STAFF

Tacoma Creates is administered by the City of Tacoma's Arts & Cultural Vitality Division. In addition to Tacoma Creates, the Arts & Cultural Vitality Division manages a number of programs that help develop the local arts community, including funding opportunities for individual artists and for arts projects, as well as the City’s public art collection. Visit the City of Tacoma’s website to learn more about the Arts & Cultural Vitality programs that are available. The Arts & Cultural Vitality Division is part of the Community and Economic Development department.

The staff members listed below are happy to answer your questions about Tacoma Creates. You may also send a general inquiry to tacomacreates@cityoftacoma.org.

Staff photos by City of Tacoma photographer Brian Cox

STAFF Tacoma Creates is administered by the City of Tacoma's Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality. In addition to Tacoma Creates, the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality manages a number of programs that help develop the local arts community, including funding opportunities for individual artists and for arts projects, as well as the City’s public art collection. Please click here to learn more about the programs at the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality . The Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality is part of the Tacoma Venues and Events department. The staff members listed below are happy to answer your questions about Tacoma Creates. You may also send a general inquiry to tacomacreates@cityoftacoma.org. Staff photos by City of Tacoma photographer Brian Cox

Lisa Jaret

PROGRAM MANAGER

ljaret@cityoftacoma.org

253-591-5161

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Lisa Jaret (she/her) joined the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division as the Program Manager for Tacoma Creates in July 2019. Previously she worked as the Arts in Education Program Manager for the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), where she supported and strengthened K-12 arts education as part of basic education in Washington State. She served as an ex-officio board member for ArtsEd Washington, as a member and chair of the Arts Education Advisory Group for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and as a member of Governor Inslee’s “World Class Education” goal council. Prior to ArtsWA, Lisa served as the Administrative Director of Education Programs for Seattle Children’s Theatre.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s in Not-For-Profit Leadership from Seattle University.

Clarissa Gines

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

cgines@cityoftacoma.org

253-591-5174

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Clarissa Gines (she/her) is the Tacoma Creates Program Coordinator for the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division. She previously worked as the Exhibitions Manager at ArtXchange Gallery, where she supported artwork logistics, artist development, and exhibition curation. Clarissa received her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Pacific Lutheran University, and is currently serving a four-year term on the ArtsWA Curator Roster.

 
Lisa Jaret PROGRAM MANAGER email: ljaret@cityoftacoma.org Phone: 253-591-5161 Lisa Jaret (she/her) joined the City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality as the Program Manager for Tacoma Creates in July 2019. Previously she worked as the Arts in Education Program Manager for the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), where she supported and strengthened K-12 arts education as part of basic education in Washington State. She served as an ex-officio board member for ArtsEd Washington, as a member and chair of the Arts Education Advisory Group for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and as a member of Governor Inslee’s “World Class Education” goal council. Prior to ArtsWA, Lisa served as the Administrative Director of Education Programs for Seattle Children’s Theatre. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s in Not-For-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. Clarissa Gines PROGRAM COORDINATOR Email: cgines@cityoftacoma.org Phone: 253-591-5174 Clarissa Gines (she/her) is the Tacoma Creates Program Coordinator for the City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality. She supports communication and marketing efforts for Tacoma Creates, along with data management, coordination of funding panels and development of organizational support tools. She received her Bachelor in Arts in Art History from Pacific Lutheran University, and has previously worked as an Exhibitions Manager at ArtXchange Gallery in Seattle. Amy McBride TACOMA ARTS ADMINISTRATOR Email: amy.mcbride@cityoftacoma.org phone: 253-591-5192 Amy McBride (she/her) is the Arts Administrator for the City of Tacoma and manages the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality overseeing the Tacoma Arts Commission, funding programs, public art, programming, and Tacoma Creates. She came to Tacoma in 1999 stewarding over 20 years of community revitalization using arts, culture and creativity as the engine. Amy earned a Master’s degree with a focus on Urban Arts and Community Engagement from the University of Washington-Tacoma in 2010 and was named the 2017 Distinguished Alumni of the Year. She studied jewelry making and small metal sculpture at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, occasionally finding time as an artmaker. Amy is on the advisory boards for the University of Washington-Tacoma’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Alma Mater, Spaceworks, and Whipsmart. Naomi Strom-Avila (she/her) is the Funding andCultural Programs Manager for the City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality. She writes and manages funding contracts for Tacoma Creates as well as develops, implements, coordinates, and manages the Arts Projects and Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funding programs for the Tacoma Arts Commission. Naomi Strom-Avila FUNDING and CULTURAL PROGRAMS MANAGER Email: nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org Phone: 253-591-5191 Naomi also staffs the Tacoma Arts Commission and oversees the Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality’s community programming. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art with a concentration on Photography from Valparaiso University. Prior to moving to Tacoma in 2004, she was a teaching artist with five non-profit arts organizations, working in Chicago Public Schools.

Naomi Strom-Avila

FUNDING & CULTURAL PROGRAMS MANAGER

nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org

253-591-5191

Read Bio ⇩

Naomi Strom-Avila (she/her) is the Funding & Cultural Programs Manager for the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division. She writes and manages funding contracts for Tacoma Creates as well as develops, implements, coordinates, and manages the Arts Projects and Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funding programs for the Tacoma Arts Commission.

Naomi also staffs the Tacoma Arts Commission and oversees the Arts & Cultural Vitality Division's community programming. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art with a concentration on Photography from Valparaiso University. Prior to moving to Tacoma in 2004, she was a teaching artist with five non-profit arts organizations, working in Chicago Public Schools.

Elm McCrummen

PROGRAM ASSISTANT

emccrummen@cityoftacoma.org

253-591-2038

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Elm McCrummen (she/they) is the Tacoma Creates Program Assistant for the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division. They previously worked as an Adjunct Instructor and Curator for Tacoma School of the Arts (their alma mater), where they instructed high school students in museum work, education, and practices. Elm received their Bachelor of the Arts in Art History and Global Literature from Evergreen State College, and a Master’s in Art History from the University of Glasgow.