The Coop began with Chris Anderson’s 2006 invitation to fellow Vashon musicians to gather and make music in a building on his property: a cedar-clad, worn-out cabinet shop filled with dust and neglect. Soon after, artists, poets, architects, former NASA scientists, social workers, chefs, and teachers began to gravitate toward The Coop as a place to perform or to be entertained or (most of the time) both. 

 

By opening up The Coop to the community, people of different backgrounds (economic, social, cultural) who might not have ever connected with each other came together. Every community needs one of these: a welcoming place where people gather, meet new people, and experience creativity. 

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All these years later, it is thriving as a community venue for music performance and artistic expression. The Coop has radically transformed since 2006: it now has three stages (one indoor and two outdoor), professional lighting, a vast array of musical equipment, and onsite parking. Over the years, we have hosted musical concerts, music and art workshops, life celebrations, milestone birthdays, retirement celebrations, board retreats, teacher staff parties, weddings, and community fundraisers.