Vashon Island
Vashon Artist Residency is located on the traditional homeland of the Puyallup, Spuyalpabš, or S’Puyalupubsh—members of the Coast Salish tribes. We are grateful for their continued stewardship of this remarkable place.
The half-acre residency property sits on the waterfront of Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island in Washington State. This quiet harbor is home to a vibrant ecosystem of birds, fish, seaweeds, and other marine and terrestrial life. Just a short walk down the beach, you’ll find a public lagoon where you can observe ducks, starfish, and the shifting tides.
Vashon Island, roughly the length of Manhattan (13.4 miles), has a population of just over 10,000. It is a short ferry ride from Seattle to the north and Tacoma to the south. Located in the heart of the Salish Sea, the island offers views of the Cascade Mountains to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west. The Island has many trails and parks so everyone can enjoy the natural beauty. Temperatures are moderate year-round, with frequent cloud cover in fall and winter.
Despite its slower, friendlier pace compared to the mainland, Vashon offers a range of local amenities just a few miles from the residency. These include a public library, historical museum, grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, coffee shops, a movie theater, arts centers, a post office, bookstore, tool library, and hardware stores. The island also has a vibrant arts community and many active nonprofit organizations offering community support and resources.