1443 Films becomes Tacoma Public Library’s first Community Hub Artist in Residence
Tacoma Public Library (TPL) is excited to announce a milestone in its arts and community programming: 1443 Films, an imaginative, community‑focused filmmaking duo, has been selected as the library’s first-ever Community Hub Artist in Residence at Main Library. Starting on August 1, 2026, the film duo will be based in a conference room on the second floor of Main Library, joining four nonprofit partners in TPL's Community Hub.
Founded by filmmakers Mel McCarthy and Nathan Blanchard, 1443 Films specializes in low‑budget comedy productions built on creativity, collaboration, and joy. Their upcoming feature, Wheel Force Go!, now in post‑production and aiming for a 2026 release, highlights themes of friendship through a story of teenage heroes navigating adolescence, scooters, and kaiju-sized monsters.
Community connection is at the heart of 1443 Films’ work. Their projects regularly uplift local talent—from writers and make‑up artists to actors and other creatives—strengthening ties across Tacoma’s arts scene. They’ve also engaged the public through events like Tacoma Filmmaker Conversations and Tacoma Arts Month’s 2025 Kaleidoscope festival, where their “Movie Monsters” workshop invited attendees to view creature designs and create their own fantastical monsters. These experiences reflect the team’s dedication to accessibility and shared creativity.
Tacoma Public Library’s new Artist in Residence pilot program was designed collaboratively with TPL staff, the City of Tacoma’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Division (ACV), and Community Hub partners. The Artist in Residence will use the space as a working studio to create new work and engage the public in meaningful and accessible ways including through open studio times and offering hands-on public programming for all ages. Because this is a testing phase intended to gather feedback and refine the model, eligibility for the pilot was limited to a pool of Tacoma artists who had been previously selected by community panelists for funding or public art training. The residency runs from August 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, after which partners will assess the program’s success and determine next steps.
If the pilot moves forward, Tacoma Public Library and ACV hope to open applications to the public in spring or summer 2027. Future opportunities will be shared at tacoma.gov/artsopps, opens a new window.
As the first artists to hold a residency at Tacoma Public Library, 1443 Films is helping shape what this creative partnership can become—and setting an exciting foundation for artists and community members alike.
