The Town Arts Commission couldn’t officially meet on Sept. 11 due to lack of a quorum.
However, chair Holly Witte and member Sarah Dalton were able to — and did — meet informally with Town officials to discuss several important arts-related issues, including the possible placement of the Tudor Rose fence, donated by resident Jean Wharton, on the grounds of the Skagit County Historical Museum.
Town Administrator Scott Thomas said that since 2020 various plans have been proposed to install the fence, which is currently stored at the Town Public Works Department. Wharton has been hopeful the fence can be placed so that it is visible from Swinomish Reservation.
Finding the right spot has proved challenging.
“There was one location that didn’t work out,” Thomas noted.
The museum grounds could offer a solution, Witte said, noting that she has discussed the idea with museum director Jo Wolfe. However, placing the fence there would still require county approval. Additionally, because the hilltop site is within La Conner’s Historic Preservation District (HPD), Town Planning Director Ajah Eills said the Planning Commission would also need to approve the plan.
In other Arts Commission news
The 50-minute session at Maple Hall also addressed the status of the campaign to secure a state Creative District designation in La Conner.
A consensus arose among Witte, Dalton, Mayor Marna Hanneman, and Thomas in favor of forming an ad hoc committee to elicit wide-ranging public input on what a Creative District here should entail.
A Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWa) Creative District is a specific, walkable geographic area that promotes cultural and economic activity in the arts. La Conner’s bid for a Creative District is in its earliest pre-application phase.
“There are a lot of different voices we need to hear from,” Witte said.
“The Creative District process needs public input,” agreed Dalton.
Hanneman expressed support for an advisory committee encouraging what she termed “hands across the channel” to foster greater public participation for a local Creative District.
“An advisory committee is a good idea,” Hanneman said, “and I think it’s really important to get the Swinomish involved.”
Eills raised the prospect of writing an amendment to the Arts Commission code that would extend eligibility beyond high school seniors for service on the panel as non-voting student representatives.
“This would expand opportunity for the (La Conner High) student body,” said Eills. “The way it is now, it limits the talent pool. This would also create a more flexible timeline. Otherwise, students would have to wait until the end of their junior year to apply.”
Hanneman pointed out that amending Arts Commission student rep eligibility could help applicants enhance their college scholarship resumes.
The mayor also provided an update on the Spirit Wheel restoration. She said the Public Works Department cleaned the wheel’s surface and then returned it to the plaza, where members of the La Conner Senior Center woodcarving group sanded it and applied a waterproof coating.
“Because of the coating, they’ve had to wait 30 days to paint the Spirit Wheel,” Hanneman said. “So, maybe by the end of the month they’ll be able to paint. Once they’re done, we’ll have a re-christening ceremony.”
Hanneman and Thomas said that a weathered stone plaque in the plaza is also being rejuvenated.
The Town Arts Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Maple Hall Fireside Room. The meetings are open to the public.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
