by Kirby Lindsay, posted 26 December 2012
In 2012, the Fremont Abbey Arts Center celebrated its 7 years of existence – and the community that supports the center has a lot to celebrate. As a home-grown, ‘volunteer-powered’, community responsive organization, the Fremont Abbey serves as a valuable resource for arts and arts activities. A few Seattle neighborhoods have City-operated, and funded, Community Centers. Fremont has the Abbey – a space that wholly reflects our funky, fun and fundamentally-Fremont values.
From The Kitchen
A year ago, Justin Harvey joined the miniscule staff that runs the Fremont Abbey, as its Operations Manager. He works under Director Nathan Marion (“he’s the visionary,” Harvey described,) organizing and accommodating the myriad events, activities, and classes that take place weekly at the Abbey.
Right now, the Fremont Abbey has SuperFoods classes and workshops to offer because, “we got the grant from the City to improve the kitchen,” Harvey explained. A grant, and the landlord, made possible further improvements to the building of the Fremont Abbey, the former St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Upper Fremont. This time, the kitchen has undergone a strategic upgrade, making it operable for commercial uses and, therefore, another valuable community resource.
It also made possible the SuperFoods series – funded by a Department of Neighborhoods grant – teaching families (with an emphasis on low-income) how to cook healthier meals. Classes feature a visiting chef that can demonstrate a few dishes that incorporate high-nutrition, healthy ingredients. As parents attend the cooking class, another is held, simultaneously, for the children – in dance and visual arts. After the class(es,) “everyone dines together,” Harvey explained, on the demonstrated dishes.
“Going forward, we hope to continue that,” Harvey said of the SuperFoods program, “we want to make it sustainable,” even after the grant money runs out. The plan will require effort by volunteers, and donations from supporters, but that can be said of most Fremont Abbey programs and events.
The Year to Come
Donors and volunteers keep the Fremont Abbey open – the staff respond to their interests and enthusiasm. For January, the Fremont Abbey will offer its usual, eclectic mix of arts programming.
For the eighth year – and the 92nd time – The Round (92), an evening of live visual arts and music, will take place at the Abbey on January 8th. For concerts, they’ve got an all ages, late-afternoon show with Òran na Càr with Kyle Carey on January 12th, and another show on January 17th featuring Andrea Gibson with Tara Hardy. On January 22nd, a special live music and spoken word evening will feature Charlene Yi and Hi Ho Silver Oh.
The Fremont Abbey also hosts conferences, including an all-day writing fundraiser for Seattle7Writers, called ‘Write Here, Write Now’, on January 26th. Another writing event, The Moth, takes place all over the country – and at the Fremont Abbey on 1st Thursdays. “We’re really honored to have it here,” acknowledged Harvey of the popular program that has packed the place since it started in early Fall 2012.
Also, Harvey predicted more events to take the Fremont Abbey on the road – as a producer at other venues. Events like those held in 2012 – The Winter Round at The Triple Door and Cathedrals 4 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – allow Abbey staff to expand awareness of the Arts Center. They also provide valuable exposure for local artists.
The Year Just Past
In 2012, the Fremont Abbey staff and volunteers have accommodated many needs, arts or otherwise, of our community. They’ve hosted public meetings, like a recent King County presentation on the Fremont Siphon replacement project. They also rent space for private kid’s parties and weddings. “We’re doing a lot more weddings,” Harvey observed, “It’s a really great location.”
In addition to special, one-time-only (or once-a-year) gatherings, the Fremont Abbey also has regularly given space for a variety of classes, including the Seattle Music School and the Action! Film Class for children. Harvey said the Action! class will continue in 2013 thanks to the parents that have shown enthusiasm for it, and “they’ve taken ownership,” enough to drive it on.
The Fremont Abbey staff also optimize the space they have by scheduling separate events in the large building at the same time, giving care to finding complimentary gatherings. A concert can take place upstairs, if scheduled to start as the public meeting downstairs wraps up. Community activists held several crafts workshops, to prepare for the ‘We The People Power’ festival at Gas Works Park, while public events merrily went on all around them.
Can You Help?
The building can accommodate up to 300 people, according to Seattle Fire Department standards. This provides our community with space to celebrate, learn, be entertained, raise money, and gather for art – or arts related activities. The Fremont Abbey provides an opportunity for our community, and in seven years the benefits have been seen.
As the Abbey hopefully heads to its eighth birthday next November, Harvey will organize further opportunities for the community to take ‘ownership’ of the Arts Center. “One thing I’d love to see,” Harvey said, “is more people getting connected.” He would like, “for people to see this as a place that is theirs.”
Ours – operated by us and supported by us. The Fremont Abbey Arts Center depends upon grants, donations, and volunteer effort. Without donations of time, talent and treasure, the Fremont Abbey can be nothing more than a great idea. Consider making an end of the year (or a start of the new) donation – or inquire about the opportunities open for lending a hand.
Harvey does want to issue, “a thank you to the community, for getting us to seven years!” The Fremont community has shown up, and shown support, of the Abbey Arts Center for seven years. It remains up to all of us to continue our support – or start to give it. For suggestions about how to get involved today, visit the Fremont Abbey Arts Center on the web (or Facebook.)
Or, see you at an upcoming Fremont Abbey event?
Related Articles
- Fremont Abbey Turns Five
- by Kirby Lindsay, November 10, 2010
- Fremont Abbey Arts Center Caters To Community
- by Kirby Lindsay, February 10, 2010
©2012 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.