How is SAL handling the COVID-19 pandemic?

The health of our audience, staff, and the community is our priority during the pandemic. Seattle Arts & Lectures might have to look at altering our traditional program by rescheduling events, creating online viewing options, or substituting different authors in the line-up if our scheduled artists are unable to present.

Our commitment to our ticket holders:

• Our events will go on, whether in person or online.
• If we are able to hold an event in person, we will also stream the event for those who would prefer to watch at home.
• All tickets automatically include digital access.
• If you’d like an exchange for another event later in the season, we will happily do so.
• If your circumstances change and you need a refund, we will process that for you.

Help, I lost my tickets! What can I do?

No worries! Most tickets have been emailed, so be sure to check your inbox (including spam) for an email from boxoffice@lectures.org. Emailed tickets come in a PDF attachment.

If you still can’t find your tickets, please call the Box Office at 206.621.2230 x10 or email us at boxoffice@lectures.org. Note that we have been experiencing difficulty sending email tickets to some Comcast addresses, so please be in touch with our Box Office to provide an alternate email address if you have not received your tickets.

If you find you do not have tickets the night of the event, go to the Box Office when you arrive at the venue (or call or email us if we are online-only), and our staff will happily assist you.

I can’t use my tickets. What can I do?

Is there a friend or family member who would be able to attend in your place? You may give the ticket to whomever you’d like!

Can I return or exchange my tickets?

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all tickets and subscriptions will be refundable in 2020/21. Exchanges are also an option. To get a refund or exchange, contact the SAL Box Office at boxoffice@lectures.org or at 206.621.2230 x10.

In the event that you cannot attend an event, we always encourage you to donate the cost of your tickets to SAL if you are able. Your donation means a lot to us during this time!

I didn’t receive an email with my tickets.

If you selected to receive your tickets via email and did not receive them, please check your spam folder for an email from boxoffice@lectures.org.

If you still can’t find your tickets, please email the Box Office, or call us at 206.621.2230 x10. Please note: we’re experiencing difficulty with Comcast email addresses; if you have a Comcast email and have not received your tickets, please contact us with an alternative email address.

I've purchased a digital pass to an online event. How do I access the event?

Please check your order confirmation email—this will contain a PDF of your e-ticket(s), which will contain the password for your online event, as well as instructions for how to access it. When your event is starting, head to your event page at lectures.org, and type in the password where prompted.

We will also send an email reminder two days before the event, as well as the day of the event, containing the same instructions.

If you have opted out of receiving SAL emails, you will miss this important information—please email us at boxoffice@lectures.org and we will assist you.

May I watch an online event later?

Yes! The link to your digital event will be available for a full week after the day and time it is scheduled to start, so if you purchase a ticket, you may watch it any time within that window.

When can I purchase tickets or subscriptions?

All series subscriptions and tickets to special events in our 2020/2021 Season went on sale online the evening of June 16, 2020. Four-part Create Your Own Series Subscriptions will go on sale July 13, 2020. Remaining single tickets and digital access tickets will go on sale August 17, 2020.

How can I purchase tickets? What payment methods are accepted?

• Online at lectures.org
• By phone at 206.621.2230 x10
• At the Box Office on the night of the event, beginning at 6pm (if tickets are still available and if an event is happening in-person).

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), cash, and checks.

Can you explain your fee structure?

There is a $5 handling fee per ticket (with the exception of $5 and $10 tickets, which have a $2 handling fee per ticket).

Subscriptions do not have handling fees.

Benaroya Hall events incur a $3 facility fee per ticket.

When will I receive my tickets?

Tickets are emailed or held at Will Call, per your selection, after the order is completed.

Please note that mailed tickets are only available as a subscriber perk. If you choose to have your subscription mailed to you, we will do so a couple of weeks before your first event.

Can I reserve tickets and pay for them later?

You can place an order and then send payment to us, but tickets are not guaranteed until payment has been received for your order.

What does “general admission” mean?

General admission means that seating is first-come, first-serve, within the section listed on the ticket.

Does SAL offer student, group, senior, or military discounts?

In 2020/21, SAL is excited to offer $10 single tickets to every series event, to help make our tickets more accessible to all.

If you are facing economic hardship and cannot afford tickets to SAL events, we encourage you to check out our Community Access Tickets program, which offers free tickets in a lottery-style give away to every SAL event.

We also offer $7 Student/25 & Under tickets for all public SAL events. Valid identification is required for entry into the event.

For teens, day-of tickets are also available for free through TeenTix (and companion tickets for adults are $5) by emailing the box office at boxoffice@lectures.org. Please have your TeenTix membership handy.

SAL does not offer a senior discount.

A 10% discount is available for orders of 5 – 9 subscription/ticket orders at the same seating level for any series or event—just enter 2021BOOKCLUB at checkout for single tickets, or call our Box Office at 206-621-2230 x10 for subscriptions and we’ll apply it over the phone.

A 15% discount is available for orders of 10 or more subscription/ticket orders at the same seating level for any series or event—just enter 2021GROUP at checkout for single tickets, or call our Box Office at 206-621-2230 x10 for subscriptions and we’ll apply it over the phone.

What are the SAL Box Office hours?

• Regular Box Office Hours: 10am–5pm, Monday–Friday
• Summer Box Office Hours: 10am–5pm, Monday–Thursday & 10am–1pm Friday
• Event Nights: 6pm–approximately 8pm

I need venue directions and parking information.

On the webpage of the event you have purchased tickets for, scroll down to the “Venue/Know Before You Go” section, which has event information, directions, parking instructions, and seating charts.

What time do SAL events start?

All of SAL’s events start at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and last until approximately 9:00 p.m.

What are the box office hours on event day?

The Box Office opens at 6 p.m. for all SAL events and stays open until approximately 30 minutes after the start of the event.

What time do the doors open to begin seating?

Auditorium doors open at approximately 6:30 p.m. for all SAL events.

Is there late seating for SAL events?

There is late seating at SAL events. However, your seat is not guaranteed after the program has begun.

Is there open captioning at SAL events?

We provide open captioning at every event that takes place in Benaroya Hall, S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium. Open captioning is available to stream directly to your phone, and is also streamed from a screen on the right side of the stage.

We provide open captioning for events at all other venues (Hugo House, Town Hall Seattle, and others) with a minimum two-week advance notice. Please contact us at boxoffice@lectures.org or 206.621.2230 x10 to make arrangements.

Is there accessible seating at SAL events?

Yes, all of our venues have accessible seating available at every ticket level. Please contact us at boxoffice@lectures.org or 206.621.2230 x10 for more details, and to let us know how we can accommodate your needs.

Are there assistive listening devices at SAL events?

All our venues provide assistive listening devices, but systems do vary. Please contact us in advance at boxoffice@lectures.org or 206.621.2230 x10 for more information or assistance.

Is American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation provided at SAL events?

We are happy to provide ASL interpretation for any of our events with a minimum two-week advance notice. Please contact us at boxoffice@lectures.org or 206.621.2230 x10 to make arrangements.

How should I dress for a SAL event?

However you feel most comfortable!

What is the format of the evening? Is there an opportunity for me to talk to the speaker?

Literary Arts Series, Women You Need to Know (WYNK), Journalism Series, SAL Presents and Hinge events are typically original talks or lectures; occasionally, we conduct onstage interviews with speakers or hold panel discussions.

The Poetry Series typically features poets reading from their work (with the occasional lecture).

At all events, the host generally moderates a Q&A between audience members and speakers. We encourage you to email us your questions in advance at sal@lectures.org, submit them electronically via the link in our printed event programs, or to use the Q&A cards provided at events.

Please note that our Q&A period is limited; as much as we’d like to, it’s not possible to ask all the questions we receive.

Can I bring my camera to the event?

There is no flash photography allowed at SAL events. Unless otherwise stated, we are happy for you to take photos for personal use and to post on social media. All professional photography requests must be approved by SAL in advance of the event.

We do not allow video or audio recording.

Do speakers sign books at events?

Book signings will follow most Poetry Series events and Hinge events.

There will be no book signings following Literary Arts Series, WYNK Series, or Journalism Series events. Our local bookstore partners will also be selling books in the lobby before and after each event.

Please see the Know Before You Go section under each event for more specifics.

Are there concessions available at events?

Concessions are available at most SAL events.

How can I keep up-to-date with SAL?

To sign up for our email and/or mailing list, click here. Follow us on social media at:

• Facebook: @SeattleArtsAndLectures
• Twitter: @SeaArtsLectures
• Instagram: @seattleartsandlectures

How can I support SAL and its mission?

Would you like to volunteer or intern with SAL? Click here to view our current opportunities.

Are you interested individual or corporate giving? Click here to find out more about how you can get involved.

Are you a community partner who would like to table at our events, or partner with our organization in other ways? Please email us at sal@lectures.org.