Residency Program Announcement

Two Seattle Arts Organizations Join Forces to Announce A One-of-a-Kind Urban Residency Program for Artists & Writers

Friends of both organizations celebrate the partnership in front of the El Rey Building in Belltown.

We are pleased to announce a collaborative partnership with Common AREA Maintenance (CAM) and the Clarion West Writers Workshop (CW) to advance development and long-term usage of the El Rey Building — a previously abandoned 30,000 square foot building in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.

After successfully leading a campaign to acquire the building last year, CAM seeks to establish a long-term, affordable space for artist residencies, classes, and other events which supports both Seattle’s creative community and both organizations’ missions.

CW and CAM together are developing a residency model which will support multiple artists and writers year-round. The intended residency framework prioritizes sliding scale rates and supporting larger cohorts, allowing artists a distraction-free space to hone their craft, share their work, and collaborate.

This partnership is especially important for CW’s renowned Six-Week Workshop, as it will provide a long-term, sustainable location that is in-person, affordable, and fully ADA-accessible. To kickstart this new partnership, CW is making a $100,000 donation to support the necessary building renovations. The funds come through a 2019 bequest made by the organization’s founder, award-winning author Vonda N. McIntyre.

As of this press release, CAM is launching a $1 million fundraising campaign to support the development, renovation, and long-term stability of El Rey. Donations or pledges in any amount will help move the project forward. Learn more about the project and make your pledge or donation here.

Join both organizations as they sign their MOU and Clarion West presents their $100,000 on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 at 5pm! The celebration of this event will be held at Common AREA Maintenance, located at 2125 2nd Avenue. RSVP here.

About Clarion West

The Clarion West Writers Workshop has been held annually in Seattle, WA, since 1984. With over 700 graduates from the Six-Week Summer Workshop, Clarion West has been a significant actor in helping the careers of speculative fiction writers, including women and other writers who have been traditionally underrepresented in the field. Clarion West provides year-round programs to over 1,500 writers annually.

Learn more here: https://www.clarionwest.org

About Common AREA Maintenance

Common AREA Maintenance is an artist led nonprofit in downtown Seattle. We operate art studios, a Risograph print shop, woodshop, bookstore, and performance space, supporting artists and cultural workers through collective resources, and public programming.

We host workshops, exhibitions, and public gatherings year round while developing affordable housing and cultural infrastructure for artists and nonprofit partners.

Learn more here: https://www.camseattle.org/el-rey