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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle turns it up for Vera project's move to Seattle Center
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/5/2006 4:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shannon Roach, Vera Project, 956-VERA
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
Deborah Daoust (206) 386-1974
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Seattle turns it up for Vera project’s move to Seattle
Center
Mayor announces major grant for teen music and arts organization
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced the city is providing $350,000
for the Vera Project to support its move to the Seattle Center campus. The
Vera Project is a national leader providing vibrant opportunities for youth
through music. The money will help transform the Snoqualmie Room at Seattle
Center for performance, production and administrative space to expand the group’s
goals and community outreach.
“The Vera Project is what every music-loving teenager needs-a safe,
fun place to explore their love of music,” said Mayor Greg Nickels. “Kids
have a knack for reinventing popular culture, so what better place to foster
and encourage our youth than in the heart of our cultural community at Seattle
Center.”
The city has provided up to $50,000 a year to the Vera Project since 2001.
The additional funding will allow the Vera Project to build-out the Snoqualmie
Room for its new home. Located on the east side of the Seattle Center Northwest
Rooms, the 6,500 square-foot Snoqualmie Room will be renovated to a 9,000 square-foot
facility to include a 300+ capacity performance space, a recording studio,
classroom space, a café, an art studio, art gallery, and administrative
offices. The new location will allow the Vera Project to increase its ability
to work with other arts groups on campus and provide a solid, consistent location
for safe, tolerant, respectful and drug-free events.
“The city's support of the Vera project puts Seattle on the map for
creating meaningful ways for young people to be engaged in their community” said
Shannon Roach, Executive Director of the Vera Project. “In our last programming
year, Vera served more than 17,000 youth with shows, events, classes, internships,
volunteer opportunities, and much more. There is great growth potential for
these programs at Seattle Center. Vera is thrilled about being a part of the
Seattle Center campus. Mayor Nickels’ support was instrumental in making
this new home possible.”
“We are thrilled to have the Vera Project on the Seattle Center campus,” said
Robert Nellams, acting Seattle Center director. “Vera’s visions
and goals fit perfectly into those of Seattle Center. Its location on campus
will allow Vera to work alongside our festivals throughout the year, giving
youth a unique experience. In addition, this will bring more youth to the campus
to create more experiences through their exposure to other events that happen
throughout the year. Vera’s proven track record will help Seattle Center
reach out to a teenage, youth community that has been under represented on
our campus.”
The Build-out and Capital Campaign
Vera is conducting a $1.5 million capital campaign to build and equip the
new venue inside the Snoqualmie Room. The four-month construction project will
start in June.
Vera is also announcing a capital campaign to raise the remaining money for
the build- out. City of Seattle funds will be complimented by foundation, corporate,
and individual support for the project.
Vera has worked since November to gather support for the Snoqualmie Room build-out
project, and is at the half-way point in their goal to raise $1.5 million.
In addition to city funds, Vera has received generous individual and foundation
funding, including a $140,000 challenge grant from the Allen Foundation. Vera
is continuing to work toward its financial goals to build this enduring urban
cultural center where youth will find arts, music, and community.
Vera and Seattle Center have agreed to a 10- year lease for the Snoqualmie
Room. Rent will be $35,000 annually to start, plus annual CPI (Consumer Price
Index) increases. After the initial five years, rent increases by $3,000 per
year plus CPI, until it reaches $50,000 plus CPI.
The lease agreement allows Vera to share the Snoqualmie Room with Seattle
Center festivals. The major festivals will be able to take advantage of the
newly remodeled spaces, including the theater. The four major festivals (Seattle
International Children’s Festival, Northwest Folklife, The Bite, and
Bumbershoot) and the Seattle Center Academy will have the right to use the
performance space free of charge during the term of the lease.
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Office of the Mayor
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