History of Bellevue's Japanese American WWII Incarceration, Told by Densho
Densho (伝承) is a Japanese term meaning to pass on to the next generation, or to leave a legacy. Our organization’s name reflects our mission and purpose.Densho’s mission is to preserve and share history of the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans to promote equity and justice today.
Densho documents the stories and experiences of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, striving to capture their testimonies before their memories are extinguished. We offer these irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images, letters, and other archival materials, as well as educational resources, to explore principles of democracy and promote equal justice for all.
BelRed Arts District & Densho: Artist-in-residency call
The BelRed Arts District Community Alliance is pleased to announce its second Artist-In-Residence Program of the year, in partnership with Densho.
For 30 years, Densho has been a leading digital archive of Japanese American incarceration history. Its mission is to preserve and share history of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans to promote equity and justice today.
This residency invites artists to engage with the history of Bellevue's Japanese American community, who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, and to connect this history to ongoing issues of racial injustice, inequity and the erosion of civil liberties. Questions of constitutional rights and human dignity are central the Japanese American incarceration story and remain urgently relevant today.
First Artist Residency Announced at BelRed Arts Studio
Inspired by the Recology King County Artists in Residence Program, the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance is pleased to announce announce the first Artist Residency at the BelRed Arts Studio. Republic Servicesis proud to be the inaugural partner for this first residency. This round’s theme supports the creation of art from recycled, repurposed and discarded materials recovered from the Republic Services’ Bellevue mini recycling center and the Republic Services’ Seattle Recycle Center.
Bellevue selects developers for transit-oriented projects in BelRed Arts District
The City of Bellevue has selected BRIDGE Housing and Su Development to build multifamily housing complexes with affordable housing and amenities for artists on two separate city-owned properties in the BelRed Arts District.
Both transit-oriented developments, next to the BelRed light rail station, will advance multiple city goals related to housing and economic development, in alignment with Bellevue’s Affordable Housing Strategy.
BelRed Arts Night Market: The Recap
The BelRed Arts District Community Alliance officially pulled off the first-ever annual BelRed Arts Night Market, with large support of sponsors, community partners, volunteers, vendors, artists, local creative businesses/organizations and so much more.
BelRed Arts District Debuts Inaugural Night Market
The BelRed Arts District Community Alliance is proud to present its inaugural BelRed Arts Night Market on Friday, August 23, from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the BelRed Light Rail Station parking lot located between 130th and 132nd Avenues NE at NE Spring Boulevard.
Community Art Installation Complete!
The summer of 2024 was a memorable one. Along with the sunny weather and green landscapes, we - along with 100+ local community members, business owners, and artists - completed our first-ever art installation. We held a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 15, see the highlights!
Meeting the community: Summer 2024
Over the summer, we prioritized meeting the community where they’re at. We believe engaging with the people who live, work and play in the area is important to building a vibrant and inclusive arts district.
2 Line Opening Celebration Brings Thousands to the BelRed Arts District
This past weekend, we — the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance — celebrated the 2 line opening with a celebration party at the BelRed/130th station. The event brought thousands of people to the BelRed Arts District, where visitors had the opportunity to ride the 2 Line for the first time and see exactly what the Arts District had to offer.
BelRed Arts District Community Alliance Hosted First Ever Meet & greet
For the first time ever, the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance held a community meet and greet for local businesses and organizations, arts advocates, artists, and supporters to build connections!