Vashon Center for the Arts receives $2 Million capital appropriation from the state

Vashon Island received some welcome news recently. The Washington State budget had finally passed, including $2 million in capital funds for Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA). Senator Sharon Nelson (D-Vashon) made the announcement to an enthusiastic crowd of VCA supporters. According to Nelson, "After a very difficult budgeting process, this is an extremely exciting outcome. VCA will bring jobs to Vashon and will provide a huge benefit for the entire community. This $2 million appropriation brings us significantly closer to our VCA fundraising objective and closer to breaking ground for Vashon’s community arts center."
 
The funds were appropriated through a section of the State’s capital budget directed towards "projects that strengthen communities and quality of life" and will be used to support the construction of the VCA campus. " Half of the new funding replaces a Building for the Arts grant VAA received from the State in 2009. The grant expired in June of this year, so it was a great relief to have these funds replaced. The additional $1 million is entirely new funding, and further strengthens the VCA fundraising efforts.
 
"This appropriation reconfirms the State’s recognition of the importance of the arts in our communities," said Tim Roden, chairman of the VAA Board of Trustees. "Vashon deserves to have an arts campus that celebrates the talent, enthusiasm and support within this unique Island community – and we are moving ever closer to this goal."
 
Vashon Center for the Arts is a $16.9 million project to develop an arts campus at the intersection of Vashon Highway and Cemetery Road on Vashon Island. The campus will include the historic Blue Heron building as well as a 300-seat performing arts center, a gallery and restored wetlands. VCA will serve many arts organizations on the Island including Vashon Chorale, Vashon Opera and Drama Dock. The campus will also function as a new home for Vashon Allied Arts classes, performances, VAA Center for Dance and administrative offices.