Asylum — Attraction in Seattle

Asylum Collective shouldn't advertise as an art collective, it's a dirty basement. They could easily afford new track lighting ($128-$628), to clean and make studio spaces for their persistently advertised artist residencies (they've been promoting this since 2023 ($40-$230)), or add safety/outdoor lighting for the dangerous staircase down to the door ($35-$62). This organization doesn't seem capable, organized, lest alone forthright about the fact they're just a dirty basement, not a clean studio, community, artist or event space. If they're charging $7-$80 per person for event entry or workshop, and have at least 10 people at events, they have more than enough income to make some necessary changes...I appreciate payroll and rent can be incredibly expensive in Seattle, especially for a grassroots organization, but are basic operating costs not covered by grant funding? As a permanently disabled transgender artist with 8 years of professional experience in nonprofit gallery management and curation, whose vended at Asylum Collective 11+ times, I'm not convinced they know how to operate a non-profit art space. The owner has introduced herself to me on 8 separate occasions, I know I'm disabled but I'm not that unmemorable. Maybe a bunch of 20-something able-bodied white saviors don't have it all figured out, especially not effectively running an art collective. I've never participated in an art collective with so little art and so many sad parties. Throwing dance events for the same people with the same two DJs isn't an art collective. Changing their Art Walk event to another monotonous 4 hour dance party is a perfect example of how Asylum Collective is here to serve themselves (the handful of people who are employed by the organization) not Pioneer Square artists, not community, not anything they like to advertise, but they'll gladly take your cash. Asylum Collective is incompetent, disrespectful joke. Don't support them and consider donating to the local Seattle artists (usually disabled)...

The mission/vision for this space is what drew me in. NOTAFLOF tix & affordable drinks, we love. As with many queer spaces in Seattle, there wasn't a very racially diverse crowd at the events I attended. It was felt. We were misgendered at the door and in big 2025, at a space that advertises inclusion for nb/trans ppl, it was jarring. Everyone makes mistakes, though. Music was great at times, but overall, just ok for the majority of the night. The events end pretty early, around 12ish. It's warm in there, but I don't mind getting sweaty in a basement! Bring a fan & cool clothes & you'll do great. Flash tattoos were super cute but be prepared to pay $60+ for one. If you fit in with the Seattle queer "standard" you'll have a wonderful time, I'm sure.

EDIT AFTER OWNER RESPONSE I have been to queer Seattle nighttime events that were majority BIPOC attendance. I've felt incredibly comfortable & included within these spaces. It definitely can be and has been done. You are right, I do not feel obligated to give Asylum suggestions as it's not my job as a queer, brown, former- patron, to put in that labor. I do enjoy trying new events/venues but will not be returning to Asylum in the future....

We went to the “Killer Klowns from Outer Space Rave”. Nothing but false advertising. There were no decorations or anything relevant to the movie. It seems like they used the title to get people in the door and nothing else. There was an advertised haunted house, face painting and glow in the dark drinks- none of which were there. The tarot card reading was a crying lady in who kept telling people to go away. Every one of the staff members looked miserable. The tattoos was a lady in a dirty corner with VERY unsanitary conditions and a ridiculously long wait list. They made us wait outside in the rain for 20 minutes because they were “full” and they weren’t even full when we got downstairs. They had one single stall bathroom which we waited in line for over an hour for. The “bar” was a guy in a selling lukewarm off brand white claws and wine. This event was nothing like it was marketed as and felt like a crappy high school...