Redmond interviews Arts & Culture Commission candidates who propose new venues and community arts connections

Redmond City Council held a special meeting Tuesday to interview candidates for the Redmond Arts & Culture Commission and heard both candidates outline plans to expand local performance opportunities and strengthen community arts ties.

Chris Webber, the city’s cultural arts supervisor, told the council the commission is a nine‑member, mayor‑appointed, council‑confirmed advisory body that advises the city on arts policy and programming. He introduced two applicants: Joyce K. Paul, a founder of ARPAAN Performing Arts and SCARF Global, and Rick Deskin, a theater and film practitioner with experience on the SAG‑AFTRA Seattle Local board.

Rick Deskin, who said he has lived in Redmond since 2017, told the council he wants to give back by creating more opportunities for performance in town. "What I would like to see ... is maybe turning abandoned spaces into performance spaces, particularly in the Redmond Town Centre," he said, adding that the recent opening of Link light‑rail creates a chance to make Redmond a destination and to consider film‑related functions alongside arts programming.

Joyce K. Paul described four priorities she would pursue if appointed. She said Redmond lacks a higher‑quality performing arts theater and urged public‑private partnerships with local tech employers to support a venue. She also discussed connecting Redmond’s many immigrant communities — noting roughly "44% or 40% of Redmond is born outside of the U.S." — using arts as a bridge; using arts programming to support youth mental‑health and social‑justice work; and promoting small local museums to capture Redmond’s shifting identity from logging town to technology hub.

Council members praised both applicants. Council member Kritzker asked for concrete ideas to enhance performing arts; Deskin repeated his plan to repurpose underused spaces and to leverage regional connections, while Paul emphasized partnering with nonprofits and local employers to bring performances to Redmond. When asked by Council member Parsi about the "soul and essence" of Redmond, Deskin pointed to the people who live and use the city’s public spaces, and Paul said the city's identity evolves daily and should be guided by principles that support community.

After the presentations and questions, the council indicated no objection to placing Joyce K. Paul and Rick Deskin on the April 21 consent agenda for confirmation consideration.

The Arts & Culture Commission is composed of volunteer members who serve up to two consecutive three‑year terms; council members said the commission will continue to play a role advising the city’s arts strategy and programming.