When winter weather and holiday madness descend on us this time of year, it’s tempting to pull down our wool hats and focus on our shopping lists, but I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past, present and future and share my vantage point as executive director at Vashon Center for the Arts.

It is one of hope and joy — not just for the arts but for all of us as a community.

I am heartened and inspired by this past year, not only by all that’s happened in our gallery spaces, on our stage, in our classrooms, but by our island community.

VCA began 2023 still hobbling after the pandemic — audience attendance and class enrollment remained low, and our administrative staff continued to operate with significantly fewer employees. In many ways, 2023 felt like a “make or break” year for us. We desperately needed to regain our footing and build momentum, with far fewer resources at our fingertips to get there.

But we also knew that we were not alone in facing uncertainty. Everyone on Vashon has faced challenges and many were still endeavoring to recover and re-emerge. As a community, we coped admirably, but we were also eager to come together again and enjoy each other’s company. VCA decided to lean into that part of our mission statement, which defines us as “a collaborative and community-based organization.”

In 2023, we took bolder steps to ensure all VCA offered was welcoming and accessible to everyone. We hosted more than 33 free and pay-what-you-will events, filling our Atrium space with live jazz, First Friday receptions, cultural celebrations like Dia de los Muertos, and creative events like the Gingerbread Contest (which is currently on display through Dec. 23).

Of the 103 performances in Kay White Hall this year, 43 were free to youth! On our stage, we showcased local, regional, and international talent, including productions from our resident partners, which include Vashon Island Chorale, Vashon Opera, Vashon Maury Chamber Orchestra, Vashon Repertory Theatre, Whim W’Him and Drama Dock. We’ve mounted seven student productions — four musicals and three dance performances.

Of the more than 250 artists who exhibited in our gallery, more than three-quarters of them live and work right here on Vashon. At the Blue Heron Education Center, we’ve awarded $70,000 in scholarships to students in dance, visual arts, and performing arts classes this year alone.

Eleven months later, audiences are showing up for shows, events, and gallery exhibits, excited to be with and celebrate each other. “The Nutcracker” and “James and the Giant Peach, Jr.” both saw sold-out performances, and audience attendance is now on par with pre-pandemic levels. The Blue Heron Education Center saw an impressive 1,271 enrollees in arts education, dance, and music programs combined — bringing us back to pre-pandemic levels as well.

But perhaps one of the most moving responses we received comes from a grateful parent, Charlie Choo, who wrote, “VCA means so much to our family…A vibrant, non-profit arts organization like VCA, when placed within a supportive arts community like Vashon, can change the lives of children and families.”

When we embraced our community, our community embraced us back. It has been a great reminder that art is not only a valuable commodity but a wonderful conversation that allows us to know each other better.

Today, VCA approaches the New Year with a renewed commitment to our community. I hope as members of our community that you, too, will do the same and reaffirm your commitment to the arts. One way you can do this is to join the Kay Circle at VCA, a new giving program named after the lasting legacy of benefactress Katherine L. White.

The Kay Circle is not defined by how much any one individual donates but rather by the ongoing commitment of many. Anyone can become a member of the Kay Circle by making a recurring donation of any amount.As more people join, the Kay Circle grows to build a stronger, more inclusive, and accessible arts community for generations to come.

It allows a community arts center like us the ability to better predict and plan for the long-term stability of our organization.

As an islander, I am grateful to live, work, and be part of this community. I feel such joy to witness every day how much the arts and artists are valued here. I look forward to seeing all of you at VCA in 2024, and if you appreciate the arts, I genuinely hope you’ll become part of the Kay Circle too.

Allison Halstead Reid is the executive director of Vashon Center for the Arts.