FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2014

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

New Episode of 'artTown' Airs Today
-- Show Features Authors Marissa Meyer and Erik Hanberg, Others in Tacoma’s Creative Community --

Tacoma, Wash. -- Today, the City of Tacoma's Media and Communications Office – in partnership with its Community and Economic Development Department's Arts Program – will begin airing a new episode of “artTown,” a cultural documentary-style TV initiative exploring Tacoma's emergence as a major creative hub in the Pacific Northwest. The new episode features music composed by local artist Isaac Solverson. It includes viewpoints from two local authors: Marissa Meyer, whose work has graced the New York Times bestsellers list, and Erik Hanberg, a downtown Tacoma resident who also serves as a Metro Parks Commissioner. It spotlights Tacoma’s growing microbrewery scene, thriving skate culture and locally grown story slam. And it highlights local artists April Nyquist, Diane Hansen, Eddie Sumlin and Jason Skipper.

Launched in October 2013, the quarterly series features diverse perspectives on a variety of creative disciplines. Offering a more holistic look at creativity in Tacoma, “artTown” stretches beyond what people might traditionally think of as “creative” – such as fine art, music or dance – to spotlight other creative areas of interest that have flourished in Tacoma like food, fashion, innovative education practices, architecture and more.

The short and long-form segments in “artTown” will air on TV Tacoma Mondays at noon, Tuesdays at 1 a.m., Wednesdays at 8 a.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 5 a.m. It will also be available through Click! ON Demand’s TV Tacoma and TacomaArt & Culture menu listings, on the City of Tacoma's website at cityoftacoma.org/artTown, and the City of Tacoma’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts. Viewers can share, discuss and comment on these segments. And, shortly thereafter, future episodes will be produced in part based on some of the audience feedback culled via social media, email at maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org or phone at (253) 591-2054.

ABOUT TV TACOMA

TV Tacoma is the City of Tacoma's award-winning municipal government TV channel. TV Tacoma is aired on both the Click! and Comcast Cable systems. On Click!, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 within Tacoma City limits and in Pierce County, with the exception of University Place, where TV Tacoma can be found on Channel 21. On Comcast, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 within Tacoma city limits and on Channel 21 in Pierce County. TV Tacoma is not on the Comcast system in University Place, but is accessible anywhere on the Internet at tvtacoma.com.