About
Art. Heart. Soul.
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Welcome to Open Space for Arts & Community—an irrepressible force of creativity and connection. Here, the spirit of YES! fuels innovation, artistic expression, and community collaboration. More than just a hub, Open Space is a vibrant, welcoming home for artists and community members alike. From inspiring programs and transformative events to classes that spark discovery, our space celebrates art, heart, and soul—creating extraordinary experiences for all.
Our Mission
Open Space for Arts & Community is where Vashon gathers to celebrate the unbreakable bond between arts and community. We create extraordinary artistic, community-building experiences that enrich and inspire.​
Our Purpose
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We are an incubator for new ideas.
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We bring dreams to life.
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We offer a lively diverse range of arts, and proudly contribute to the success of fundraisers, classes, community meetings and more.
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We are led by artists, in service to our community.
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art. heart. soul.
Join Us!
Join the Open Space community and experience the magic firsthand.
Our classes, designed for youth and adults, include aerial arts, tumbling, jiu jitsu, yoga, kickboxing, and more.
Dive into creative workshops and projects with guest artists and our partners from Vashon’s Maker Space and Tool Library.
From classes and workshops to installations and performances, please join us in our mission to bring people together across ages and backgrounds.
Transforming a cavernous abandoned warehouse into warm and welcoming industrial chic flexible spaces, Open Space offers a 23,000 SF interior featuring The Grand Hall mainstage and intimate Bruce Black Box Theatre, both designed for excellent sound quality and comfort, and a lobby and atrium ideal for preshow mingling.
Five multipurpose rooms cater to artist residencies and installations, lectures, rehearsals, classes and workshops, meetings, and innovation of all kinds.
Our buildings open to acres of natural beauty,
with mountain views to the south of a three-acre grassy meadow designed for outdoor concerts and gatherings. The grounds feature a natural stage framed and shaded by majestic Douglas firs and picturesque gathering spaces tucked among wooded trails.
WELCOME to Open Space
History
Open Space founders Janet McAlpin and David Godsey have been performing artists in the Puget Sound region since they moved to Vashon in 1989.
They believed the island needed a large, flexible, gathering place, big enough for hundreds to gather indoors for community events and classes, for aerialists to soar and for performances of all kinds.In 2006 they purchased the former Stewart Brothers coffee roasting property, and in 2008 opened the doors as Open Space for Arts & Community.​
Community
Open Space features artists from rising to renowned.
Whether hosting luminaries like Macklemore and Rising Appalachia or introducing Vashon to less familiar names, producing our own Signature Events, staging touring theater companies and our own UMO Ensemble, hosting workshops, lectures, and private events of all kinds, we proudly serve as Vashon’s gathering space, ​
Commitment
Through it all, we remain committed to supporting local nonprofit organizations, to offering space and support free to local youth facing organizations and raisingover $3,000,000 for local nonprofits under our roof.
