Downtown Seattle's Art Scene Gains Momentum as Cannonball Arts Opens Its Doors
In the vibrant city of Seattle, a new contemporary art center is set to open its doors in August 2025. Known as Cannonball Arts, this 66,000-square-foot space will transform a former Bed Bath & Beyond store near Pike Place Market, attracting 10 million annual visitors.
Cannonball Arts is not a Native American arts center, but it will include Native American art as part of its offerings. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, with a strong presence in Seattle, has become part-owners of the center, marking a significant step in the journey from idea to reality.
The Tribe's involvement in Cannonball Arts is more than just a financial investment. It represents a deep commitment to community, creativity, and supporting Native artists and storytellers. The partnership with New Rising Sun, the producers of the annual Bumbershoot arts and music festival, aims to amplify Pacific Northwest artists, including Indigenous creators.
The new design of the Seattle waterfront, handled by Field Architecture, connects the front end of Pike Place Market to the waterfront, offering panoramic views of the Olympics Mountains and Elliot Bay. The downtown Seattle waterfront underwent an $806 million renovation, which concluded in 2021, and the Seattle Aquarium underwent a $100-million expansion as part of this revitalization.
Cannonball Arts will operate from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday. The art center will feature a unique "Live Canoe Carving" program led by Muckleshoot tribal artists, underscoring the Tribe's cultural heritage and storytelling through centuries-old practices.
The art center will also boast attractions such as a 5-ton cedar log in the lobby, a virtual reality dark ride, a mechanical bull with a felted wool sea slug, and one of the best sound systems on the West Coast for live events.
Seattle, known for its thriving tech industry, is home to many technologists and creatives, making it a world leader in new media, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies. The city's art community, despite the city's growth and wealth, has been a concern for creative director Greg Lundgren.
Cannonball Arts aims to serve local artists as well as the public, and relies on financial support from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Amazon, philanthropic foundations, and other global Seattle-based companies. Other world-class attractions in downtown Seattle include the Space Needle, the Seattle Art Museum, the Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Olympic Sculpture Park.
With Cannonball Arts, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is not just a local resident but a leader and contributor to Seattle’s evolving creative identity. Ticket prices for the art center are as follows: Adults - $25, Seniors (65+) - $20, Students with ID - $20, Children under 10 - Free. For more information and tickets, visit cannonballarts.com.
- Cannonball Arts, a new art center opening in Seattle in 2025, will delve into lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, education-and-self-development, entertainment, and general-news sectors, apart from showcasing contemporary art.
- The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe's involvement in Cannonball Arts extends beyond financial investment, as they are committed to community, creativity, and supporting Native artists and storytellers.
- Sports enthusiasts visiting Cannonball Arts can interact with a mechanical bull fitted with a felted wool sea slug, adding a unique element to the art center's attractions.
- The weather in Seattle, home to tech giants like Amazon, may not always be ideal, but visitors can check the forecast on their phones while enjoying the city's world-class attractions, such as the Space Needle, the Seattle Art Museum, and Olympic Sculpture Park.
- For those interested in weather updates, Seattle also has a thriving weather segment, providing accurate forecasts and ensuring visitors to the city, including Cannonball Arts, can plan their day effectively.
