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VOLUNTEER
Please email or call to get involved!
arts(at) fremontabbey.org or the form on this page.
206.297.6221
PRESS QUOTES
"Since the get go with the Community Partnerships program I've wanted to have a Fremont organization be a part of this. So we're happy to be working with the Fremont Abbey this month! The work they're doing is vital to the future of our artistic community and should be supported." - JohnRichards
"Thank you Nathan for the wonderful experience that is The Round. The poets were awesome, and the musicians were amazing and the atmosphere was inviting. At first i was nervous but everyone made me feel as if i was among friends. My friends had a great time and I as well. It was a new experiance and one that my friends and i will remember. Thank you very much, "
Victor Ramirez, 19, (via Urban Artworks)
I commend the Fremont Abbey for its involvement and
contributions to the Seattle Arts Community. From my experience, the Round and events taking place at the
Abbey encouraged nothing but free thought, free speech, and a positive environment to support
creativity... Thank you for holding your ground and doing your part to create space for art in our community. -
Matt Gano, Seattle (Youthspeaks)
more great quotes on The Round's website |
1. Email: arts at fremontabbey.org (no spaces, or use the form above)
2. Phone: 206.297.6221 (usually 10a-6p Monday-Friday or leave a msg)
3. Drop off a note, office entrance is on 43rd at the NE end of the building
4. Mail: 4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
5. TOURS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
HOURS
The Abbey is not yet funded to have regular hours. We are open by appointment only & for events, classes, music lessons, and scheduled meetings only at this time. Thanks for understanding! (Want to volunteer as a greeter, receptionist, etc? Email us!)
The main entrance is the single Office door on 43rd which is on the NE side of the building. There is a doorbell there you may ring if locked. Most events are via the double doors on 1st or 2nd floor.
ABOUT US
The Fremont Abbey Arts Center is a nonprofit arts space providing an ever growing variety of arts & cultural experiences for all ages. We support the 2007 "Great Places Declaration"* and hope the Abbey will become your "3rd Place" in North Seattle.
"The Abbey" as it's commonly referred to, is a newly renovated historic 1914 church building at 43rd & Fremont Avenue North in Seattle (just uphill from "the center of the universe").
We really became active in January 2007 as we received a startup grant from the City of Seattle Dept of Neighborhoods for February-July of 2007 and settled into our "always under improvement" building in the highly creative neighborhood of Fremont. We've been a WA state non-profit since 2002 curating various events around Seattle and received IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity status is 2006. We began leasing the old St. Paul's Lutheran church in 2005 from Church of the Apostles and renamed it the Fremont Abbey Arts Center.
MISSION STATEMENT:
"The Fremont Abbey Arts Center strives to be a "third place" within the community, providing a welcoming space beyond work and home to gather with others for eye opening performances, workshops, collaboration and classes. The Abbey aims to host diverse arts education programs with our focus on music, visual, and literary arts for youth and adults residing especially in Fremont and North Seattle. Our desire is to help people from all walks of life and income levels to learn & develop themselves through experiences with the arts."
Fremont has always been known for being creative, and now it has a permanent arts space! Join with us and... START TO ART.
Fremont Abbey Arts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit non-religious arts organization in consultation with the Fremont Arts Council. We are also a member of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, and our director Nathan Marion is a member of the Fremont Neighborhood Council.
This Project launch was funded in part by the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (by a $14,900 grant given for February through July 2007).
*GREAT PLACES DECLARATION:
WHEREAS
We are faced with urgent challenges of population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation;
And, many patterns of recent development are endangering the natural environment as well as eroding the sense of place and community that supports a civil society and democracy;
We believe that Great Places in the built environment offer an important solution to these challenges and collectively provide the following characteristics.
Great Places:
• are accessible and welcoming for diverse groups of people;
• offer a variety of activities;
• respond to changing community needs;
• are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable;
• promote health and safety;
• inspire people to take ownership;
• allow for creativity, pleasure and excitement;
• invite chance encounters and surprise;
• appeal to all the senses;
• engender personal well-being, renewal, and a feeling of connectedness;
• spark cultural and economic vitality; and
• encourage active participation in public life.
NOW, THEREFORE
We assert that Great Places act as a magnet, drawing people together to live, work and play in complete and sustainable communities, allowing us to preserve natural spaces and enhance the health of the planet.
Furthermore, we affirm these ideas and together pledge to create new policies, systems and initiatives to shape Great Places for the enrichment of future generations.
July 21, 2007
WHO WE ARE
Nathan Marion, Executive Director nathan(at)fremontabbey.org
Liz Leahy, Assistant Director - Rentals & Volunteer Coordinator liz@
Julia Wingert, Youth Programs Director & Environmental Advisor julia@
Scott Erickson, Visual Arts Volunteer
Joshua Sherman, Live Sound & Recording
HB Telling, Live Sound
Dana Freeman, Lighting & Hospitality volunteer
Corey Hau, Caretaker
Amanda Chan, Events Manager
Matthew Lyon, Events Manager
Denise Jolly, Poetry Curator Volunteer
Various Interns
... and a slew of other amazing volunteers that help keep the Arts Center alive:
Cindy Daily, Daniela Geleva, Rebecca Wright, Don (our neighbor), Brian Irwin, Craig
NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY BOARD
Karen True (3rd Place Commons)
Robin Kinney-Robbins (BF Day School art teacher, Fremont)
Gary Luke (Fremont Arts Council)
John Booker (Fremont Rotary, Founding Mgr of Intiman Theatre)
Jen Wood (Fremont resident, musician)
Rotating seat for Fremont Arts Council member
*interested in joining the advisory board? email: arts (at) fremontabbey.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(and organizations they work for or have in the past)
Nathan Marion | Wallingford/Fremont
(BlueTree - Humanitarian work, Bands Without Borders)
Jack Tomkinson | Fremont
(Urban Sparks, Peak Park, etc.)
Evan Gross | Greenwood
(Writer, Musician)
Elizabeth Leahy | Ballard
(Seattle area teacher, Bands Without Borders)
Karen Ward | Seattle
(Fremont Arts Council board, Fremont Chamber of Commerce board, Church of the Apostles)
Jon Meyer | Fremont/Greenlake
Heather Augustina Blair | Fremont
(Adobe)
MORE PRESS:
JOURNAL NEWSPAPERS:
Business Wire
Fremont Abbey Arts Center offers opportunities for artistic expression and education
A hub for artistic and educational opportunities in the community, the
Fremont Abbey Arts Center is now an even more beautiful venue for
benefits, meetings, weddings, receptions and neighborhood birthday
parties following a recently completed renovation.
The familiar
Fremont church building was built in 1914 and owned by St. Paul's
Lutheran church for many years. In recent decades it was occupied by
Compass Health, and then was purchased by Church of the Apostles (COTA)
in 2005. With a desire to share the 9000 square foot building with the
community for artistic and educational purposes, COTA invited the
nonprofit arts organization to curate the building two years ago.
Located at 43rd & Fremont Avenue N., recent renovations to The
Abbey were extensive, according to Director Nathan Marion. Eighty
percent of the walls were stripped and completely redone, new
insulation and a forced air furnace upgraded the heating system,
restrooms were made handicap accessible, asbestos and lead paint was
removed and seismic upgrading was done throughout.
"Probably
the biggest improvement was leveling the floor in the main room," said
Marion. "That change allows us to offer dance classes now."
Sound-proofing adds to the usefulness of the building because it
isolates the sound in each room so multiple activities can be offered
at one time.
Marion was happy to work with The Re-Store in
Ballard during the renovation. "They came in and took a lot of old
flooring in exchange for store credit to help us purchase doors and
various items, so we were able to recycle and renew resources that
way," he said.
"While I began to get involved in the renovation
planning process, I also started working with various neighborhood
folks to determine what the needs and desires were for the center,"
said Marion. "In early 2007 we received a Small & Simple grant from
the Department of Neighborhoods to cover six months of test
programming, youth classes, workshops and events, including a community
need survey."
That beginning has led to a variety of class
options in dance, visual arts and music for all ages, as well as
several regular events that allow artists to present their work before
a supportive audience.
For more information on Fremont Abbey visit www.fremontabbey.org or call Nathan Marion at (206) 297-6221.
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The Abbey is a great space for benefit events, meetings, receptions, weddings, dinners, birthdays, and more. more info
FAQ
Where are you?
In a growing area of Seattle minutes from downtown and right on the #5 bus line. The neighborhood is often referred to as Fremont Highlands or Upper Fremont. We are on the corner of 43rd & Fremont Avenue North across from Cafe Vita and next to Urban Weeds.
Where do I park?
Free parking in the lot just 1/2 block up the hill or on Fremont Avenue (2hr before 6pm), PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON 43rd as a favor to our neighbors.
When are you open?
We do not yet have the staffing to be open regular hours but we are open for events and can schedule a time for you to take a tour if interested in renting the Abbey.
Do monks live there?
Why is it called the Fremont Abbey?
Historically Abbey's have been places of community gatherings offering safety and comfort. And we just like the name.
Even though it's a multi-use community center now, it is obviously a church building so the name stuck. But no monks live here and you do not need to wear burlap or shave your head in order to attend an event. We encourage people of all walks of life to take part in activities at the Abbey.
So is it still a church? Don't they censor the art?
Originally built in 1914 as St.
Paul's Lutheran, the building was used by the Compass Center from
2001-2005 before being purchased by Church of the Apostles (COTA), a
Lutheran & Episcopal blended "Emergent" church. COTA desired that
their building be used by the community so it is now
curated by "Artwerks dba Fremont Abbey", a completely separate non-profit 501c3 (non-religious)
that leases the building. COTA uses the building on Saturdays at 5pm and occasional other times but otherwise the building is used for arts & community events, classes, etc.
COTA is very generous in supporting the use of the building for community events and arts educational experiences.
The Abbey itself has a general respect policy but does not censor artists who perform here. We put a 'rating' on some all-ages events that involve performers who use adult language.
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