re planting roots. Starting Friday, July 31st, Inside has found its forever home at Colman Commons. This return isn’t just a restart; it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and the voices that make our city incredible. 

On a recent episode of The Pop-Up!, Converge Media welcomed back a familiar face whose fingerprints are quite literally all over Seattle: Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward. From the iconic “Black Media Matters. Period.” wall inside the Converge studio to murals, footwear, and community activations across the city, Takiyah’s work has quietly shaped how Seattle sees itself.