During the intensive we will be exploring themes related to Celebrating Pacific Northwest Artists: 25 Years of the Neddy Awards by looking into Seattle’s past.

What role have artists played in shaping our communities? What is distinctive about art that is made in or inspired by the Pacific Northwest? What can art help us understand or communicate about the world around us?

We will explore these questions throughout Seattle’s past and in our own lives through in-gallery exploration, research in the MOHAI collection, and exploring the neighborhood around us.

We will also be exploring creative ways to interpret and share history—online! Time will be spent looking at examples of digital public history projects, experimenting with creative exercises, and learning about some of the easy to use (and often free) digital tools that are available to help us communicate ideas and tell stories. We will also be spending time practicing core history skills like research, analysis, writing, and editing.

Over the course of the two weeks, participants will conduct their own research and produce a work of historical interpretation to be published on the Rainy Day History website. Participants will be paid a $150 stipend for their work.

Participation is limited to six participants. History Lab is open to high school students entering grades 10-12 in the 2023/24 school year.

You don’t have to be a history buff to apply! We are looking for people who are interested in creative storytelling, passionate about local issues, and using history to understand and make an impact on the world around us.