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In 2007, the Arizona Daily Star described Skrappy’s as a “teen haven.”
Skrappy’s was a music venue, sure, but it was far more than that. Skrappy’s, founded in 1995, was a downtown third space for every teen and young adult who walked through the doors.
It was a spot to listen to music, to dance, to make new friends. It was a spot to seek refuge, connect with important resources, join a support group, take a class. It was a spot to find community.
About two decades later, Skrappy’s opened and closed its doors for the very last time, leaving a noticeable gap in Tucson’s youth arts scene.
In 2019, years after Skrappy’s shuttered, Tucson native Logan Greene helped create a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a brick-and-mortar that we’d come to know as Groundworks. And just as the nonprofit youth-driven arts center was ready to open, the pandemic interrupted every little plan.
Like everyone in the world had to, the team pivoted. Groundworks switched to virtual programming until opening a physical space at 2919 E. Grant Rd. in late 2021.
Groundworks is the only music venue in Tucson that is for all ages all the time. While everyone is welcome to attend a show or participate in the programming, the space is specifically designed for youth ages 14-24. The nonprofit’s mission puts a needed spotlight on young artists, which includes providing a space for musicians who have never played a show before.
But similar to Skrappy’s, Groundworks is a lot more than a music venue.
“I wish people knew a lot more about our other programs — not just the live music side, but our art side and our zines,” says Elle, who is a volunteer at Groundworks.
Beyond the live music, Groundworks is home to an instrument library, a recording studio, music lessons, an art gallery and a collection of more than 500 zines. While you can come and simply hang out, the calendar is filled with at least two live shows each week, plus jam sessions, movie nights, crafting socials, artisan markets, zine workshops and more. And for the ticketed shows, no one is turned away for a lack of funds.
The emphasis on the arts is evident everywhere you look. It’s in the murals that cover nearly every inch of nearly every wall, it’s in the sound of strumming guitars as you walk in, it’s in the tiny DVD library tucked into a hallway corner. The space is a little bit punk, a little bit alternative, a little bit DIY — and definitely built with a whole lot of love.
“This is important because I feel like having a space like this for youth who want to create art or come into the music space and do a show — it means you can foster a lot more creativity,” Elle says. “Having the resources here that we do — to have people see your zines that you create or to have the resources to create art and such — it helps youth to be able to foster that creativity.”
Elle got involved with Groundworks because of their love for music. Jason, another volunteer, joined the team last year after hearing Logan talk about the space in a piece by Arizona Illustrated.
“I came to Tucson after 20 years in Seattle,” Jason says. “Seattle has The Vera Project which is a hyper-charged version of this. I knew how important it was to have a space like this for youth.”
Jason is a big fan of the events hosted by Groundworks, most notably a fundraiser that took place this spring at Hotel Congress. Elle’s favorite part of Groundworks is simply being able to show up and exist with community — but the music’s not so bad either.
“I especially like live music, mainly because it’s a different experience than just listening to music (not live),” Elle says. “When you’re listening to music, you’re thinking about how the music works and how it makes you feel. With live music, it’s a lot less about the actual music and about the show that the band is putting on for you. There’s music in the background, but it’s about what they’re doing on stage and what the crowd is doing. It’s like a play happening in front of you.”
🎶 Groundworks is located at 2919 E. Grant Rd. Find more information here. 🎨
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