Edmonds + Art = many organizations, many acronyms!
Edmonds is home to over 30 varied arts and culture organizations and many of their names include both “Edmonds” and “Art”. Most of the organizations work together or partner at times, making Edmonds a rare and beneficial environment for art. For example, the Edmonds Arts Commission, the Edmonds Arts Festival and the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation are separate organizations, one municipal, one volunteer association, and one 501(c)(3), but they work together (and are just as frequently confused with one another) on projects ranging from long term cultural planning, to special events and public art. The following short descriptions outline some of the structure, function and activities of several Edmonds + Art organizations.
35 Years of Edmonds Arts Commission!
The City of Edmonds Arts Commission (EAC) is a 7 member volunteer municipal commission, established in 1975. The mission is to ensure that the arts are integral to the community’s quality of life, economic vitality, and central identity. EAC is staffed by the Cultural Services Manager and the Cultural Services Assistant of the City of Edmonds Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department. EAC and staff publish a quarterly email Arts Bulletin, maintain and manage the City’s Public Art program and portable art collection, schedule visual art exhibits, present Summer Concerts in the Park, award Lodging Tax fund contracts for promotion to local non-profit arts organizations, award scholarships in performing and literary arts, coordinate youth arts education special programs, and present the two and one half day “Write on the Sound” Writers’ Conference each October. Volunteer commissioners serve 4 year terms, and four of the commissioner positions require professional engagement in the arts. Applicants are interviewed by the EAC nominations committee, recommended to the Mayor for an interview and approved by Edmonds City Council. Openings are posted publicly. To receive the quarterly newsletter via email, to view the public art collection walking tour, and for more information: 425-771-0228 or www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/ArtsCommission
Sea of artists tents on the field at Festival!
Edmonds Arts Festival (EAF) association was established in 1957 and the annual Festival is organized by a volunteer board, and hundreds of additional volunteers. The 3-day event is Father’s Day weekend in June at the Frances Anderson Center, and features over 240 artwork booths, a juried art exhibit, student art displays, music, food, and children’s activities. Other community events and art sales which function under the Festival Outreach Umbrella include ArtSplash, the ArtistConnect Annual Sale, and the Edmonds Arts Studio Tour. Interested in volunteering, contact: volunteers@edmondsartsfestival.com or call 425-771-6412 ext 3. For more information: www.edmondsartsfestival.com
Unconscious Idol by Joe Katzer - 2010 EAF Museum Purchase
Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation (EAFF), formed in 1979, is a private non-profit organization dedicated to education and the cultural enrichment of the community through the arts. EAFF has an eight member board elected annually. Board members are selected based on the current talents needed on the board. The Foundation is funded through donations from individuals and from the Edmonds Arts Festival. The Foundation provides grants to non-profit arts organizations and schools, and university level scholarships in visual arts. The Foundation maintains a gallery with rotating exhibits at the Frances Anderson Center (and several exhibits a year are presented jointly with Edmonds Arts Commission using their display case in addition to the gallery), supports the City public art program, and curates a permanent collection of artwork purchased from Arts Festival Juried Gallery artists. The Foundation annually hosts the Edmonds Arts Festival Preview Party. EAFF provides support for community events through ArtWorks and through partnerships. For more information: www.eaffoundation.org
ArtWorks - A Gathering Place for Artists
ArtWorks was opened in 2004 by EAF and EAFF to provide a gathering place for artists that is accessible to the local community and also offer an on-going schedule of classes and events. The space is leased from the City and was renovated by EAF/EAFF. Regular events that are hosted by ArtWorks include ArtistsConnect monthly meetings, ARTSplash and the Previously Loved Art Sale. ArtWorks is available for rental. For more information: www.artworks-edmonds.org
Examples of collaborations and partnerships among these organizations include: public art installations facilitated through EAC with funding from EAFF; joint exhibits with EAFF and EAC; Art Studio Tour event with sales through the EAF Outreach Umbrella and promotion funding through EAC and EAFF; community art project with funding from both EAC and EAFF and held at ArtWorks.
Edmonds Community College-ArtsNow, provides non-credit educational programs and classes and strives to nurture the arts from creation to commerce by presenting introductory to advanced classes in visual, performing and literary arts. In addition ArtsNow coordinates the annual BizArt conference and offers quarterly workshops and classes, designed to help artists obtain the business skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs. ArtsNow has a Gallery in the Edmonds Conference Center at 201 4th Ave N, and is on local TV presenting interviews with ArtsNow teachers, guest lecturers, gallery artists and keynote speakers on Channel 25 in Edmonds, Channel 21 South Snohomish County. Some of the ArtsNow classes are held at ArtWorks. For more information: www.edcc.edu/artsnow
Edmonds Center for the Arts
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) is a cultural resource for the entire region inspiring creativity, learning and growth through performing arts presentations, community partnerships and education outreach programs. ECA is located at 410 4th Ave N. near Downtown Edmonds on the former campus of the original Edmonds High School. The facility features a beautifully renovated 1939 Art Moderne auditorium, as well as an elegant lobby, classroom spaces and a gymnasium all available for rent to the community. In 2001 Edmonds City Council created Edmonds Public Facilities District (EPFD), a five-member public board, which purchased the site and operates the new facility. After extensive renovation, ECA opened in 2006. Project funding came from diverse sources including government (local, county, state and federal), private corporations, foundations and individuals. ECA also has a non-profit board (ECA) which works in partnership with the Public Facilities District Board to support the programming, fundraising and operations of the Center. ECA generates one-third of its annual operating revenue through contributions. As part of its fundraising efforts, the Center produces the Annual Arts Crush Dinner/Auction each November. Visual arts are also featured throughout the building. ECA has a gallery space for rotating exhibits located in the balcony level lobby. For information on exhibit opportunities contact visarts@ec4arts.org. In addition, glass art pieces by Dale Chihuly are on display as a permanent loan from Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation (EAFF). Each of the Center’s lobby stairwells feature chandeliers created by glass artist Sonja Blomdahl, and funded by EAFF as part of the renovation project. For more information: www.ec4arts.org
Edmonds Art Studio Tour (EAST) started in 2006 by a volunteer group of energetic local artists. The tour was designed to increase the visibility of arts in Edmonds by bringing people to Edmonds to see, experience and purchase art from local artists and is supported by EAF/EAFF and EAC. Held the 3rd weekend in September, the 2-day public tour includes approximately 20 Edmonds area art studios and at least 35 local artists. Each roster of artists is determined in the spring with all participating artists either Edmonds residents or active participants in the Edmonds Art community. For more information: edmondsartstudiotour.com
Edmonds Third Thursday Art Walk is presented by the Downtown Edmonds Merchants and the Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce. Started in 2002, it is now one of the largest art walks in the state with thirty to forty artists exhibiting their original works at convenient downtown merchant locations in picturesque Edmonds. The Third Thursday Art Walk has become a favorite with community residents, as well as visitors from around the state, bringing as many as 500 to 600 admirers of art to Edmonds on that evening. It is managed by Manya Vee, owner of Manya Vee Selects. For more information, artist applications etc.: http://www.edmondswa.com/events/third-thursday-art-walk.html
Published on this site January 28, 2011
Thanks to all the organization for providing information and to Frances Chapin, Cultural Services Manager for the City of Edmonds for editing. Questions? Visit www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/ArtsCommission or email chapin@ci.edmonds.wa.us