Base Strategic Plan 2026 - 2030
A Road Map for the Next Five Years
Photo of Julia Sloane by Michelle Smith-Lewis
Since 2016, Base has grown from a small artist-run space into an increasingly vital home for experimentation, research, performance and creative exchange. In the planning for the last two years, our 2026 - 2030 strategic road map describes where we're headed next.
At core, our goal is to deepen what we do well. We’ll create more opportunities for artists, offer more programs for audiences, nurture our community connections, and build the organizational capacity, infrastructure and financial strength to sustain our work into the future.
With community support through the Flourish campaign, some of these priorities are already underway; others will take longer to develop. Because Base is a living, growing organization, the conversation around this road map will continue as the plan itself evolves.
Our Priorities
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Expand and deepen Base's residency program, increasing opportunities for artists to experiment, develop new work, and engage in meaningful creative exchange.
We'll focus on:
expanding the number and range of residencies
increasing the range and type of support resident artists receive
exploring partnership-based, interdisciplinary and collaborative residency models
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Build on the programs that have become part of Base's identity while creating and refining new opportunities for artists and audiences to encounter experimental work.
We'll focus on:
strengthening 12 Minutes Max through partnership with On the Boards
building and refining new recurring programs—Pairings, Base + Radar and Jump / Cut
continuing to explore cross-disciplinary projects, screenings, collaborations and platforms for creative growth and critical dialogue
studying the feasibility of larger projects as capacity allows
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Grow Base's audience and deepen our connections across—and beyond—Seattle while continuing to nurture the artist community at the heart of Base.
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We'll focus on:
pursuing new grants and business partnerships
continuing to build a thriving community of supporters
developing mission-aligned earned-income opportunities
maintaining thoughtful, forward-thinking financial planning and oversight
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Build the staffing, leadership, governance, and internal infrastructure that Base needs for its next phase.
We'll focus on:
increasing staff hours and compensation toward sustainable levels
strengthening leadership capacity
clarifying roles and decision-making
growing the board's expertise and connections
investing in staff development
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Continue improving Base's Georgetown home while exploring what additional space or locations might make possible.
We'll focus on:
improving access, wayfinding, and functionality
building the technical capacity of our space
exploring additional space
We’re on our way
Since embarking on this strategic planning process in 2024, Base has already begun moving in the directions laid out in this road map. A few examples:
More residencies.
Base is already expanding the number and range of artists it supports through its residency program.
More public-facing work.
Base is developing new programs—like Pairings and Jump / Cut—and partnerships—like Base + Radar—as well as strengthening established programs such as 12 Minutes Max by partnering with On the Boards.
More organizational capacity.
Base is already investing in staff, marketing, development, and leadership capacity.
More connection.
Base is actively listening to artists and audiences and exploring how the organization can be more connected and responsive to artists’ needs.
Stay connected
A five-year road map gives us direction, but not instructions for every turn. As we head into the future, we'll continue to learn from the artists, audiences, partners, staff, board members and community members who shape Base.
Have thoughts about where Base is headed? We'd love to hear from you.