The San Juan Islands - An Arts Destination for Everyone

We believe that the richness of artistic expression can help create a sustainable economy. We want to see San Juan County continue to grow as a destination for the arts and culture. The natural beauty of the islands is an environment that can bring out the best in the human spirit and its undeniable inspiration facilitates true artistic curiosity, inspiration, and expression.

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In a more practical sense we seek to be an umbrella arts organization serving the needs of our community for our artists and our existing artistic organizations in order to create better communication, collaboration, outreach, and unity. We feel that the arts and environment are a natural marriage to encourage, support, and share. To that end, we seek to inspire artistic education of our youth, celebrate the rich cultural heritage and artistic diversity of our community, and uplift the arts of the archipelago for all islanders and visitors.

 

"Where arts flourish, community prospers and lives are enriched."

 
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HISTORY

The San Juan County Arts Council started as a response to the economic crash in 2008. The Community Foundation gave a starting grant to get this organization "on board" with the over 400 other Art Councils around the country. This mission then and now was to help promote community and cultural sustainability. The arts council idea resonated with several task force groups and became a full-fledged organization in 2011. The San Juan Summer Arts Festival was founded in 2016 as the primary fundraiser for the SJCAC. In 2018 the SJCAC gave it’s first grant ever in the sum of $1000.00 to the Funhouse Commons on Orcas Island, WA. For more info and detailed history click here.

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Mission

The San Juan County Arts Council is a 501 (c) 3 organization that works to promote and integrate the artistic resources of the county for the creative economic development, education and overall well-being of the community. 

 

Arts council board of Directors

The Board consists of 7-13 volunteer members with representation from Lopez Island, Orcas Island, and San Juan Island.

Board meetings are open to the public and are held each month via conference call and quarterly on San Juan, Orcas or Lopez on a rotating basis. Times vary depending upon the location and ferry schedule, but the meetings usually take place midday. The annual meeting is held in November; time and location TBA.

Current Board Members

Lopez Island:

Robert O'Connell

Sean O'Connell

 

Orcas Island:

Colleen Stewart

 

San Juan Island:

Karen Woldtvedt

Anna Noel

Maria Michaelson

Claire Wright

 

 

Proudly Supported by the Washington State Arts Commission