Madrona MindBody Institute (Madrona) and Centrum, two prominent organizations at Fort Worden’s Lifelong Learning Center, have established a formal understanding to expand their current programming efforts, develop new collaborative initiatives, and share program resources. Together, the two organizations host classes, immersive workshops, trainings, retreats and special events across a broad spectrum of creative and moving arts including dance, yoga, mindful movement, music, writing and creative aging.

The expanded relationship began in October, with Madrona hosting two Centrum Emerging Artists in residence for the full month in two of its creative spaces at Building #310 on the Fort Worden campus. Beginning in November, Centrum and Madrona will begin to more broadly share the iconic Madrona building for programming, classes, events and administrative space.

Centrum and Madrona have partnered in the past, but this new alliance is designed to capitalize on each other’s strengths for greater impact locally, nationally and internationally. This in turn will help support Fort Worden and Port Townsend’s creative economies. Robert Birman, Executive Director of Centrum, and Aletia Alvarez, co-founder and co-owner of Madrona, cite each organization’s focus on inspiring experiences that change lives as the nexus of this expanded relationship.

“For 14 years Madrona MindBody has been a sanctuary for conscious living and the moving arts,” says Alvarez, “and we have created a broad community of people – both locally and around the world – whose lives have been enriched through wellness and mindful movement. We see that same curiosity, joy and creative expansiveness in Centrum’s mission and its students.”

Centrum’s Birman echoed the synergies of the two organizations. “Whether it’s a Centrum attendee at Fiddle Tunes, an Artist-in-Residence given precious time, space and inspiration to develop innovative work, an attendee of our Creative Aging Conference, or a high-school dancer, each is here on the unique Fort Worden campus for personal enrichment, creative expression and a life-changing experience.”

Madrona is a locally loved and internationally renowned mindful movement and conscious living institute. In addition to local classes in conscious dance, yoga, Pilates, Spin and Nia fusion fitness, Madrona has built a reputation for its workshops, retreats and training programs that bring participants from around the world.

In addition to Alvarez, Madrona is co-owned by Anneli Molin-Skelton and Renee Klein. Together the partners have made numerous adjustments to their business throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and continued to offer both online and in-person movement and wellness classes to keep people healthy during the extremely challenging past six months.

For the past 47 years, Centrum has brought together aspiring and master artists in traditional and evolving arts to ignite creativity, find and provide mentorship and build community. Their programs, offered for a diverse array of learners from youth to seniors, foster creative arts experiences that change lives.

Centrum will plan to announce new residency opportunities for this space in early 2021. Collaborative programs will be announced as they are confirmed.

For more information on Centrum’s extensive artist-in-residence program, click here.

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