Paul Barry, Executive Director, Youth in Focus

SAM’s expansion will signal to children that visual arts are very, very important.

Phyllis Campbell, President and CEO, The Seattle Foundation

World-class collections are right here in our own backyard.

Marita Dingus, Artist and SAM Docent

Making art accessible is about going to the schools, going to the churches, going to wherever the people are.

Stephanie Ellis-Smith, Executive Director, Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas

Context is so important and our organization is contextualizing African-American culture in a larger society.

Lisa Fitzhugh, Executive Director, Arts Corps

The art museum has the ability to host every art form, to welcome it and to celebrate it.

José Gaitan, President, The Gaitan Group

Art is a unifying force, a medium through which people can speak without speaking.

Mimi Gardner Gates, The Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director, SAM

I want the entire community to have ownership of this museum.

Vi Taqseblu Hilbert, Upper Skagit Elder

SAM is honoring the spirit of Sealth [Chief Seattle] and his reason for opening the doors.

Helena Choi, Andres Hernandez, Joan Lee, The Wallace Foundation Interns, SAM

The museum seems like a cathedral sometimes, sacred for modern people.

Marcia, Greg, Bernie and Cece Johnson, Family

The children get inspired by other people’s visions of the world.

Molly, Bill, Maddy, Clara and Tessa Lapatra, Family

We went to an amazing class with live models!

Winnie Lee, SAM Community Advisory Committee Member

Art gives you an opportunity to appreciate humanity. It expands your imagination.

Sandra Madrid, Assistant Dean, University of Washington School of Law

You can connect with the museum that wants to bring you in.

Herman McKinney, Vice President of Urban Affairs, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce

The talent is just mind-boggling.

Cynthia Mejia-Giudici, Trustee, Filipino-American National Historical Society

The museum takes us above our mundane lives.

Victoria Moreland, Director of Community Affairs, SAM

I wanted to show kids that art can be a joyful place where anything you can imagine, you can see.

Assunta Ng, Publisher, NW Asian Weekly & Seattle Chinese Post

Art itself is helping us to tell our own story.

Margit Rankin, Executive Director, Seattle Arts & Lectures

SAM knows how to collaborate.

Norm and Constance Rice, Community Leaders

You find your future, your past, and your present in the museum, in the works of artists and whatever you are.

Tazue and Yutaka Sasaki, Organizers, Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival

We feel the importance of culture, of transferring it to future generations.

Preston Singletary, Artist

Activating the local art community is key.