Centrum steps up after Fort Worden Hospitality falters

Arts organization commits to feeding, housing its clients

By James Robinson
Posted 1/29/25

 

 

There is good news for people who need to plan ahead in order to enjoy Fiddle Tunes, Jazz Port Townsend, Acoustic Blues and other events put on by Centrum at Fort Worden. …

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Centrum steps up after Fort Worden Hospitality falters

Arts organization commits to feeding, housing its clients

Posted

 

 

There is good news for people who need to plan ahead in order to enjoy Fiddle Tunes, Jazz Port Townsend, Acoustic Blues and other events put on by Centrum at Fort Worden.    

Centrum executives announced on Jan. 25 the organization will move forward with its 2025 programming season following successful and ongoing negotiations with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks).   

“Our commitment to fostering artistic community remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to an inspiring year ahead,” said Robert Birman, Centrum’s executive director. “The board and I are humbled by the volume of calls from the community wanting to help ensure that Centrum’s programs remain viable this year. Undoubtedly, we need to come together to make it happen.”

The news comes after the Jan. 16 shutdown of Fort Worden Hospitality (Hospitality) jeopardized Centrum’s ability to feed and house its guests, and marks a bright spot for the beleaguered park and the recent events surrounding the Fort Worden Public Development Authority’s descent into insolvency and a court ordered receivership.

“It is easy to imagine that the need for our style of community programming — one that nurtures creativity in an environment that is supportive, challenging and uplifting — will be as important than ever this year.” Birman said.

Following the announcement of Hospitality’s closure, Birman and his board entered into expedited discussions with State Parks on how Centrum might use park facilities to take care of its guests.

“Centrum’s discussions with parks is ongoing, it isn’t fully resolved,” Birman said. “But the Board and I have enough confidence based on our 52-year working relationship with parks staff that we are moving to open registration for our programs this Friday, January 31.” Centrum plans to hold its customer’s payments “in reserve until all of the details are formally ironed out.”

Birman said that Centrum will create housekeeping and food solutions for its guests without widening the service to include all visitors. He said they were “confident” they can do that with Centrum’s programs. However, hospitality “is not our core business, and we do not have the interest or ability to replace Fort Worden Hospitality.”

Birman said Centrum has 15 weeks of its own programs to support. 

“It is our expectation that — perhaps in 2026 — Washington State Parks will identify a commercial hospitality provider to provide food and lodging services for the public, as well as for Centrum,” Birman said.

In the interim, Birman said Centrum plans to offer a limited, six-month contract for a “handful of personnel — most of whom we have already identified based on input from experts in our community—to oversee our independent food and housekeeping needs in 2025.”

Birman said he anticipates Centrum workshop attendees will be able to access cafeteria-style meals during program weeks, with the the possibility of food trucks and beverage carts available to the public for ticketed events at the McCurdy Pavilion, subject to approvals from State Parks.

According to Centrum staff, registration for programs such as, Fiddle Tunes, Jazz Port Townsend, Acoustic Blues, and the Port Townsend Writers Conference will open on Friday, January 31. Ticket sales for Centrum’s popular Spring Concert Series, featuring performances from Brazilian Choro, Red Hot Strings, and the Ukulele Festival, will open on February 7.

Centrum is a nonprofit arts organization based in Port Townsend. In 2024, Centrum served more than 10,400 audience members, 23,470 visitors, 1,600 workshop participants via 14 weeklong residential workshops, 48 public events, and 118 artist residencies.