PTSW Joins Creative Partners In Signing New Leases At Fort Worden

Artist’s rendering of possible use of space at Fort Worden

Port Townsend School of Woodworking has just signed new 25-year leases for our spaces at Fort Worden under the new partnership model designed to ensure the long-term vitality of our programs as well as the buildings we occupy.

We’ve joined seven other organizations at the Fort – Centrum, Copper Canyon Press, Madrona MindBody Institute, Northwind Art, KPTZ Radio Port Townsend, Corvidae Press, and Rainshadow Recording – to form the Creative Alliance of Fort Worden. It’s not a new organization but rather a commitment made by each organization to advocate for our shared needs and values, collectively. 

As a team, we conducted negotiations with the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (PDA), providing groundbreaking long-term lease agreements for the cultural programming partners.  

Under the new leases, Creative Alliance members no longer pay rent, but we’re responsible for maintaining and renovating our facilities. We’re currently in the process of deciding whether we’ll stay in our current locations in Buildings 315 and 304, or move to different buildings. The new leases give all the partners flexibility to find the locations within Fort Worden that best suit our needs. 

“The vibrant organizations that provide amazing programs at Fort Worden are growing and are in need of more exhibition and classroom space,” said Heron Scott, executive director of PTSW. “We’re all ready to work for the common good.” 

Scott also served as the Creative Alliance’s liaison to the PDA.

“We believe the opportunity to leverage the collective scale and impact of our reach, influence, and public and private support will open new avenues for long-term capital investment in the campus and newfound philanthropy,” he said. “Our commitment will allow the PDA to focus on all the other needs outside of the cultural facilities, which are many. By working in true partnership, everyone wins.”

Centrum executive director Rob Birman called the new arrangement “historic.”

“Working in harmony with the new PDA, the State, and the City, we’re unified, committed to the future of Fort Worden, and stepping up to make significant capital investments in the state’s assets, and – by doing so – guarantee the possibility that the cultural programs and facilities that define this place, and our community of artists, will be here 50 to 100 years from now,” he said.  

In 2021, Centrum commissioned an independent analysis by Seattle-based MENG Analysis of the true costs to maintain and restore the arts and culture program buildings at Fort Worden. The analysis identified between $8.9 million and $13 million in immediate maintenance deficiencies as well as $4.8 million to $10.4 million in predicted renewals (renewals that take into account the life expectancy of internal systems like HVAC, fire alarms, and other systems) throughout the facilities. It will be up to PTSW and the other Creative Alliance partners to raise money for their share of building maintenance and renovation.