Anacortes plans downtown creative arts district

An alliance of Anacortes arts groups has applied to ArtsWa, the state panel for designation of creative district status in the historic downtown area, a process outlined during a one-hour public meeting at the Anacortes Community Theatre May 18.

“A creative district has been a dream of ours,” said Anacortes Community Theatre President T.J. Fantini, who noted that the arts are just now rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were one of the first industries to shut down,” he said, “and we were one of the last to come back.”

Developed by the state legislature five years ago, creative districts provide access to grant support and specialized resources supporting the arts.

And that’s just part of the equation.

Those districts are intended as places where the creative arts can thrive, further boosting what has become a significant portion of the economy, closely aligned with sectors ranging from tourism to technology.

Fantini and Anacortes Arts Festival Director Meredith McIlmoyle said another positive impact of a creative district would be the ability to develop affordable housing opportunities for artists and those who work in the district.

McIlmoyle told the group that the “eye on the prize” remains the planned renovation of the Anacortes Cinemas Building – which the Arts Festival is purchasing – into an arts center and hub within what would be the creative district area.

If all goes according to plan, construction at the arts center site will be completed in the summer of 2024. McIlmoyle called that “very positive thinking,”

The Anacortes Arts Festival has applied for a $500,000 economic development grant from Skagit County to renovate the building to provide gallery space, host art classes and movie festivals, house living wage apartments, offer after-school programs and be home to artistic performances and community events.

“This is a true non-profit venture,” McIlmoyle said. “It’s a legacy project. We want it here for years to come.”

The Anacortes Music Project, Anacortes Community Theatre and Fidalgo DanceWorks are partners.

Those groups will hold another creative district and arts center public meeting tomorrow, May 26, 6-7:30 p.m. at ATC, 918 M Avenue.

“We get that this is a big project,” McIlmoyle said. “We get that there are obstacles, and we get that there are hoops to jump through. But this is the right thing for downtown Anacortes.”