From hosting readings and open mic nights to offering various writing workshops for all ages, the Redmond Association of Spokenword (RASP) has given poets and other writers a forum to read and share their work and receive feedback.

The organization has been promoting the literary arts on the Eastside for nearly 20 years since its inception in 1997. But come next week, RASP will be blending its work with the visual arts as it moves into its new location at the VALA Art Center & Studios at 7330 164th Ave. N.E. in Redmond Town Center (RTC).

“This is the perfect opportunity to blend our written and spoken art with the visual arts,” said RASP President Michael Heavener. “It’s exciting to be surrounded by art that inspires our imagination and creativity. We’ve wanted to partner with VALA for a long time.”

VALA will be RASP’s new home for its monthly reading events, which are free and held on the last Friday of the month. The events are a mix of poets, novelists and nonfiction writers, and everyone is welcome. Readings usually have a featured reader, followed by an open mic session during which people can share their work. Sign-ups for the open mic start at 6:30 p.m. and the readings begin at 7 p.m.

For many years, readings were held at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. Jan. 29 will be the first reading at RASP’s new location.

“It benefits both of us really nicely,” said RASP board member Michael Welch about the change.

Jessica Lambert, founder and executive director for VALA Eastside, agreed.

“We are very excited at VALA to share space and programming with RASP,” she said. “This partnership has been a long time coming and makes sense on so many levels.”

Welch said now that RASP will be at VALA in RTC, they are hopeful that they will attract more traffic. In addition to building their audience, he said RASP can also help build VALA’s audience as many of RASP’s audience members are not familiar with VALA.

Lambert added, “We know that sharing audiences and venue, the exchange of creative ideas and working side by side will be beneficial to both our organizations and our artistic community.”

With this new partnership, Welch said they also hope to broaden the type of programming they offer. For example, they are looking into holding a wine tasting alongside their reading event in April.

“That should be a lot of fun,” he said.

Welch, who served two terms as poet laureate for the City of Redmond, is the curator for RASP’s monthly readings, meaning — with input from other board members — he is responsible for bringing in the featured readers for the event.

Next week’s featured reader will be Kenmore poet Chris Jarmick, who is also looking forward to RASP’s new location.

“It’s really exciting, I think, that they are moving to the new space,” he said.

Jarmick said the new location at the town center is easier to get to and it will be good to be surrounded by art.

Next week’s reading will be from 6-9 p.m. at the VALA Art Center & Studios, with a special kick-off event at 6 p.m.

In addition to its monthly readings, Heavener said RASP holds a Poetry & Prose Circle from 6:30-8:45 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the Redmond Regional Library at 15990 N.E. 85th St. in downtown. Writers can share their work and they occasionally write to prompts provided by the facilitator.

RASP has also hosted a Poets in the Park event twice, held writing workshops for teens and special readings for events such as the release of its first-ever anthology a few years ago. Heavener said they also try to stay in sync and offer activities that align with events such as Poetry Month, Haiku Month and National Novel Writing Month.

Despite its name, Heavener said RASP is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of where they’re from. He said the all-volunteer organization does not require any sort of membership and people can attend events and participate as they are able and willing to. Their demographics, Heavener said, range from teens to seniors in their 80s.

“And then there are those of us who are in between,” he said.

In addition to the wide range in ages, RASP participants also come from varied backgrounds, including military veterans, a presbyterian priest, Microsoft employees and teachers.

For more information about RASP, visit www.raspread.com.