"I'm not leaving Vera, I'm just not going to be its executive director," said Keblas, from his new digs at the City of Seattle. "I'm going to continue the personal relationship with all the stakeholders and foundations that fund us. I'll still be heading up the Drink for the Kids project in May, and I'll still be a primary person in figuring out the venue issue." (If you haven't heard yet, Vera's lease is up in February 2006. They're currently on the hunt for a new home. The search is going well. "We have a lot of opportunities," says Keblas, "we just have to figure out the best for Vera.")
As the director of the Film & Music Office, Keblas is now in the position to do even more amazing things for the city (as if cofounding Seattle's only city-sponsored all-ages music and art venue hasn't been enough).
"The mayor really sees film and music as an important economic generator in the city. It's my job to make sure if you're a musician, you can live in the city, to show that this is a good place to make films and be a filmmaker. If you own a business, I make your job easier. I'm a facilitator of what people want to do in film and music."
It's a great opportunity for Keblas, and of course he will always keep Vera's best interests in mind. "[My new position] raises the level of everything Vera's been about," says Keblas. "It puts me in a position to do even better things for the city. I feel like there's a bit of a changing of the guard in the city and that the people who have really been working hard for the past 10 years are now getting in positions to really make a difference."
As for Vera, it's being left in very good hands. Shannon Stewart will of course still be there, as will all of the volunteers and the board of directors. And in more exciting news, the legendary Kate Becker is temporarily returning from L.A. to help out as well.
"She's going to stabilize the organization and lead the hiring process," says Keblas.
"Vera's my baby," he adds. "It's something I started and something I wish I had when I was 17 years old. I still want to make sure that every kid in Seattle has Vera to go to. And Vera still has me."
With the good comes the bad: In other news, the residents of the University District's Punkin House are facing a big change of their own. Last week they found out that they have until May to be out of their current space, as their former landlord sold the house to new owners. Their last show will be April 3. MEGAN SELING
