Shared Space Project

What is our timeline?

We want to ensure that our community can support this project for the long term. To have a better understanding of how much and what types of space that Walla Walla arts organizations need, representatives from the seven arts groups are going forward with real estate analysis, financial modeling, and more. Fleshing out each of these steps to have a solid business model before the end of 2021 is an important step in successfully reaching our goal. Once this is completed we will move forward with potential real estate, visiting sites, and accessing funding for the project.

Where are we at now?

The Walla Walla Arts Collaborative incorporated as a Washington nonprofit on December 2, 2019 under the provisions of Chapter 24.03 of the Revised Code of Washington. We have elected officers, adopted bylaws and essential operating policies, opened a bank account, and have received our official recognition as a §501(c)(3) tax exempt organization from the IRS. As part of that process, a preliminary projected operating budget has also been prepared.

The steering committee has been working with Walla Walla developers and has toured a number of a vacant commercial properties in town. In Q1 2020, financial modeling began in earnest for feasible properties and the committee began developing a fundraising strategy.

COVID-19 has impacted our search and slowed down the timeline for most of the organizations involved with the project. The board and steering committee still hold regular meetings and continue to prepare for what the space will look like in a post-pandemic world.

What will it look like?

At this point, we have not made any commitments to the amenities that will be offered at the space. So far, we have heard that office, storage, meeting, gallery and multi-use space are of interest. These images are great examples of shared multi-use art spaces that we're striving for.