VAA Announces Property Purchase
Local philanthropists donate funds to buy McFeeds lot
VASHON, Wash. – May 2, 2008 – Vashon Allied Arts (VAA) announced
today that it has taken a major step in its long-term effort to
expand and improve its facilities at the Blue Heron Art Center
campus. The forty-two-year-old arts organization, the oldest
community arts organization of its kind in Washington, purchased the
property at the southeast corner of Vashon Highway and Cemetery
Road, the current location of McFeeds. When added to VAA’s other
properties, the purchase will eventually make it possible to provide
the community with more classes for children and adults; improved
facilities for music, drama and dance; and expanded gallery space to
better serve artists and their patrons.
“This is a great opportunity for VAA and the entire community,” said
Scarlett Foster-Moss, President of VAA’s Board of Trustees. “Our
staff and board have long dreamed of building an arts campus around
the Blue Heron building. We now have gifts totaling almost one
million dollars to put in motion the eventual realization of this
dream. This opportunity exists thanks to the generosity of some very
special people, including a substantial lead gift from an angel
donor, Mrs. Kay White.”
VAA’s Executive Director Molly Reed indicated that the new property
opens up a world of opportunities for VAA.
“As we explore expansion options we know two things,” stated Reed.
“First, our beloved Blue Heron Art Center is the focal point of
anything we do, but the old building does need some extensive
facilities upgrading. For example, anyone who has been in our main
building -- used our facilities, so to speak -- will celebrate a
little bit when they learn that this corner lot will make it
possible for us to connect to Vashon Sewer District lines and
decommission our ancient and ailing septic system. So we will look
at ways to modernize the building while carefully preserving its
historic status.”
Reed continued, “And it is important for us to engage the community
in this process. We are already having some conversations with
members of the VAA family to get their input on improvements as we
go forward. We will continue talking with island artists, donors,
students, people who attend our performances, community leaders and
organizations -- anyone who has a stake in our mission of providing
arts education and programming to our community.”
Lead donor, Mrs. White, a thirty-year resident of Vashon, is active
in the Vashon Island Chorale. Her interest in the arts led her to
VAA. When asked why she chose VAA as the recipient of her donation
she replied, “I can't imagine any group better suited than VAA to
nurturing our homegrown arts and at the same time providing all of
us with the quality facilities that we will need to serve our arts
community far into the future. When I spoke with them about their
needs, I felt I could certainly help out.”
The property was purchased from Steve Brown and Sally Fox. VAA plans
to keep the McFeed’s store as a tenant on the new property until any
possible expansion plans are finalized.
