A/NT Gallery Proposal for Thomas St. Shop Space At Seattle Center

A/NT Gallery Proposal for Thomas St. Shop Space At Seattle Center

A. Overview of Our Organization Art/Not Terminal Gallery (also known as A/NT Gallery) is a Seattle artists' collective founded in October 1988. It became a Washington State not-for-profit corporation in July 1989. A/NT Gallery serves the Puget Sound area by offering several new exhibits every month, free to the public. We also offer our gallery's space to other cultural organizations in need of an exhibit or event venue. In its 27 year history, A/NT Gallery has provided support and space to thousands (over 3,000 as of current estimates) of emerging artists and disadvantaged artists in need of an exhibit space. The gallery offers education and mentoring on business practices, gallery display, art reproduction, and other subjects related to careers in the arts. Since it's a non-juried space, the gallery doesn't turn away any artists, regardless of ability or background. A/NT gallery has been committed to growth and marketing of all artists in our community for over a quarter of a century. A/NT Gallery is run by volunteers and has no paid staff. Every month, the gallery devotes a portion of its wall space to an exhibit from its membership. A/NT Gallery also accepts exhibits proposals from other organizations and artists, with preference on exhibits from lesser-advantaged artists, such as emerging artists and disabled artists. We also focus on community-minded exhibits, meant to benefit and enrich the cultural landscape of Seattle. Our Board of Directors meets every month to conduct business, such as voting on upcoming exhibits. Gallery members and the public are welcome to attend our meetings. A/NT gallery s mission is to provide a nurturing space for all artists. Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned artist you can hang in our non- judged environment. A/NT Gallery is about encouraging, supporting and continuing Seattle s long, strong and proud art history. B. Proposed Use The facility would be used as an art gallery. The walls need to be clean, smooth wallboard. We can use wire hanging adapters for brick or other hard surfaces. We will put in lighting appropriate for viewing art exhibited. The entryway will be equipped with a reception desk to accommodate the volunteers who welcome visitors and transact gallery business when the gallery is open to the public. No major alterations are required at this time. (See attached photos of gallery). C. Operation and Management Currently the hours for A/NT Gallery are Wednesday through Sunday, 11am-6pm. We would not expect these to change unless the Seattle Center Management sees a need. Saturday and Sunday mornings A/NT hosts three hour life drawing sessions. We are staffed 100% by our volunteers. When the gallery is open a volunteer is on-hand to welcome the public, answer questions and provide security. On Saturday and Sunday mornings the gallery hosts life-drawing sessions. For a nominal fee, local artists can draw a professional model. These are currently held in our Sub-T, basement area, while the rest of the gallery remains open to the public. We will use a separate room, if available or we can segregate this area by other means. The gallery operates on a monthly cycle, the last Sunday of the month is the pick-up & paint party, artist pick up their work and we patch and paint the walls to prepare for next month. The following Monday is hanging night for the next month s show. Art for the next month s

exhibit is brought in, prepared and exhibited appropriately. Beginning artists who are not experienced at hanging in a gallery (and where else could they get that experience?) are shown how to prepare and display their art. The following Saturday, the first Saturday of each month, is the A/NT Gallery Opening Night. Our Board of Directors meets every month to conduct business, such as voting on upcoming exhibits. Gallery members and the public are welcome to attend our meetings. The volunteer staff maintain and operate the facility including all janitorial and custodial services for the gallery. The gallery has had these responsibilities for the past 27 years of successful operation. D. Proposed Term and Financial Return The A/NT gallery would like to propose a lease agreement with a 5 year term with the understanding that we are open to any length of term the Seattle Center might propose. No redevelopment of the facility is required. The gallery would fund the minimal capital improvements required, primarily, preparing walls for hanging and installing gallery lighting. Based on our past financial records the gallery can offer monthly rent of $3,000, including public benefit and in-kind services. (See attached Addendum for Nonprofit Long Term Lease). The $3,000 is based on 20-plus years of historical financial data at the same location. It does not take into account the advantages of relocating to the Seattle Center where we will be collocated with other major attractions seen by 12 million visitors a year. We hope the addition exposure will not result in the expansion of the gallery as a cultural and community asset (see attached letter from Matthew Richter, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture) but bring about the possible spread of the concept A/NT represents. The Gallery has in the past made its facility available as rental space for private events, fashion show, weddings, etc. The Seattle Center location would be expected to increase the attractiveness of the gallery for these customers resulting in additional income. To account for the possible and likely change in positive net income we propose to offer a percentage of net income growth during the term of the lease. We want to see the Gallery thrive, grow and maintain a healthy financial status. As a nonprofit all volunteer organization we do not have a need for large financial assets. We see securing an ideal location, such as the Seattle Center, provides the best opportunity to promote the cultural and community values of A/NT Gallery. E. Meeting the Seattle Center Purpose Statement and Three Primary Goals A/NT Gallery has served public use, by open figure drawing sessions with live models for one. These sessions are purposely set at a low rate ($8.00-$10.00 per 3 hour session) to encourage art students. The running of the gallery is done by anyone who wishes to volunteer. As a result art students or art enthusiasts get a behind the scenes of how to run a gallery. The gallery is currently open 5 days a week (Weds-Sun 11am-6pm), to everyone, at no cost. We also give an opening night event for each new monthly show. The artist members provide food, drinks, music and are available for questions, this event is also completely free, and is completely open to the public. Our artist donate the refreshments and time and the gallery invites and pays for a local musician to play live. And of course the hanging space is open to all artist to hang. All the parts of this gallery are set up with the idea of public use. We work very hard to keep hanging fees at a minimum, an un-censured art environment, so everyone can be involved. In regards to our relationship to the Seattle Center Purpose Statement we are a lovely fit. What can delight and inspire the human spirt more than art? And more over a gallery dedicated purely to the

artists? What better way to build our community, the Seattle community that has been so art driven for so long, then to say here, at the heart of our city we are providing a place for any and every one to showcase their art. The human spirt needs expression and expression through art is the best and healthiest way to do so, and even better if a spirt can feel it is heard. Our gallery is that platform. As we understand it the Seattle Center has in recent years created an artists at play area. These children want to be artist right? So let s show them what that means, we could even have a Meet the Artist Day just for the kids, volunteer artist can come for a day and talk to the artist at play after all what we are any way! A/NT being non-profit and always motivated by keeping it accessible to everyone does not roll in the cash. That has just about the lowest, if not the lowest gallery commission in Seattle (10%). We are all about supporting the artist. With this said we have been open and operating for over a quarter of a century, that alone shows we are here to stay, we have stability because the artist are dedicated to the cause. Not every year will look great on paper, but we have a strong family of artists and a wide net of supporters. This gallery has already stood a test of time and we have done a lot to prove we here to stay. The Seattle Center has wonderful performing arts centers, the jewel of the Chihuly Garden and Glass Center and most recently Artists at Play. What would be a more appropriate addition than a community art gallery? F. Proposed project schedule Assuming a January 1 st 2016 move in date the month of January would entail the following; Clean up and preparation of the facility. Walls need to be made hang ready with clean, flat wall board if possible. Brick walls or other hard surface need to have adaptations for hanging (wire mesh or vertical hangers) installed. Move lights, equipment and furniture to Seattle Center location. This should fit in one large box truck. The gallery space is necessarily open and free to allow the art to be easily accessed by the public. Installing lights, phones, computing, and exterior signage. G. Working with Seattle Center The A/NT Gallery is excited to work with Seattle Center Management, our fellow tenants and the public. The gallery is governed by our board of directors. The board will establish a Seattle Center Liaison who will be the focal point of communications with the Center. We would welcome the chance to have our gallery included on the Seattle Center website and in the promotional materials. The digital reader board will provide an opportunity to advertise our monthly events and special exhibits. H. Financial Condition See attached profit and loss statement for the years 2013 through 2015

Addendum for nonprofit long term lease The rent amount offered by A/NT is composed of cash in the amount of $1,500.00 per month and $1,500.00 worth of in-kind services. The in-kind services are abundant in our all-volunteer organization. The most easily itemized, dollarized and tracked in-kind would be our volunteers who man the gallery during open ours, five days a week, 39 hours a week the average number of hours per month is 169 (39X4.33). At a representative rate of pay for reception, $12.00 per hour, this is an in-kind of over $2,000.00. We would love to include all of our in-kind. As an all-volunteer organization this would easily result in a dollar figure of 3,500.00 and probably much more.