The Office of Cultural Resources was established in the office of the County Executive in 1997. It succeeded the Division of Cultural Resources which, under various departments between 1982 and 1996, had brought together several independent county heritage programs: the King County Arts Commission (established 1967), the Landmarks and Heritage Program (1980), the Cultural Education Advisory Committee (1991), and the Public Art Program (1996). The Office of Cultural Resources worked with cultural and community organizations, individual artists and heritage specialists, public agencies and municipalities, and school districts to provide county residents with a broad range of programs and services in the arts and heritage, historic preservation and public art. The programs of the office supported new cultural facilities and restored landmarks; provided financial and technical support to almost 150 cultural organizations; awarded grants to cultural programs and community initiatives; brought special cultural programs to classrooms; undertook historic preservation through landmark designation, restoration assistance, and interpretive programs; placed commissioned artwork in public sites; and provided regional art and historic preservation services to suburban cities and municipal agencies. In 2003, faced with diminishing funding resources, King County eliminated the Office of Cultural Resources. Art programs and grant distribution programs were transferred to the Cultural Development Authority, a quasi-independent public development authority (PDA) which also provided fee-based consulting for government agencies and private entities. The Landmarks and Heritage Program and the Landmarks Commission remained in the County Executive's Office of Business Relations and Economic Development as the King County Historic Preservation Program.

080-492 Community History Newsletter, 1983 - 2002
This series is composed of newsletters titled Community History, King County Washington. From 1983 to 2002, the Division of Cultural Resources (1982-1996) and the Office of Cultural Resources (1997-2003) published these newsletters with Charles Payton as the editor. The newsletters were published monthly except for July and December. Each newsletter includes information about the activities of public boards, agencies, and commissions of King County active in the fields of historic preservation and heritage. The meeting minutes of the King County Landmarks and Heritage Commission, as well as the monthly activities of the Association of King County Historical Organizations (AKCHO) are the main components of each newsletter. These newsletters also contain timely information about current activities and programs, technical assistance resources, funding opportunities, and publications and documents related to the heritage community of King County. The newsletters are arranged in chronological order.

Volume: .55 cu ft