The venerable arts organization, Vashon Allied Arts, underwent a dramatic shift while realizing the vision of former director Molly Reed and the completion of the new facility.

These changes have not been uncontroversial, but given that the building will define the programs for many years to come, I applaud the new direction Vashon Center for the Arts is taking. The arts center can now take a broader approach to the visual arts and stay true to its original mission, primarily as a community arts center. There were no other arts spaces on the island back in the 1970s, 80s, and even into the 90s, but the island is now an arts destination, with lots of galleries and even other big arts venues, for example the wonderful Open Space for Arts & Community, as well as many arts and crafts retail spaces.

I would very much like to see exhibitions curated by great curators from around the Northwest and even the whole planet, if possible, that run for two months and take advantage of the more museum- like atmosphere. I would like to see exhibitions that particularly appeal to younger audiences. I would like VCA to continue to exhibit the best we have around us and not to stop there, but also bring things to Vashon from the great big world of the visual arts.

I would like to see very challenging exhibits about the latest things happening in the visual arts, environmental art, installation and video art, not that great things did not happen in the past. The list would be so very long, indeed, of so many wonderful shows. Nonetheless, I think the focus could shift a little more to the leadership roll the organization obviously has, with its deep history, and the building’s huge potential for visual exhibitions, to say nothing of its 300-seat, state-of-the-art theater.

When it comes to musical performance, how happy many people are that a certain great group will be performing at the arts center. They may be from Portland or some place else, and people are thrilled to have them here.

Should the arts center be a place mainly for Vashon Island musicians to play and mainly concentrate on how to provide programs for the island musical community? I don’t think that’s what the community of music listeners wants. I think they would simply like to hear great things.

— Hans Nelsen