Commission charts long road
The revamped Town Arts Commission, which has undergone an extensive makeover this year, took both literal and figurative steps on Thursday toward realizing its goal of a state Creative District designation for La Conner.
Commissioners hosted Aaron Semer, the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWa) Creative District Program Manager, on a walking tour of town following their Aug. 14 meeting.
Semer’s visit was the latest step in what the new commission, which has added several first-time members in recent months, acknowledges will be a long-term process.
“We may not be able to apply (for Creative District status) in the next window because we’re such a new commission and it’s a very extensive process,” conceded Holly Witte, who just a few minutes earlier had been voted to chair the advisory panel. “Intrinsically, La Conner is creative. It should’ve been the first one, a model.”
La Conner Mayor Marna Hanneman, who attended the Thursday commission meeting, agreed.
“I personally feel we should’ve been one of the first ones,” Hanneman said.
Creative Districts have thus far been established in Anacortes, Coupeville, Langley, Edmonds, and Port Townsend, among other locales.
La Conner’s many art galleries and museums reflect the town’s
strong support for the arts.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News
“A Creative District,” explained Town Planner Ajah Eills, who also attended the Aug. 14 Arts Commission meeting and afterward welcomed Semer to town for the early afternoon walking tour, “is a tool that helps promote the arts and history of a community. It helps support arts in the community.”
Among Semer’s stops was the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum at historic Gaches Mansion, where he met with its interim director June Cook.
“I always like to see what’s going on to give feedback,” Semer said, later saying that exploring the three-story museum on Second Street was “great.”
Hanneman had earlier told the commission she met with Tony Cladoosby, a member of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community who co-owns a business in Coupeville and was active in the Central Whidbey Island town’s successful Creative District campaign. She said Cladoosby recommended the Town seek out Swinomish Cultural Events Director Aurelia Bailey as one of its partners in La Conner’s Creative District bid.
The commission will likewise approach local businesses, which would be eligible for tax relief, to join a Creative District partnership here.
“Intrinsically, La Conner is creative. It should’ve been the first one, a model.”
– Holly Witte
Retired Town Planner Michael Davolio, who is volunteering to help with La Conner’s Creative District effort, suggested the district be crafted in two stages. The first phase would focus within the Town’s Historic Preservation District. In the second stage, La Conner’s former south end industrial area — which has been eyed for potential future arts-related activity — would be added.
But all that remains many more steps down the road. Gaining Creative District certification requires, in addition to assembling a planning team, the forging of partnerships, defining the district’s geographic area, and submitting to ArtsWa a detailed application and letters of support.
ArtsWa accepts applications for Creative District status twice a year through a two-window process. The first window requires a letter of intent in March, followed by the full application in May. The second window begins with a September letter of intent and a November application deadline. ArtsWa reviews and acts on all applications.”
“I want to thank each and every one of you for putting in the time on this,” Hanneman told commissioners, Town staff, and Davolio on Thursday. “It’s a huge task. One person can’t do it all. It takes everyone working together.”
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
