The Seattle Art Museum is one museum with three sites—the Seattle Art Museum Downtown, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and the Olympic Sculpture Park. With its stunning array of noteworthy sculpture situated on a transformed 9-acre industrial site, the Olympic Sculpture Park combines significant sculptures in an outdoor setting, while maintaining the restored brownfield in an ecologically sustainable manner. We organically manage extensive native plantings, monitor a salmon habitat off our beach, and actively reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost. Taking action to protect our environment and to find creative ways to reduce our ecological footprint is a central part of our daily practice at all three SAM sites.
Our sustainability efforts extend to Get Out! Summer at SAM by having socially responsible and environmentally friendly art, vendors, and events. We are proud of our pledge to all things green and encourage all participants to stand with us in this commitment.
The information below provides specific details regarding our commitment to reduction of waste, the reuse and recycling of materials, alternative methods of getting to and from our events and green resources at the farmers market and Get Out! Summer at SAM that you can utilize.
Reduce
by analyzing our overall consumption habits
We believe it’s important to take the first step towards sustainability by reducing our overall consumption habits. For Get Out! Summer at SAM this means:
- Reducing energy use—minimal use of electricity, water and fossil fuels
- Reducing signage and printed materials by printing as few as possible, making them smaller, using recyclable materials and non-toxic inks
- Seeking organic materials for merchandise to reduce use of pesticides
- Reducing waste by providing Park Season participants with recycling and composting bins; asking vendors and participants to limit their waste
- Recycling Park Season materials
- Encouraging the reduction of plastic bags and the use of cloth totes
- Encouraging use of alternative forms of transportation
Reuse
by making use of non-recyclables
We are creating an active cultural change at SAM by rethinking our disposal habits; before tossing anything we think about how it can be reused. For Get Out! Summer at SAM this means:
- SAM reuses signage for multiple activities, until it requires replacement
- When signage is no longer reusable, it is used for art activities by teen and family programs, and offered to a local company, Alchemy Goods for use in making totes and bags for sale at SAM SHOP.
- Inviting visitors to participate in art installations that employ recycled materials. (See the new Trenton Doyle Hancock installation in the Paccar Pavilion in late August with his re-used bottle tops)
- reusing containers and bags that come with the products you buy
Recycle
by recycling everything we can
The last first step to being green is recycling or keeping as many things out of landfills as possible. For Get Out! Summer at SAM this means:
- Posting recycling and composting bins throughout the park, including pre-consumer composting by vendors
- Recycling of vendor-generated material, including pre-consumer composting and recycling of grease
Use Alternative Transportation
by trying not to use a car
We encourage taking alternative modes of transportation to Get Out! Summer at SAM to help reduce carbon emissions. This means:
- Planning ahead to carpool or rideshare (King County Metro Rideshare) when you come to the park taking the bus (King County Metro bus, King County’s transit site)
- Biking to the park
- Walking to the park from nearby neighborhoods
- Encouraging others to do the same
- Encouraging vendors to truck their products in as efficiently as possible (we’ll take care of this one for you!)
Locally Produced Art & Products
by having a celebration of all things regional
In keeping with our commitment to sustainability we have sought out regional artists, vendors and products. This means:
- Focusing on regional artists’ works
- Supporting local vendors at the Farmers Market
- Encouraging vendor products be locally-based and produced or grown
- Working with local teaching artists
- Promoting community-based interests and educational information
Social Responsibility
Get Out! Summer at SAM involves a big community of local residents, community partners and regional visitors alike. At SAM we believe that this work is about building community connections and putting our best foot forward to educate about the importance of an enhanced, livable and green urban life that has art at its center. This means:
- Recognizing the important nature of social responsibility by organizing Get Out! Summer at SAM—a free culturally rich event for all to share
- Being a leader in and a supporter of a strong sustainability mission
- Supporting non-profit organizations who embody sustainability
- Supporting and recognizing locally-based businesses and cultural organizations
