Marcie Sillman To Retire After 35 Years at KUOW

Marcie Sillman is retiring this December after 35 years at KUOW. Marcie's decades spent covering life, culture and the arts in the Puget Sound region have left an indelible impact on KUOW and the community we serve.

"Marcie’s commitment to covering the arts in Seattle has benefited our audience and community greatly," said News Director Jill Jackson. "Her passion for art and belief in its power to heal and transform is infectious and will be so missed, especially in these challenging times."

Marcie Sillman arrived at KUOW in 1985 to produce the station's daily public affairs program, Seattle Afternoon. One year later, she took over the drive-time hours as KUOW's local All Things Considered host.

caption: Marcie Sillman preparing for 'All Things Considered.' She was KUOW's local host from 1987 to 1992.

In the 1990s, Marcie helped create Weekday, a daily, two-hour forum for newsmakers, artists and thinkers. She later was part of the team behind The Beat, at the time the only show in the region dedicated to arts and culture. In 2002, Marcie became a full-time arts and culture reporter.

In 2013, Marcie was part of the team that created The Record. After two years as Senior Host of the program, Marcie returned to full-time arts and culture reporting. In recent years, Marcie regularly hosted community discussions at art events and exhibits as part of her Front Row Center series. This year, she reported extensively on the ways the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted Seattle's arts community.

"My greatest privilege has been my behind the scenes access to our region’s artistic community. I’m grateful so many people shared their work and stories with me, so I could share them with a local and national audience." MARCIE SILLMAN

caption: Donnie Wilburn is interviewed by KUOW's Marcie Sillman at the Seattle Art Museum about its access program for visually impaired patrons.

"Marcie's passion for journalism, the arts, and the mission of public radio has shined brightly for 35 years," said longtime colleague Ross Reynolds. "She has helped drive KUOW forward in so many ways - from producing Seattle Afternoon to hosting All Things Considered, Weekday, The Beat, The Record to her outstanding arts and culture reporting. I'll miss her terribly."

During her career, more than 100 of Marcie's stories have been heard on NPR's national newsmagazines, as well as on The Voice of America.

In 2019, Marcie was honored by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture with the Mayor's Art Award, a testament to her decades of work covering the arts and expanding dialogue in our community.

caption: KUOW Arts and Culture reporter Marcie Sillman was recognized by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture with the Mayor’s Art Award on August 29, 2019. The award celebrates people and organizations that "broaden our horizons and humanize our city and our world." The award recognizes Marcie's decades of work covering the arts and expanding dialogue in our community.

This week, Marcie shared reflections on her 35 years covering Seattle's art scene with longtime colleagues Bill Radke and Patricia Murphy on The Record and Seattle Now podcast, respectively.

"For decades, Marcie Sillman has introduced KUOW listeners to creative and passionate doers in our community with a depth and clarity that enriched our lives," said Virginia Anderson, KUOW board member and former director of Seattle Center. "Marcie's coverage of the arts immersed us in the bubbling, energetic, passionate and disciplined world of artists/creators/presenters/producers/appreciators. She shone a spotlight on the significance of this work to the very soul of the Northwest."

Please join us in wishing Marcie all the best as she begins her retirement. On December 1, KUOW is hosting a virtual Front Row Center event to celebrate Marcie's career. More details here. If you'd like to send a note of congratulations or thanks to Marcie, please email it to hello@kuow.org and we'll pass it along to her.