FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Make.Shift and WhAAM Rent Negotiations Fall Through, Continue to Search For a Space to Call Home

[WhAAM PR Department]

Make.Shift and WhAAM Rent Negotiations Fall Through, Continue to Search For a Space to Call Home

BELLINGHAM, WA (February 23, 2011) -- Make.Shift and WhAAM (Whatcom All-Ages Arts and Music) are asking the community to help us find a home for our new all-ages arts and music hub, after lease negotiations fell through last week at 111 Unity St. Building owners cited a lack of necessary time to rent the space.

The organizations have partnered to create the new space, which will include all-ages, drug- and alcohol-free concert space, affordable band practice space, a screen printing studio, resource library and more. In January, an online Make.Shift campaign to renovate the Unity St. building and support current programming raised more than $12,000 from more than 150 community members. 

"We want to assure our donors and the broader community that these contributions will still be used to create this amazing new resource, as soon as we find an appropriate space," said Make.Shift Director Cat Sieh. "We worked tirelessly to make 111 Unity ours, and the outcome is disappointing," she continued. "But the community has shown us that they want these programs, and we're eager to deliver."

Make.Shift and WhAAM are looking for a space between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet, located within or in close proximity to the downtown entertainment district. Ideally, the space will be zoned commercial and posses an assembly occupancy, but the groups are able to assist with any necessary renovations. 

"I really hope that a property owner comes forward who understands how important it is for the kids in this town to have the kind of healthy, creative space we're trying to make," said WhAAM President Amanda Kalkwarf. 

 

About Make.Shift: Make.Shift supports independent musicians through environmentally conscious programs.

About WhAAM: Whatcom All-Ages Arts and Music is committed to providing a safe, drug and alcohol free, all-ages space for Whatcom County youth to see live music. 

Press Contacts:

Cat Sieh
Make.Shift Driector
Cell: (510)499-0535
in...@makeshiftproject.com

Amanda Kalkwarf
WhAAM President
Cell: (360)715-8882 

 

# # #