About

Our Mission is to be a vibrant community venue for people of all ages and incomes to be supported in their artistic & social development through new collaborative arts & cultural experiences. The Abbey focuses on music, dance, visual, literary and culinary arts in formats including multi-arts performances, group classes & workshops, individual lessons, new exhibits and artistic life celebrations.
The Abbey is a 9000 square foot nonprofit and non-religious Arts Center where people can learn & develop through education & performance in many different art mediums. Striving to be a "3rd place" in North Seattle, the Abbey is a comfortable & welcoming space where a wide variety of people from different income levels, skills, ethnicities & backgrounds interact. Both art students & the general public experience high quality performances by artists from Seattle and around the world. A beautiful 1914 brick church building, The Abbey underwent major renovations completed in March 2008.
Why Collaborative Arts?
Our Niche is providing a space for both instruction & performance opportunities for all-ages in a beautifully restored historic building. Our unique location in the center of Seattle & low operation costs allows audiences to attend events & performances that are accessible for all ages, incomes, and skill levels. The Fremont Abbey fulfills the Fremont Neighborhood Plan's directive for a community Arts Center. We also pull in people from many other neighborhoods who do not have Arts Centers such as Ballard, Greenwood, Wallingford as we are currently the only nonprofit arts center in all of North Seattle (as far as we know).
Sustainability is achieved in part through being community driven and volunteer powered with a small staff. We also partner with existing non-profits & neighborhood teachers.
Local organizations we've supported & hosted at the Abbey include: BF Day Elementary School
Fremont Arts Council
The Center School
Seattle Girls School
Boys & Girls Club
Community Schools of WA
Girls Rock Camp
NW Girls Coalition
Sierra Club
Global WA (Gates Foundation)
Seattle Works
SPU
Seattle Rock Orchestra
Seattle Theatre Group - Education
Chimp Sanctuary NW
FAWN Neighborhood Safety Group
Simple Measures
Seattle Dance Project
Karin Stevens Dance
Sapience Dance
46th Street Mural Project
Many small orgs under Shunpike
many more

We also allow the space to be used for weddings, receptions, and events which fund our staffing, supplies, rent and building costs. We work hard to set a good example for sustainability on the Environmental side as well by using natural handmade cleaning supplies, efficient heaters, insulation, composting, recycling, reduced waste, and more.
The Abbey does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. Freedom of expression & creativity is encouraged within the boundaries of respect for all peoples. Some events may be labeled or rated (ie. PG-13, etc.).
Not only does the Abbey fulfill the Fremont Neighborhood Plan's directive for an Arts Center, we pull in people from many other neighborhoods who do not have Arts Centers such as Ballard, Greenwood, Wallingford and other North Seattle neighborhoods.
We are located at 43rd & Fremont Avenue North in the Fremont Village (Upper Fremont). The non-profit itself (Artwerks dba Fremont Abbey, TIN: 74-3123187) was established in 2002, and has been active in the neighborhood since March 2006 with extensive renovations complete in 2008. We received a 6 month $14,900 grant from the City of Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods to put out a community survey and test various programs in February-July of 2007. The building is owned by Church of the Apostles, a small episcopal/lutheran church group where all are welcome. Fremont Abbey Arts leases the building Monday-Saturday, only covering our share of the building expenses (not market rate rent) and we are now known as an Arts Center rather than a church building.

Fast Facts
2009 = 15,000 people impacted by Abbey Arts
2010 = 23,000 projected
Music School enrollment: approx 100 students, 70% youth
March 2010: 1500 visits to the Abbey, 12,000 visits to website
Core Values
An arts center where everyone can discover something new
Internal (staff, volunteers, teachers):
- Pursue Growth & Learning
- Create new, fun and dynamic experiences
- Build a positive team and family spirit
- Be Humble
- Be hard working & self driven
External (neighbors, community, students, event participants):
- Positive Community Experiences interacting with arts
- Bringing the arts to new eyes
- Developing Artists (youth) Debut in a supportive environment
- Seasoned Artists stretch & awaken something new in unique collaborations
- Supportive space & event consulting for both nonprofits & local artists to produce creative events, fundraisers, gatherings, etc.

Fast Facts
2009 = 15,000 people impacted by Abbey Arts
2010 = 23,000 projected
Music School enrollment: approx 100 students, 70% youth
March 2010: 1500 visits to the Abbey, 12,000 visits to website
Core Values
An arts center where everyone can discover something new
Internal (staff, volunteers, teachers):
- Pursue Growth & Learning
- Create new, fun and dynamic experiences
- Build a positive team and family spirit
- Be Humble
- Be hard working & self driven
External (neighbors, community, students, event participants):
- Positive Community Experiences interacting with arts
- Bringing the arts to new eyes
- Developing Artists (youth) Debut in a supportive environment
- Seasoned Artists stretch & awaken something new in unique collaborations
- Supportive space & event consulting for both nonprofits & local artists to produce creative events, fundraisers, gatherings, etc.
View Fremont Village & the Abbey in a larger map
