I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling—and no one does that quite like the youth at The Residency. Rooted in hip-hop, community, and creativity, The Residency is more than a music program. It’s a launchpad for young artists to tell their stories, step into leadership, and shape the culture of tomorrow.
That’s why I’m thrilled to support their annual fall fundraiser on Wednesday, November 20, at one of my favorite Seattle venues—The Showbox downtown. This night is going to be electric: live performances, lite bites, a live and silent auction, and a whole lot of heart. And did I mention we’re celebrating 10 years of The Residency, creating paid opportunities and creative space for local youth?
If you believe in lifting up young voices, creating access to the arts, and building community through music, this is the event to be at.
🎤 Mark your calendar:
🗓️ November 20, 2025
📍 The Showbox, Seattle
🎶 Unforgettable vibes guaranteed
Let’s show up, celebrate, and keep the momentum going for the next generation of storytellers.
About The Residency
The Residency seeks to build a powerful community of young hip-hop artists equipped with the artistic and leadership skills, business acumen, and mentorship necessary to become professional artists and cultural change makers. Through their participation in The Residency, young artists from low-income families acquire tangible artistic and professional skills while also gaining confidence, teamwork, and a deepened understanding of their own identity and power.
The Residency launched in July 2015 as a collaboration between Museum of Pop Culture, Arts Corps, and Grammy award winning artists Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It was created as a response to the glaring gap in access to high-quality, experiential arts education for low-income youth and has quickly become the preeminent training ground for the next generation of artists poised to leave a lasting mark on Seattle’s growing music industry.
The year-round program includes a month-long intensive workshop in the summer in which 45 young people participate in either a vocal or production track. During the intensive, youth write original songs, record in a professional studio and perform in front of hundreds of people at a premiere Seattle venue. In addition to making, recording and performing their music, the youth participate in a number of engaging panel discussions with leaders in the northwest creative community. The Residency exists to break down barriers to equitable arts learning. In an effort to address financial difficulties and to honor their work as artists, youth participants receive stipends at the completion of summer intensive. Further, participants receive subsidized transportation and meals throughout the intensive to minimize potential challenges to full participation in the program. After the summer intensive, youth (our “alumni”) have access to regular skills building workshops, get opportunities to perform and take part in other educational and industry experiences, including the Resilience College Scholarship Fund which provides financial scholarships for alumni pursuing further education.
THROWBACK TO 2019: A Night with The Residency, a fundraiser concert featuring Macklemore, Residency Alumni, and special guests