By Chloe Sarmiento, The Seattle Medium
Inside a 117-year-old train station nestled between the bustling International District and Pioneer Square neighborhoods are five non-profits that seek to provide a safe space for creative young people.
Last November, Red Eagle Soaring, Totem Star, Wh!psmart, The Rhapsody Project, and Jackson Street Music Program moved into the historic King Street Station in partnership with Cultural Space Agency, a real estate development company authorized by the City of Seattle.
The organizations are able to inhabit the space completely rent-free through the partnership. According to the Cultural Space Agency website, the company is funded by a number of supporting partners, including the Seattle Office of Planning and Community.
The space, known formally as Station Space, has allowed the five nonprofit organizations to acquire a 60-year lease within the building, securing their spot for years to come.
“For 30-some years, we’ve had to borrow rehearsal space,” said Russell Brooks, executive director of Red Eagle Soaring. “This is the first time we have site control over a place that is our own… and that’s pretty special.”
The five organizations are on the second floor of the 62,400 square-foot train station. On the fourth floor is ARTS at King Street Station, an art gallery and studio space for other Seattle artists, and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.
Totem Star, The Rhapsody Project, and Jackson Street Music Program all mainly focus on music education for underserved youth communities, while Red Eagle specifically focuses on providing resources for Native youth interested in theater and the performing arts. Wh!psmart’s mission is to provide general resources for creatives, such as tools for social media, financial literacy, guides to networking and more.
The ages served by the nonprofits vary, with the youngest on the age spectrum being 10 at Red Eagle Soaring and the oldest being 25 years old at Totem Star. Regardless of financial status or other factors, youth are invited to use the oganizations’ resources.
Unique features of Station Space include Red Eagle Soaring’s black box theater, Totem Star’s multiple rooms with music studio tools, and more, all within shared space in the center of the city.
“Downtown Seattle’s a very ideal location,” said Brooks. “Our youth are spread out all over King County and transportation has always been such a huge thing that we’ve had to figure out every year.”
Apart from geographical accessibility, the organizations aim to keep costs low for young people. At Totem Star, for example, youth ages 14 to 25 can book free one-on-one music studio sessions with an in-house mentor.
Jean Mbuyi, a soul and pop artist, found out about Totem Star through word of mouth and was amazed that the sessions were gratis. Mbuyi said he used to pay for sessions at various studios, but now regularly relies on help from Totem Star.
Totem Star offers a variety of resources, such as live performance opportunities outside of the studio, alongside their artist mentor sessions in the studio. The organization also hosts “Lavender Sessions,” which are a space for women and LGBTQ+ youth to create a community. Totem Star has provided a variety of workshops, such as workout and self-defense workshops.
The physical space at King Street Station has allowed The Rhapsody Project to expand its musical instrument library. Launched in 2018, the music library program allows anyone access to musical instruments, not just youth.
“There needs to be more integration of organizations like ours into the public schools, so that students are routinely made more conscious of the resources available to them,” said Joe Seamons, co-founder of The Rhapsody Project. “There’s a lot of amazing organizations in addition to ours, serving youth, but I don’t feel like there’s enough effort on behalf of the city and on behalf of all the rich tech workers in the city to fund and support that integration.”
Because the organizations share the Station Space on a single floor, patrons have a chance to access all of the programs. With a physical space and a close-knit creative neighborhood community, the five organizations hope to fully use the space they were given and make their organization’s presence bigger than ever.
Pak said that, above all, Station Space acts as a bridge between different communities through the arts.
“It’s just a really special gathering space,” said Pak. “When I see folks becoming close, becoming friends, and working on music together being from totally different neighborhoods. To me, it’s heartwarming because it breaks down these invisible borders.”