Carriage House Activation

In June 2025, after two years of relationship-building and strategic negotiations, Indigenous Creatives Collective proudly announced the purchase of the historic Carriage House adjacent to our existing 2-acre greenspace and brick home we operate from in our beloved Rainier Beach neighborhood. This milestone marks a powerful "Land Back" victory, restoring land to Indigenous stewardship and advancing our vision of a vibrant Indigenous arts center rooted in community care.

The combined properties feature two connected, century-old structures, previously a carriage house and living space for workers. We envision these buildings becoming artist co-working and maker spaces, with a library and non-traditional gallery, serving Indigenous creatives at every stage of their creative journeys while honoring the stories of the working-class lives that once occupied them. The site’s location next to our current site will facilitate an accessible entrance to our greenhouse, currently being rebuilt.

This strategic acquisition completes the third phase of our land and property growth, enabling us to plan for the future and expand our programs without developing forested space. It allows us to restore and repurpose the structures, standing as monuments to the history of community labor, rather than demolish them.

"We plan to repair the 125-year-old structures that might otherwise have been torn down. The caretakers who once lived in those houses tended the 1.5 acres of land next door that our organization is currently restoring. They planted extensive gardens, grew food in the greenhouse, built beautiful ponds, and cooked on a still-standing fireplace by the creek — it feels right that the two sites should be reunited again," says Asia Tail, Executive Director of Indigenous Creatives Collective. 

Our vision is clear: To build an Indigenous Arts Center that celebrates Indigenous creatives, land rematriation, and community well-being. The site will serve as a living testament to Indigenous presence, creativity, and resilience, an enduring gift for future generations.

You can view drone footage of the Carriage House here.