Celebrate Community with Abbey Arts

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Author: Abbi Mancini

Header Image: Laura Gibson, Horse Feathers, and Takenobu performing at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral as part of the Abbey Arts Cathedral Series. Courtesy of Fremont Abbey.

 

Abbey Arts is an all-inclusive non-profit arts community based out of Seattle. Providing classes focused in visual and performing arts as well as live music events. Abbey Arts works to support all people finding their art in an open-minded space focused on storytelling and collaboration. Based out of the renovated 1914 St. Paul’s Lutheran church on Fremont Street, dubbed “Fremont Abbey”, Abbey Arts brings a different kind of spirituality to the community center, using creativity and passion to celebrate fellow humans. The Church of the Apostles took over the building in 2005 in order to oversee the improvements the renovation brought. The Fremont Abbey is continuously being made better and more sustainable through the “Greening the Abbey” project, a series of fundraisers and events backed by The Church of the Apostles in collaboration with Abbey Arts. Sustainability includes environmentally efficient furnaces, lighting, and cleaning supplies. Events are also given limits to reduce waste production by use of compost and recycle. Although the building is being modernized, the integrity of the space for religious or creative worship is being protected tirelessly by the community.

All artist journeys are welcomed and celebrated at Abbey Arts, which strives to provide a safe space for all levels of learning and performance at any age through attendance, involvement, and inspiration. Cost levels for events are kept low, encouraging people from all walks of life to be involved in the local arts as well as providing spaces for rent for artists and communities to gather in their own events. Programs such as “Arts Connect” work to bring the arts to low income families through involvement and attendance. Free tickets and class scholarships are offered with application. The Cathedral Series feature musicians performing in other historic places of worship, such as St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in order to support local music while further protecting community spaces. The Round is a collaborative event featuring musicians, slam poets, and visual artists creating and performing live every month at the Fremont Abbey. The Round is open to all ages and incomes to support artists and performers while celebrating creativity, as is the Abbey Arts mission. More information about The Round can be found on the website. More Abbey Arts events can be found here.

 

Image: Arts Connect Experience Card, a free ticket to an Abbey Arts event, courtesy of Fremont Abbey Facebook page

Volunteer driven, Abbey Arts has a small staff, allowing community members to be involved at all levels, from event operation aid to maintenance, to teaching classes, even to a position on the Board of Directors. Abbey Arts is driven by the community, for the community. Check here for volunteer opportunities.

 

ABBI MANCINI | Matcha Latte | KXSU Arts Reporter

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