3,000 panels made up of 21,000 individually cut metallic shingles form the skin of EMP’s Frank O. Gehry-designed building. Their varied finishes respond to dynamic light conditions and change when viewed from different angles.

THE OUTSIDE OF EMP IS INNOVATIVE AND IMPRESSIVE BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU GET INSIDE.”— Seattle Times

LOCAL AND GLOBAL SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT Close Up from world-renowned portraitist, Martin Schoeller, placed large-scale head-shots of average Americans and Tanzanian tribespeople alongside some of the most prominent personalities in the world, inviting visitors to explore the questions of what connects us all, and what makes us stand apart. In the foreground, IF VI WAS IX anchors the museum’s dramatic interior. Created by Seattle-based sound sculptor, Trimpin, the towering musical medley is a tribute to the union of creative expression and interactive technology at the core of EMP’s mission.

MAKING THE ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY

In 2000, EMP opened with a vis-

ion to celebrate Seattle’s place at

the forefront of innovation. The

groundbreaking, controversial,

and now iconic Frank O. Gehry-

designed building exemplifies the

boundless creative forces that

make great art and everyday

imagination possible.

{right} The undulating waves of EMP’s interior convey the energy and fluidity of its rock ‘n’ roll-inspired design.

CREATIVITY TAKES SHAPE

THE MOST ELECTRONICALLY GLOSSY, GROOVILY INTERACTIVE MUSEUM- AND-THEN-SOME ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET.” — Newsweek

Pop culture does not exclude. It is a living snapshot

of the interests and passions of our collective com-

munity. That community has the power to turn

a flop into a cult classic and transform unknown

artists into generational touchstones.

We dare to ask why.

EMP is a nonprofit museum and a haven for the

ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary culture

and shape the world around us. By helping individu-

als and communities tap into what inherently moves

them, we inspire diverse, multigenerational audienc-

es to embrace their fandom and discover their own

creative potential.

{left} Architects-in-training let theirimaginations run wild in the collaborativeLEGO®-building area inside Block by Block: Inventing Amazing Architecture.

{right} A young doctor shows off his sonic screwdriver during EMP’s holiday celebra-tion of the classic British time-traveling hero, Doctor Who.

POP CULTURE WITH A PERSPECTIVE

POPULAR CULTURE ILLUSTRATES HOW WE ARE ALL ORDINARY—YET DESIRE TO BE EXTRAORDINARY— OR CAN AT LEAST ENVISION EXTRAORDINARY POSSIBILITIES WITHIN OURSELVES.”— Dr. Paul Mullins INDIANA UNIVERSITY

Discovering what inspires you unlocks a world of creativity. EMP’s young artist camps and workshops challenge aspiring creators to develop the perseverance, skills, and self-confidence needed to perform and explore creative expression in all facets of their lives.

Seattle musicians and now-megastars Macklemore & Ryan Lewis loaned EMP several items for Spectacle: The Music Video, including the coats worn in the “Thrift Shop” video.

Seattle has long been a fierce advocate for risk-takers and a nurturing

home to many radical inventions that have changed the way people

think, work, and play. But our legacy does not guarantee our future.

Sustaining a creative community requires new ideas, new infrastruc-

ture, and a new generation of creators.

EMP is an integral part of this dialogue, a place where the established

and the experimental co-mingle and converse. We are dedicated to being

the museum that the Seattle of tomorrow deserves: a thriving cultural

resource that will benefit the Pacific Northwest and engage people

around the world for decades to come.

The 2020 Vision for EMP is our roadmap for building on Seattle’s legacy

of innovation, so that we can create new and extraordinary possibilities

for the people of our community.

INVESTED IN SEATTLE’S CREATIVE FUTURE

The 2020 Vision for EMP imagines the museum as

an internationally recognized source for engaging

programming and a global thought leader in the

use of technology to create and connect with art.

To date, EMP has reached more than 16 million

people around the world through more than 50

exhibitions, 20 of which have traveled to major

international cultural institutions. We have become

a nexus for fan communities—both mainstream

and niche—to gather around shared passions.

We continue to set aggressive goals for increasing

future attendance and outreach, and audiences have

enthusiastically responded to our popular culture

platform. EMP now ranks in the top 10% for

museum visitors in the US, and membership and

attendance continue to climb.

POP CULTURE SCHOLARSHIP THE NORTHWEST’S NEWEST GLOBAL EXPORT

FROM EMERGING TO ESTABLISHED {left} The Northwest’s up-and-coming fash- ion designers explored the entire spectrum from elegant to unruly for an exclusive runway show that opened EMP’s Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket.

{this page} One of the most hotly anticipated exhibits of 2015, Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars™ and the Power of Costume offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the ward-robes that shaped the identities of the most iconic characters in film.

Originally inspired by Jimi Hendrix, EMP Museum founder Paul Allen envisioned a new kind of institution that paid homage to pop culture’s role as both a mirror to and a catalyst for social change. Fittingly, EMP boasts the largest collection of Hendrix memorabilia in the world. Select artifacts will travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2015 as part of the Hear My Train a Comin’: Hendrix Hits London exhibit.

LOCAL INSPIRATION, GLOBAL IMPACT

An aspiring audio engineer applies newly acquired software skills as he works on an original composition during Hip-Hop Camp at EMP. Programs like these amplify the voices of young creators, while instilling a deeper appreciation of what it takes to sustain art and artists within a community.

FROM STEM TO STEAM:

A GATEWAY TO CREATIVE CAREERS

In an era of decreasing arts funding in schools

and communities, EMP is a much-needed bridge

between the world of art and imagination and

our 21st century economy, which places an ever-

increasing premium on workers who can blend

technology with risk-taking, collaboration, and

creative problem-solving.

The 2020 Vision for EMP aims to fill the arts gap

in our community in a way that is integrated with—

not separate from—the digital literacy that today’s

students need, and the community is feeling the

impact: 100% of classroom teachers indicate that

they want to continue or expand their schools’

partnerships with EMP.

I EMERGED FROM MY EXPERIENCE AT EMP WITH A STRONGER SENSE OF SELF AND A MORE COMPLETE VISION FOR MY FUTURE.”— Kenzo Perron EMP YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD ALUMNUS AND CURRENT MUSIC TECHNOLOGY STUDENT AT NYU

Breakdancing experts Vicious Puppies Crew (V.P.C) take the floor during the Father’s Day Dance Party. Through community-driven events and interactive programming, EMP is able to engage multigenerational audiences as adults and children connect through new means of self-expression.

The ultimate aim of the 2020 Vision for EMP is to

make creativity accessible to all. Because the under-

lying truth about pop culture is that there is no

difference between the dreams of an aspiring creator

and those of the iconic artists we celebrate in our

galleries. Seattle is building a legacy as a hotspot for

imagination, and EMP plays a key role in that future

by connecting individuals and communities to the

resources they need to create, collaborate, and lead.

Last year, participation in the museum’s programs

grew by 33%, but we need to do more. There is

urgent demand for programs and institutions that

can bring art out of the ivory towers and connect

creativity to the realities of the tech-fueled, on-

demand world we live in.

EMP is uniquely positioned to be that bridge, and

now is the time to ensure its longevity.

GIVING VOICE TO THE CREATORS

OF TOMORROW

CREATIVITY KNOWS NO GENRE {left} Through hands-on installations, EMP’s Sound Lab invites visitors to explore the intersection of creativity and technolo-gy with electric guitars, samplers, mixing consoles, and more.

{this page} EMP serves youth of all skill levels with expert instruction and a diverse array of unique learning oppor- tunities that range from songwriting and instrumentation to journalism and video game programming.

We’ve reached a tipping point.

Attendance and membership have grown four

times over in the past three years. Earned revenue

has increased 45% in that same timeframe.

But financial sustainability is only the beginning.

The 2020 Vision for EMP positions EMP Museum

as the hub for exploring imagination and fostering

the creative development of tomorrow’s innovators.

Everyone deserves access to creative learning and

the opportunities it unlocks. We can level the

playing field. By providing the next generation of

creators the tools and the training to tell their stories,

we will enable them to become the architects of pop

culture: critical thinkers who are engaged in dialogue

about the world around them and empowered to

change it.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

EMP’s Indie Game Revolution exhibit features some of the most groundbreaking work in contemporary video game culture. This virtual playground invites visitors to explore how a new breed of developers are shaking up a multi-billion dollar industry.

The 2020 Vision for EMP includes an endowment

campaign to advance the museum’s ability to serve

Seattle and our increasingly global community

through mission-driven exhibits and programs,

arts-integrated education and outreach, and perma-

nent collection acquisitions and stewardship.

EMP has the framework and the expertise. Our

ability to expand our programmatic reach and

transform the lives of emerging creators requires

a solid future and visionary partners. The endow-

ment campaign ensures that our impact goes

beyond increased attendance to establish the

foundation for innovation and risk-taking in our

cultural exploration.

Building a creative community requires investment.

We’re asking for yours.

We ask you to empower emerging

cultural voices with a leadership

gift to the EMP endowment cam-

paign, lighting a spark of creativity

that ignites a future of innovation.

PAUL ALLEN AND JODY ALLEN HAVE PLEDGED TO MATCH $10 MILLION IN CHARTER GIFTS TO THE EMP ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN, DOUBLING YOUR IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF CULTURE CREATORS.

THE FUTURE IS YOU

A DESTINATION FOR FANS Borrowing a term from Jimi Hendrix, one of Seattle’s most seminal artists, EMP’s Sky Church is a gathering place for people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate shared passions. This hotspot at the heart of the museum acts as a concert venue, big screen cinema, and dance hall for enthusiasts to engage collectively in popular culture.