Mission

Providing a space for brains of all ages, incomes, and skill levels to grow through community arts education & performance

Sustainability

We are community driven and volunteer powered with a small staff. By partnering with existing nonprofit organizations & neighborhood teachers to provide many of the classes at the Abbey, including the Fremont Music School, we are able to keep our staffing small & focus on developing niche programs and pulling in more community organizations to use the building.

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.).

Niche

Providing both instruction & performance opportunities for all-ages in a low rent and 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. We also offer scholarships for youth.

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.

Quick Overview

The Abbey is a new 9000 square foot nonprofit Arts Center where all ages can learn & develop through education & performance in many different mediums. Striving to become a "third place" in North Seattle, the Abbey is a comfortable venue where a wide variety of people from different income levels & backgrounds interact via community-driven & volunteer-powered events, workshops, classes, and private instruction. Both students & the general public can experience high quality performances by artists from around the world. At times, students are chosen to have performance opportunities at our various public events or concerts. Built in 1914, The Fremont Abbey underwent major renovations completed in March 2008.

Why

We feel the arts are one of the best ways for people of all ages to develop, advance, and improve their quality of life. And especially when multiple art forms & artists collaborate together (see our flagship event, www.theround.org, now in 5 cities). This can be through an educational & interactive experience or sometimes simply viewing a stellar performance.

The young brain needs these experiences to develop and mature brains need them to stay fresh and diversify! We also know that studies show "giving individuals repeated rewarding experiences with the arts over time is a necessary first step before other, more public benefits of the arts can be realized. These other benefits include: exposure to new perspectives; sharpened learning skills among young people; expanded capacity for empathy; and stronger social bonds in communities." www.rand.org/news/press.05/02.15.html