HOW IT ALL BEGAN

In 2000, a handful of community activists, troubled by the lack of all-ages popular music concerts in Seattle, began meeting and planning the Vera Project. The Vera Project was born out of belief in the importance of creating a venue that consistently offers welcoming, safe, and positive music and arts programming to young people while giving them opportunities to engage their interests, learn, and participate in their community.

With its roots in the research of co-founders Shannon Stewart and James Keblas, the Vera Project was modeled after an internationally renowned all- ages venue called Vera in Groningen, Holland. Keblas and Stewart studied at Vera, a volunteer-driven music and community space that has been supported by the Dutch government for more than a century. Accompanied by Kate Becker, Stewart, and Keblas hosted community meetings and sowed the seeds of what would become the Vera Project. Founding Board members David Meinert, Stephanie Pure, Josh Ayala, and Cindy Peterson played instrumental roles in establishing the Vera Project. With the help of the Music and Youth Task Force Vera secured funding to produce a series of all-ages concerts and opened January 27th, 2001 with a sold out concert featuring Murder City Devils, Botch and Blood Brothers.

The Vera Project hosted its first year of shows in 2001 at the Local 46 Union Hall. With increasing participation and community support, Vera produced shows and community events at the Theater Off Jackson for most of 2002. In late 2002, Vera moved downtown to 4th & Virginia, remodeling an old theater space into a youth music center with a 260-person capacity showroom, art gallery, screen printing studio, recording studio, classroom space, and administrative offices. Thanks to high community demand and the benefits of a full-time space, Vera now produces weeknight events, and has developed an innovative education programs that serves over 1,100 young people per year. Overall Vera now serves over 17,000 young people annually. In five years of existence, Vera has grown into a comprehensive all-ages music center that offers concert, education, and community engagement programming that is unavailable elsewhere in Seattle.

After five years at the Vera Project, two of Vera’s founders have gone on to contribute further to the local and national youth and music communities. James Keblas left in March 2005 to direct the Seattle Mayor’s Office of Film and Music, while Shannon Stewart has been recruited to lead the National All- Ages Network, a new organization that will help communities throughout the nation launch non-profit music programs modeled in part on the Vera Project.

Due to the impending demolition of the current downtown Seattle venue, Vera was in pressing need of a new space. Fortunately, Seattle Center has offered the Vera Project a prime space in a tremendous location. What Seattle has known as the Snoqualmie Room will now be known as the Vera Project. Commencing in April, construction of the new space will be led by Mallet Inc with design and architecture by Brandt Design and Richartz Studio.

Vera boldly leaps into its future with visionary and capable leadership. Capital Campaign Director Kate Becker leads the Viva Vera Capital Campaign with the support of the Advisory Committee and Capital Campaign Cabinet, two groups of community luminaries committed to creating Vera’s new home. With Executive Director Shannon Roach and Program Director Melissa Quayle at the helm, supported by Operations Manager Vanessa Gibbons, Fund Development Manager Nick Turner, a hard-working and highly dedicated Board of Directors and, countless members and volunteers, Vera’s future is very bright.

Please visit the Vera Project for further information.