The group now known as The Artery has its origins in a series of meetings in April of 1999, when a select group of veteran Seattle artists and artistic staff came together to discuss the crisis of the region’s mid-sized theater scene. Was there a way, they asked, for such recent closures as the Bathhouse, the Group, AHA!, and Centerstage Theaters to be avoided? How could the gap between Seattle’s professional Equity theaters and its vital fringe scene be filled?

Soon an idea presented itself to the group, in which a collection of established and acclaimed small theater companies could come together as a collective, and own and operate one or more theater spaces together. As the core members began to discuss this idea with funders, politicians, administrators, and most significantly artists, they found the response to the idea was overwhelmingly positive.

As additional services and goals were discussed, it soon became clear that The Artery was not just a smart solution to a local problem: it was an innovative model which could eventually serve as an inspiration to other groups on the local, state, and national scene.

Since our first general meeting with our member companies in July of 1999, the initial core members of The Artery have named themselves "The Steering Committee,” taking input from the member organizations that we represent and working to turn ideas into policy and words into action.