Cornish College of the Arts sells Kerry Hall to Seattle Theatre Group

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Cornish College of the Arts sells Kerry Hall to Seattle Theatre Group

November 25, 2024

Nov. 25, 2024

STG plans educational, performance programs for iconic Capitol Hill building.

SEATTLE, WA — Cornish College of the Arts, the Pacific Northwest’s premier performing and visual arts college, has sold Kerry Hall to nonprofit arts organization Seattle Theatre Group (STG). The building, located at 710 E. Roy St., in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, was built in 1921 and was the home of Nellie Cornish, the college’s founder.

“We are thrilled to be able to turn this special space over to Seattle Theatre Group, one of Seattle’s most respected arts institutions,” said Cornish Interim President Emily Parkhurst. “It was important to the Board of Trustees that the building remain in the arts community, and that our founder, Nellie Cornish’s legacy be honored. We see this outcome as the best-case scenario and look forward to partnering with STG on performances and educational opportunities at Kerry Hall for many years to come.”

STG, which operates and stewards the historic Paramount, Moore and Neptune Theaters and an outdoor venue at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, will use the building to grow and expand its community-centered arts programming. STG looks forward to sharing a detailed business plan in the new year.

“Kerry Hall has fostered immeasurable creativity and innovation in the arts for close to 100 years, and I’m proud that STG will continue Cornish’s legacy,” said Marisol Sanchez Best, STG’s Director of Education and Community Engagement. “We look forward to how our acquisition of this physical space will allow us to welcome the community through its doors and continue to create accessible and inspiring arts opportunities in Seattle.”

The college has transitioned all dance and music programs from Kerry Hall to the Main Campus Center and other buildings in the Denny Way and Boren Avenue area of South Lake Union, as well as the Cornish Playhouse in Seattle Center. Kerry Hall was the last Cornish building on Capitol Hill and the sale completes the college’s unification efforts first outlined in a master plan in 1996. Proceeds from the sale will support the financial stability of the institution as well as to support operations, allowing the college to continue to grow.

Kerry Hall is a 31,900-square-foot building and has been continuously occupied by Cornish since its construction. The building, nestled in the Harvard Belmont Landmark District, exudes a timeless architectural charm with its white façade and classical design elements. Inside, it houses classrooms, studios, rehearsal spaces and a large performance venue. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Cornish College of the Arts is a nonprofit college in the heart of downtown Seattle, offering a range of undergraduate degrees in the fine arts, including music, theater, visual art, animation, game arts, dance, and design, among others. Its mission is to provide students aspiring to become practicing artists with an educational program of the highest possible quality, in an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual curiosity, while preparing them to contribute to society as artists, citizens and innovators.

Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is a nonprofit arts organization and independent event promoter that operates and stewards the historic Paramount, Moore, and Neptune theatres in Seattle and an outdoor venue at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington. Every year, STG presents over 850 events that range from concerts of all genres, comedy and podcast shows, speakers, dance performances, and touring Broadway musicals with its Broadway at the Paramount series, serving a diverse community of nearly one million attendees from all over the Pacific Northwest. STG’s flagship Education and Community Engagement Program is at the heart of its mission, serving over 40,000 students and community members through more than 500 events annually. These programs, which are largely at no cost to participants, provide opportunities to engage with artists, inspire youth and local artists through training and performance opportunities, and provide access to the arts through access initiatives. These programs deepen the significance of performances presented at STG venues. STG is also the producer of THING, an annual music and arts festival that was founded by Adam Zacks, STG’s Chief Programming Officer and creator of the Sasquatch! Music Festival. THING is an eclectic, all ages experience that celebrates a diverse lineup of local to international musical acts, comedians, and podcasts, and features community workshops and performances from participants in STG’s varying Education and Community Engagement programs.