Establishing the Sister City Relationship Between Tacoma, WA, and Biot, France (2012)

Vision & Project Leadership by Huguette Marsicano, Founder of Change Muse

About the Initiative

In 2012, a unique sister city relationship was officially established between Tacoma, Washington, and Biot, France, a town on the French Riviera renowned for its historic bubble glass. At the heart of this partnership was a clear vision: to make Tacoma a cultural destination—and the West Coast capital of glass art.

This initiative was born out of the personal commitment and strategic foresight of Huguette Marsicano, founder of Change Muse, who recognized the potential to create something lasting and meaningful by connecting two cities that shared both artistic heritage and forward-looking energy.

The Challenge

At the time, Biot’s mayor, Jean-Pierre Dermit, was actively seeking to establish a sister city relationship with an English-speaking city. Meanwhile, Tacoma was looking to expand its global profile and deepen its reputation in the arts.

Having roots in both the French Riviera and Tacoma, I saw a powerful opportunity: to forge a connection between these two cities through their shared love for glass—a cultural signature in both places. The challenge was to craft a compelling case, earn support from both city governments, and design an international relationship that would go beyond ceremonial ties to become truly impactful.

The Solution

To bring this vision to life, I:

• Contacted both mayors—Jean-Pierre Dermit in Biot and Marilyn Strickland in Tacoma—and created personalized presentations to help each envision the cultural and civic value of the partnership

• Served as the liaison and project coordinator, handling all the details required to formalize the sister city agreement

• Coordinated two official delegation visits—first from Biot to Tacoma, then from Tacoma to Biot

• Initiated and developed a series of cultural and educational programs, including:

  • Artist exchanges, featuring notable glass artist Antoine Pierini

  • A school pen pal and student exchange program

  • The Kids Design Glass video event at the Tacoma Museum of Glass, connecting children from both cities through creativity (see article)

These experiences weren’t just symbolic—they created real-world connections and inspired new collaborations between artists, educators, and civic leaders.

The Result

The Tacoma ✦ Biot Sister City Partnership has become a living example of citizen-led diplomacy and cultural vision in action. It brought together two vibrant communities, launched long-lasting programs, and helped strengthen Tacoma’s identity as a global capital of glass art.

For me personally, this project represented everything Change Muse stands for: big-picture thinking, meaningful connections, and the power of culture to transform a community’s future.