BIO
Vivian Phillips is a communications professional and arts leader. Her founding of ARTE NOIR in May 2021, stemmed from her decades of working with numerous local, national, and international arts organizations, artists, students of the arts, and travels to the African continent. In addition to the online monthly publication, ARTE NOIR @ Midtown Square provides a physical space to celebrate the soulfulness and power of Black art and culture.
As an arts consultant, the opportunity to lead the art plan for Midtown Square evolved into the development of the physical space, which ARTE NOIR will own and provide exposure to the richness of Black art, in perpetuity. Located in the heart of Seattle’s historic Black community where Vivian was raised and where she continues to live, ARTE NOIR also fulfills another dream of creating a consistent revenue stream to Black artists through the sale of Black-created art and goods.
Vivian’s professional history includes service as the Director of Communications for a Seattle Mayor, Director of Marketing and Communications for Seattle Theatre Group, restoration team Associate Director for the Paramount Theatre, Seattle University Adjunct Professor (MFA Arts Leadership), television, radio, and live performance producing, public speaking, and numerous arts and strategic communications projects. She served as the Chair for both the Seattle Arts Commission and 4Culture, and co-founder of The Hansberry Project and the Historic Central Area Arts and Cultural District
Vivian serves as ARTE NOIR Founder and Board President, and is also the co-host of the doubleXposure Podcast with Marcie Sillman exploring how culture and creativity shape our lives, while also serving on the University of Washington Foundation Board.