Washougal couple launch effort to bring performing arts venue to city’s downtown

In late 2022, Christopher and Stephanie Corbell launched the Washougal Songcraft Festival, a nonprofit organization that strives to foster, share and celebrate the craft of songwriting and develop the performing arts and creative community of Washougal and the surrounding region through “song circle” events and an annual music festival.

The Washougal residents said they have enjoyed their relationship with local businesses that have hosted their initial events, but are now searching for a place that would not only host their performances, but others as well, on a permanent basis.

The Corbells have launched an effort to bring a small performing arts center to downtown Washougal.

“We want to really further build our economy here in Camas and Washougal because there’s quite a buzz happening here,” Stephanie told the Post-Record in 2022. “During the pandemic, our population rose so much, and houses are going in like hotcakes. Our community is already on the up-and-up of thriving, and what do people want? People want to go see plays, people want to hear live music, they want to have community.”

Stephanie and Christopher perform as a mystic-folk duo named Raven Fables. Christopher previously served as volunteer executive director of Classical Revolution PDX, a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to enriching and educating Portland metropolitan area residents by making classical music accessible to the public, and founded Cult of Orpheus, an independent vocal music and opera group.

“I understand as a small arts producer how expensive it can be to produce a show,” Christopher told the Post-Record earlier this month. “A small venue with maybe 75 seats or 150 seats (would) let local groups produce shows, whether it’s a theater or a musician or a presenter or anything like that. A 1,200-seat venue is just too big for most of that small, homegrown grassroots culture.”

The Corbells are looking to house their venue in a new or existing building in or within walking distance of downtown Washougal.

“As an economic driver, having a venue close to the Main Street area is really a huge win,” Christopher said. “A venue is an amplifier of spending, because, unlike some other kinds of shops where you just go in and buy something, if you’re going out to a show, you’re going to go to other businesses in the downtown area, too. I think it just makes all kinds of sense from an economic standpoint. And also, I think having a cultural identity is important for a city, and that comes from creative expression that’s local and shared.

“And for me, personally, (downtown) is the ideal spot. When I go to a show, I want to go out to the restaurant beforehand or whatever. And also, Main Street can get you away from driving culture. That’s one thing that I really loved about some of the other places I’ve lived, not only in Portland neighborhoods, but Astoria, (Oregon), as well. You could walk everywhere you needed to get to for culture and for shopping and stuff like that. Starting to revitalize that downtown area in Washougal seems like a win.”

The Corbells are confident that Washougal could support a performing arts center.

“People don’t realize that Washougal is a small town, but it’s not really as small as it looks,” Christopher said. “I’ve done a lot of research into other small towns in Washington and in Oregon that are smaller, and sometimes much smaller, than Washougal, and have performing arts centers. I definitely think we have the demographic here to support a venue.”