Open Space becomes a nonprofit, seeks new executive director

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Open Space for Arts & Community is embarking on big changes this summer.

In May, the large and well-known event and community space will become a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Open Space for Arts & Community was founded in 2008 by islanders Janet McAlpin and David Godsey, who envisioned the 25,000-square-foot former coffee factory as a central hub for celebrating the bond between art and community.

The decision to become a nonprofit follows years of hard work establishing Open Space as the largest and perhaps most highly flexible venue on Vashon.

Today, Open Space is home to a program that presents aerial and acrobatic arts and education for youth and adults, hosts and co-produces events and fundraisers with local organizations, and directly serves youth with events and classes in Open Space Recreational Base for Island Teenagers (ORBIT), its program for teens on Vashon.

Through the years, Open Space has also become a hub for innovative performances ranging from Open Air Aerial Festival, to concerts and theater. Other ongoing initiatives include partnerships with local organizations ranging from UMO School of Physical Arts, to The Tool Library, the Medical Reserve Corps and Journeymen.

Most recently, it has launched artist support initiatives including AiR, an artist residency program, and !Attention! Artists at Work — paying artists to create public art.

The pandemic also provided an opportunity for Open Space to do all of the “behind-the-scenes” work needed to become a nonprofit, according to co-founder Janet McAlpin.

“Open Space has always emphasized service to our community. We have always had a culture of saying ‘yes!’ A great pandemic example was when we welcomed the MRC with open arms when they needed a place for COVID testing,” said McAlpin. “Taking this step to become a nonprofit allows us to invite community leaders with a bright flame in their hearts for Open Space onto a newly formed board, to continue bringing art, heart and soul to the island. ”

“As we formalize our nonprofit status we’re connecting all the dots – taking into account all we have done as well as our new generative programs like AiR artist residencies and our !Attention! Artists at Work initiative,” added co-founder David Godsey.

As Open Space shifts to a nonprofit organization, Jiji Saunders will transition from her role of executive director to become program manager for the !Attention! Artists at Work initiative, which she spearheaded at the start of COVID.

“It’s so satisfying to see this initiative thrive and grow into a lasting program to both serve local artists and bring joy to our community with public art,” said Saunders. “We’ve got several projects in the pipeline and more to come. This is exactly where I want to focus my energy.”

Inspired by FDR’s depression era New Deal, !Attention! Artists at Work began as a way to support artists and “provide moments of hope and delight to our community during the pandemic,” said Saunders.

Thus far, Open Space and its partners have contributed $50,000 and commissioned more than 100 artists to create free public art. All performances and exhibits created in the initiative are free to the public.

!Attention! Artists at Work! projects include The Mural Project, The Distance Dance Project, The Literary Project, The Tell Your Story Project, and The Tiny Fairy House Project.

Led by the executive team, Open Space has begun the search for its new executive director with the goal of onboarding in June, or as soon as the right candidate is found. A job description and application process is posted online at OpenSpaceVashon.com.Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled. For more information, visit openspacevashon.com.