Workshop Housing Information

In 2024, Clarion West is hosting the Six-Week Workshop at the University of Washington, which will give our students plenty of opportunities to work in nearby coffee shops, visit the rest of Seattle easily by light rail, and try out lots of dining options. This location is ADA accessible. More information about housing is available in our FAQ.

Clarion West has committed to hosting the 2024 workshop at this location without exception, however our fundraising goal of $84,000 is critical for the ongoing success and sustainability of our work.

Full Facility Expenses and Tuition

For the 2024 Workshop, Clarion West will be raising our in-person tuition from $4,800 to $5,200 due to the rising cost of housing in Seattle. This is the absolute highest that the organization is comfortable with raising tuition this year. However, tuition and scholarships will not pay for the full-expenses of an in-person workshop in 2024. The organization has taken on the task of raising the additional $82,000 necessary to host the workshop in Seattle. 

Worried about tuition and the costs of attending? Read more about scholarships here. In recent years, up to 94% of our class has received scholarship aid. At the time of publication, we have ten full tuition scholarships and six named partial scholarships, and we’re actively seeking more.

Clarion West has a long history of partnering with universities and organizations in the Seattle area to house the Six-Week Workshop. As we’ve honed in on what our students need for their workshop experience and focused on affordability, equity, and accessibility, the number of potential partners has narrowed. Even before the pandemic, we couldn’t secure a long-term agreement for housing.

Since 2020, several of our area housing partners have closed or consolidated. The cost of dormitory housing has significantly increased and is unsustainable for the long-term. 

What can you do to help?

• Do you know anyone who manages student housing or hospitality accommodations in the greater Seattle area? We’d love to make some deeper connections!
• We are actively seeking partnerships with other nonprofit organizations in the greater Seattle area with similar missions. Please reach out if you are interested in partnerships or looking for similar housing opportunities. 
• Do you know a developer or city planner who is looking to anchor a new project with a core nonprofit tenant? Please connect us! 
• Are you an investor who is interested in student housing in Seattle? We’d love to be your long-term summer tennant. 
• Donations to the Clarion West general fund help the organization build capacity toward a future capital campaign. Please consider making a donation in any amount.
• If you have any further ideas or want to help in our search, please contact Marnee Chua at director@clarionwest.org.

Due to the ongoing nature of this search, Clarion West may alternate virtual and in-person programming each year.

Keep reading to get a comprehensive idea of what we’re looking for and the challenges we’ve identified.

Accessibility in Cost, ADA Requirements, and Location

The board and staff are committed to finding an appropriate housing partner that can rent to the organization within our budget, is located near public transit, and is either already ADA accessible or is willing to partner with Clarion West to update to accessible accommodations. 

At a minimum, a workshop location needs to meet the following criteria: 

• Accommodations for 19–20 guests to have their own bedrooms. A mix of shared and private bathrooms is preferred; 
• One or more common areas accessible to everyone for group meetings, study, and relaxation; 
• A classroom large enough for 22–23 people to sit comfortably around a table — within easy walking distance of student housing; 
• A common dining area and kitchen or dining hall large enough for up to 25 people, within easy walking distance of student housing; 
• Easy access to city-wide transit; 
• Walkable neighborhood with accommodations (a short walk to groceries, pharmacies, coffee shops, and other conveniences); 
• If facilities are not already ADA accessible, Clarion West has funds for accessible build-out and is interested in long-term partners that will work with us to build fully accessible facilities.

Moving Forward

Our 2021 and 2023 virtual workshops have proven to be just as effective as our in-person workshop at connecting students and instructors, as well as for creating amazing friendships and stories. There are a lot of benefits to running the Six-Week Workshop online — you can read accounts from members of the Class of 2023 here. Thus the possibility of holding the workshop virtually every other year or on a regular basis is very much under consideration. 

If you’d like to help us locate a future home for Clarion West and envision future programs more accessible to all: 

We continue to look for partners that can help secure a home for the Six-Week Workshop in Seattle as well as partners interested in developing programs that follow and enhance our Core Values.

We would love to make more connections and partnerships in the community. If you have an idea, or can offer help with this process, please reach out to Marnee Chua at director@clarionwest.org.