Anacortes makes Creative District

The Washington Arts Commission has announced a Certified Creative District in Anacortes. The Anacortes Creative District is located in the heart of Fidalgo Island and nestled between the San Juan Islands, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.

As a part of a Washington state designation program, Anacortes joins communities all over the state in celebrating creativity. The Creative District program provides a platform for communities to expand their arts and creative economies, attract entrepreneurs, educational and cultural opportunities and ongoing economic growth. With this designation, ArtsWA has developed a comprehensive program that offers grant funding options, technical assistance and training for communities and artist entrepreneurs, wayfinding signage and more to help communities thrive.

The Anacortes Creative District is a defined area where art, cultural, social and economic activity flourishes. Cultural spaces, artists, creative sectors and other local businesses that support these activities are all included. This special designation promotes all of Fidalgo Island as a vibrant and thriving arts community as it inspires neighbors, other Washingtonians and visitors from all over the world to visit this incredible destination. The District will be administered by the Anacortes Arts Festival.

Anacortes is bursting with amazing collaborations, which creates unlimited opportunities for its community and visitors to this beautiful seaside city. Nonprofits such as Anacortes Arts Festival, Fidalgo DanceWorks, Anacortes Community Theatre, Anacortes Music Project and Manieri Foundation are among the Creative Collaborators. In partnership with the City of Anacortes and together with the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, the Port of Anacortes, the Anacortes School District, the Downtown Anacortes Alliance, Skagit Tourism and Skagit County Economic Development, support possibilities are boundless.

These collaborators and community members support the mission of the Anacortes Creative District as a place that honors its rich art history and builds on it by supporting creative people and businesses to live and work in Anacortes.

The 14 Creative District communities include Edmunds, Langley, Port Townsend, Tenino and Twisp.

Source: Anacortes Arts Festival