Pottery Northwest’s Exciting Move to Amazon HQ Ushers in New Era for Seattle Arts

In a significant development for Seattle’s arts community, Pottery Northwest, a beloved ceramics nonprofit with a nearly six-decade legacy, is preparing to relocate to the heart of Amazon’s downtown campus. The 59-year-old organization will trade its Pioneer Square location for a spacious 10,000-square-foot facility at the base of Amazon’s Nitro North tower in the Denny Triangle neighborhood. This unexpected pairing of a grassroots arts organization with one of the world’s largest tech companies represents a fascinating evolution in Seattle’s cultural landscape, blending traditional craftsmanship with the city’s tech-driven transformation. The new location, previously occupied by Glassybaby, will put the ceramics center directly across from Amazon’s iconic Spheres, creating an intriguing juxtaposition of art and innovation in the urban core.

The planned fall 2026 opening will provide Pottery Northwest with significantly expanded capabilities to serve its community of artists and students. The new facility, situated at Seventh Avenue and Bell Street, promises to enhance the organization’s ability to offer ceramics workspaces, classes, exhibitions, and artist talks. Beyond the increased square footage, the location offers practical advantages that could dramatically increase public engagement, including a prominent retail space and free parking—a rare commodity in downtown Seattle. These features may help the nonprofit attract new visitors and participants who might otherwise find access to arts programming challenging in the dense urban environment. The move represents not just a change of address but a strategic repositioning for the organization’s future.

This relocation follows a similar pattern established last year when Gage Academy of Art, another longstanding Seattle arts institution, moved from its historic Capitol Hill building into Amazon’s re:Invent tower. In that arrangement, Amazon provided substantial financial support, including more than $7.5 million in rent assistance over a decade and significant funding for construction and improvements. While specific financial details regarding Pottery Northwest’s arrangement haven’t been publicly disclosed, the nonprofit has announced a $2.1 million fundraising campaign to fund construction and activation of its new space. The parallel moves suggest Amazon may be developing a deliberate strategy of incorporating arts organizations into its corporate campus, potentially creating a more diverse and culturally rich environment within its corporate footprint.

Amazon’s growing relationship with Seattle’s arts community aligns with the company’s stated belief that “creating space for the arts is vital for fostering a thriving downtown.” This philosophy reflects an evolving understanding among major corporations that cultural vibrancy contributes to urban health and quality of life—factors that ultimately benefit employers seeking to attract and retain talent in competitive markets. For Pottery Northwest, the move represents an opportunity to strengthen its financial stability while potentially reaching new audiences. As Executive Director Ed King noted, “The new facility strengthens Seattle’s creative economy by expanding opportunities and is a stable foundation for long-term community building.” This perspective highlights how arts organizations are increasingly recognizing the potential benefits of partnerships with the private sector, particularly in cities where traditional arts spaces face rising costs.

The relocation also speaks to broader transformations occurring in urban centers nationwide, where tech companies are becoming more integrated into the cultural fabric of cities. Rather than creating isolated corporate campuses, companies like Amazon appear to be exploring ways to blend their physical presence with the existing cultural ecosystem. This integration can potentially create mutually beneficial relationships—providing stability for arts organizations while helping corporate campuses feel more connected to the broader community. For Seattle residents and visitors, the presence of a working ceramics studio and gallery space amid the sleek architecture of Amazon’s headquarters could create unexpected moments of discovery and connection, bringing hands-on craft traditions into dialogue with digital innovation.

As Pottery Northwest prepares for this significant transition, questions naturally arise about how the organization’s identity and community relationships might evolve in its new corporate-adjacent home. Will the nonprofit maintain its grassroots character while benefiting from increased resources and visibility? Can it serve as a model for similar partnerships between arts organizations and major corporations? The answers will unfold over time, but the move certainly represents an innovative approach to preserving and expanding arts access in rapidly changing urban environments. For Seattle, a city navigating the complex interplay between its artistic heritage and tech-fueled growth, this partnership between Pottery Northwest and Amazon may offer valuable insights into how cultural and corporate interests can align to create more vibrant, sustainable urban communities where both technology and traditional arts can thrive side by side.