A Few Minutes with...Cultural Arts Manager Amy Dukes

Meet Amy Dukes , Cultural Arts Manager in Parks & Community Services. We asked Amy about new art in town, the surprises of her job, and a trip that changed her. Read on to spend a few minutes with us and Amy!

What is your role at the city? How long have you worked here?

I am the Cultural Arts Manager on the Parks & Community Services team. I have worked for the City of Issaquah for 11 years (9 years part-time).

My role includes all things arts in Issaquah: working with artists to bring public art to the community; maintaining the City’s public art collection; managing art grants to bring arts and culture opportunities to the community; overseeing Issaquah's Creative District program; producing art events throughout the year; and serving as the liaison to the volunteer Arts Commission, among other duties. Every day is slightly different, and I am fortunate to have lots of great partners in this creative work!

What art should we look for coming soon?

This summer, seven new utility box artwraps will appear around the city. These wraps celebrate the work of local artists at 35 locations throughout Issaquah – with more added each year.

Additionally, artwork by artist June Sekiguchi is being designed and fabricated to enhance several downtown plaza projects that will begin construction later this year. Artwork will be installed Spring 2025.

In terms of arts programming, this summer we will celebrate with our annual Chalk Art Festival on July 23 and are pleased to bring back our Issaquah Film Festival, hosted at Regal Issaquah Highlands, August 3-4.

How do you find artists to partner with?

Partnering with artists is one of the best parts of my job! Sometimes the connections are made through open calls for artist qualifications or proposals and sometimes the connections come through working with arts organizations in Issaquah. We maintain a large list of local and regional artists that we reach out to when we have commissioning opportunities and are always looking to add to that list.

Do you do any art yourself? Can you tell us about it?

I definitely am an arts administrator and appreciator first and foremost, but I do dabble in many artforms for personal enjoyment. Some of my favorite arts activities are printmaking, collage, singing, and interior design.

What might someone not realize about your job?

I think people are often surprised my job is actually a job! When I first started working in the arts, at an art gallery, I didn’t realize there were art jobs in local government.

When I transitioned to working at a philanthropic foundation, I started partnering with government agencies and realized there were unique opportunities to improve access to the arts through local government.

Where would you take an out of town guest in Issaquah?

There are so many great options! Some of my favorites are a Tiger Mountain hike, a Farmers Market visit, a Village Theatre show, tacos at Xochi, shopping Gilman Village and of course checking out Jakob Two Trees on the Rainier Trail.

Do you live in Issaquah? What is that like living and working in the city?

I do! I have lived in Issaquah Highlands since 2008. Living and working here has many benefits, well beyond the short commute. I get to enjoy all the amazing parks, trails, community events and excellent infrastructure in Issaquah. I also have many opportunities to connect with the community organizations that the arts program partners with regularly – which is so helpful to my work here.

What’s a trip that changed you, and why? 

One trip that had a huge impact on me was a European backpack trip after I graduated from high school. I was set to head to college the following fall as a pre-med student and after a summer of museum visits and amazing public art and spaces, I changed my intended major to art history – which turned out to be life changing, I guess!  More recently, I visited Mexico City and was really moved by all of the art and culture embedded throughout that city.

Who is an artist that inspires you?

Too many to choose from really. Two of my favorites are visual artist Yayoi Kusama for her wildly engaging and accessible immersive installations and musician Sufjan Stevens for his beautiful and honest melodic poetry; I am hoping to see his musical on Broadway when I visit New York. 

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why? 

Telekinesis could come in pretty handy with art installations but I would probably choose to fly.